Why Are You Here?

Entering into Uncharted Territories

Be Warned: This Post Is Long

Life as a trainee is all over starting from yesterday. The commander course has been a real eye opener to see and witness how the top management and the men at the bottom co-exist to survive together. I have to admit I have learned and rediscover old and new side of myself during the course. 1 year of being trainee and doing duty have made my brains and thoughts of process numb. All we had to do was just take instruction, follow them closely, make sure nothing cock up and finish up with the exercise ASAP. The commander course provide us a opportunity to re-ignite and simulate the brain, to think and express ourselves well to make sure others understand the messages we are trying to convey. I was pleased when the CO Sir said “Well Presented” to me twice during different session of presentation to the rest of the commander. It provides me with the confidence to remove all barriers and restriction and voice out my thoughts and opinion freely. It made me realize that things are not as easy as it seems, life is not always a bed of roses, and complacency will get us nowhere. We did a lot of project of terrorism and such. We research, explore the possibilities and relate them to our real life operation. Though some of the lectures are quite boring and mentally exhausting, I have gained more than I lost.

However, with all due respect, there were times we were made to be seen like a fool. There were times when the “facilitator” did not treat us seriously. There were times when we felt we were caught in a no man land between the devil and the deep blue sea. There were times when we felt we are directly/ indirectly helping ourselves to dig our own graves before we die. It serves no purposes to request 101% effort from your men if you keep stabbing them at the back. It serves no purpose if you keep asking and asking but you never ever want to give back anything. It would have been irresponsible to shift works that belong to you to others. Fine, give me your pay and I do it for you wholeheartly. I would like to prescribe the term “ Endless Level of Shit” to describe the current situation now. No matter how much effort you try getting out of the shit-hole, more shit will still drop on your head.

Of course the commander course is not always about work and no fun. We were selected to be the Welcome Guard for the Governor General from New Zealand when she visited the base. We were there to perform the relatively simple drills to the CDF, colonel, generals, minister and not forgetting the pretty, tall, fair skin lady officer from New Zealand! Who could have forget the time when we battled the Zzz monster to complete our project as well as the mural on the wall? Who could have forget the 2 birthday celebrations we held in our bunk for the 2 birthday boys? Who could have forgotten the tunes of Lang Ke Ban version of “Training to be Soldier” sung by 大头鱼 aka Big Head Fish, “A is for Asshole, B is for buttock” sung for “大屁股” aka Big Ass or "我爱你, 爱着你, 就像小鸟撞玻璃"? Who would have thought a WWE Royal Rumble could take place in our small bunk with 15 men against 1? Who could have forget the countless number of time we spend comparing which lady is nicer when we were allowed to “Night Out” and take a "Prowl" around the town? Who would have realized there is another side of SWO that we never get to see until we are going to be a commander?

And so for the next 1 year and 20 days starting from today, responsibilities are going to be greater, expectation are going to be higher, not to mention the pay set to increase! The last parting word SWO put to us “Perform to the best of your ability” shall be a constant reminder for me in future times to come.

posted by Immortali @ 12:07 pm