Thursday, March 13, 2008
There was once a npcc cadet in Hougang Sec. He dreamt to make it big in npcc, wanting to hold the highest rank of a cadet which he thought was Staff Sergeant then.First npcc training, came 2 Cadet Inspectors, Hafiz Sir and Keng Yee Sir. Learnt the first proper foot-drill, the first song, the first cheer. Had fun for the next few trainings; games after training, lunch after games, together with his squadmates and TO.
And there was once, a "flasher" came to town. Together with his squadmates, seniors, CIs and TOs, they went round near the school to keep a look-out for the flasher. It was a close encounter to catching the flasher with his CI, but due to safety reason, CI told him to give up and wait for others.
In the first camp, he fought with his squadmate and was sent back home. But TOs didn't give up on him or mark him down. After camp, he was given more opportunity to perform. He was the I/C for the squad for the swearing in ceremony. And that was when his story of npcc cadet begins....
He attended every weekly training with much anticipation. Never did he missed the training without valid reason. And when he was in Sec 2, the pioneer batch of HS NPCC cadets passed out. And to his amaze, there is a higher rank then Staff Sergeant for cadets, Station Inspector. And from that day onwards, he told himself, he will be the Station Inspector for his squad at the end of his cadet years.
Everything in NPCC only started to seem interesting when he was sec 3, as a NCO. As having to teach and be taught was what he loved, he was happy to have the opportunity to lead, teach and passing down the knowledge learnt to his juniors.
A Cadet Inspector at then inspired him to be a Cadet Inspector too. He respect the CI very much. Not only the CI can joke and play, but also be serious at the right time. And that was what of a CI he like. The CI also knows a lot of npcc knowledge, be in drills, campcraft, songs and cheers.
During the end of sec 3, he joined the unit's campcraft team hoping to be in the top 10 jus like what his unit acheived 2 years ago. But the fact is, his team got 60th!! hahaha'
He wanted to join the Cadet Inspector Basic Training Course on December 2006, but due to his ugly results for prelims, he couldn't get in the course. And that was when he gave up hope and thought it was the end for his NPCC life. And this may be the time that he could do somethings else other than what he did for the past 4 years.
His TO gave him suggestion of going for June course and help out in the unit meanwhile.
Eventually, he attended the June 2007 CIBTC. He fell sick and he missed the 1st half on the 1st day's training. And he thought all was fated that he cannot be a CI. But he persevere and went for the 1st day's course at noon time.
And for 5 Saturdays, he woke up at 5.30 am, meet his squadmate, and when HTA for the day's training. And they were dying for 1800 hrs to come every Saturday. After the CIBTC, he learnt much more much more than just a cadet. All the soft skills a CI should have, the knowledege a CI shoulg have...
On 23rd june 2007, he passed out with his squad, Charlie J'07, as a Cadet Inspector.
And being a CI, he had high hopes for his unit, his cadets, his NCOs. And eventually, his unit got GOLD for Unit Proficiency Award 2007.
He now handles 2 teams of 11, having training 3 times a week since January. Having the ultimate goal, being in the top 10 for both teams for the bi-annual campcraft competition. The boys had their prelims on 23rd Feb, and he is confident that they are able to bein the top 10, but he still have reservation for that. Results lies on the judges.
Its is also the NCO transition period, and he have high hopes for the new batch of NCOs. He pushed them to their limit every now and then, without knowing the limits, and only loosen the tension occasionally. Maybe he is still not ready/fit to be a CI...
and more challenges awaits.......................
@20:39
my road to winning