The angel of all times..

It's been two weeks since my virgin batch of recruits came in on 12sep06' (tues).. It wasn't easy for many, though it wasn't hard for me.. Still, many think i'm too nice to the recruits and that i should re-enforce the "strictness" or be less-friendly to them. In my own opinion, i think what i'm doing is subjective to my own style of leadership character; as i treat them like adults so as to restrain myself for shouting at them like mad dogs if they fail to comply with my orders which i sometimes think is redundant though i do raise my voice at them just to test how the "Fear factor" really works.

I truly believe a leader should lead by example of who he is really is, and not what he is as of position. - Power w/o control is unwise

Been reading up a book - Sun Tzu "FOR SUCCESS" How to use the art of War to master challenges and accomplish the important goals in your life by Gerald Michaelson, author of Sun Tzu: The art of war for managers. The emphasis is on maximising our abilities as of creativitiy, leadership, moral integrity, effective decision-making, implementating strategy, personal growth.

Well, of course i hope to find out more about oneself and attain a higher level of enlightenment and mutual understanding for the well-being of thy others. - One who knows other is wise, one who knows thyself is enlightened.

For the past two weeks undertaking the roles as an instructer whom is a role model to portray, i've learnt a couple of things while trying to teach the recruits the way how things work in camp. Though there's underlying facts of some things that we can't do, but of course there's always the common phrase everyone seems to know:"If you want to do something, make sure you don't get caught".

The Visual and Verbal language is the art of handling and dealing with some of them whom has attitude problems and is rebellious in a way or another, trying to defy orders. But a noticably bunch of them comes from broken families and have problems here and there, which i guess inter-related to how they are reacting to the instructors who seemingly is a "controlling-freak"; as the recruits have to do what we tell them to, but of course is reasonable and sensible orders.

- E.g as simple as fall-in/out for training/lesson etc.But some of them just choose to take their own sweet time.. o.O

Flashback of the two weeks, only been through a few Physical Training (PT) but already a handful of them visited the Medical Centre/Hospital due to unforeseen circumstances. Most injuries (or perhaps all? which i couldn't recall) of those cases i've attended to, prove that i've put what i've learnt into practical use and from point to point i felt that i'm a medic.. (Asthmas attack, knee/head etc injures, suspected heart-attack due to chest discomfort and difficult breathing etc n' the list goes on..) i lost count i send how many to the MC/Hospital so far.. but the recollection of what happen so far just overstretch the job-scope of what an instructor should undertake.

The potential risk and hapharzard duties of instructors undermines our responsiblities which is not well-reflected on our unjustify monthly allowances... Me along with many other instructors have been doing double/triple job serving apparently as an instructor/counselling officer/medics etc. working more that 12hours/day and poorly paid. A typical day if i'm a Company Duty Instructor (CDI) starts at 4.30am way before the recruits wakeup so as to prepare myself, and ends at 1-2am the very next day way after the recruits have fallen asleep safe and sound.. (That's more than 20hours if recalculate and roundup the numbers)

Although my legs and back are giving ways which i can't complaint and have particularly no one to confide with; for many have the misconception of how the "BEST BATTALION" should be like... I thought i was working with the best, and not for them.. But guess i was wrong, or just that they don't understand humans are humans after all.

I don't blame anyone, for i believe time will heal everything and amend our wrongdoing/perception.
If someone could help, it'd be.. Myself.

Takecare everyone.
TJJ, Benson signing-off~!

Essence of a kindness

Well, booked-out as usual on fri n' return home which beats everything as i'm quite a homebody.. But few acts along the way for the past few weeks really strikes me and i pondered whether S'pore can make it as a gracious city for the next few centuries... Lil' things as simple as taking the bus/mrt, the selfishness of one's reflected by the way they pretend. Although i do not need to elaborate further as i'm such alot of us experienced the same circumstances in which i only had one thing in my mind: "Ohh well, get a life.."

Although i'm able to find a seat at the Boon Lay Mrt, but i realised for the past few weeks i'll give up the seat whenever i see someone whom need it more than me.. Then, i tried standing all the way from Boon Lay till i reach Simei [after a day of footdrill/parade is quite tiring but well, i endured] but then i realised that alot of people doesn't take the initiative n' pretend to be the ones' needing the seats... Sympathetic.

Came home on fri n' the following day, Sat (Dated: 9thSep06') someone knocked onto my doors n' it was actually a door-to-door donation collection w/o any certification or verification.. He just reached out his collection tin n' then show me the stickers?? Lol.. though i tried hard to visualise the organisation with a stick-men: "Give $ and Hope" and the small letters of the organisation:" S'pore Buddhist Free Clinic" ??

Well, i gave him a dollar n' thanked him anyway.. [if it's really for a good cause but if it's a more recognised organisation with verification, perhaps i'll be more willing to extend my helping hands].. As through the years, people contribute through their salaries, charity shows, door-to-door donations etc. knowing that there's really people out there who need our help [in monetary sense], but there's people who make use and makes a living out of other people kindness..

Well, it's reflected even in some of the "so-called" charity organisation where the accounts is tampered n' the money goes into the wrong hands, and into the pockets. But the idea is there, help me to help you.

I'm guess i just have to count my blessing n' my luck if i happen to meetup with a con'ster.. then again, i was waiting for bus28 at N201 and someone suddenly talk in my direction but wasn't looking at me.. Then i realised she was visually-impaired and was also taking the same bus as me so i offered my help. There came the bus and i led her to board the bus and tap the scanner but she told me she do not need to tap.. [she got a pass n' need not pay the bus fare] o.O

Well, i do admire her as she's quite independent and found her own way around the bus and sat down.. Though it was another kind act for the day, well this lil' things really makes my day even when i see someone going the extra mile to help someone else. Enlighten.

Coming tues (Dated: 12sep06') - Time flies!
The 101th intake of recruits will be coming to our Basic Rescue Training Camp (BRTC) to undergo 4weeks of Physical Training Phrase (PTP) before going through the Basic Rescue Training (BRT) for another 7weeks. In my heart i know that all this will swift pass me though i'm not sure how i'll treat them.. For some of my friends advice me not to get too friendly or nice to them or else i'll get stepped over my head.. Well, there's always some people whom just take things for granted but i'm sure i'll have my own style of handling them.

Hopefully things won't get out of hands..
Wish me luCk!
JJ'Tan, Benson~(^ ^,)

The greatest of all learning, is teaching.

Officially "Posted" to my vocation as an SCDF instructor back at the Basic Rescue Training Centre (BRTC) performing 8am-5pm duties then able to bookout but i chose to stay-in (Mon-fri) as going home will be inconvenient for me and expensive due to the increasing bus/mrt fares.

Basically, my daily routine currently is to wait for time to pass until the 101th intake comes in on 12sep06' (Tues) then i'll have to perform CDI (Company Duty Instructor) based on the schedules. Can't wait to get my hands on the recruits and pass-on what i've learned through my days as a recruit. There's definately some distinctions in the things that we learn as a recruit, and now as an instructor as we get to look through the training plan which consists of much more information of how we communicate and get the impt message and relevant info across the recruits through Method of Instruction (MOI).

Of course as we teach, we'll learn. Vice versa~

Must update myself through whatever medium i have in-camp but there's limited resources of how to get myself relevant with the outside world except through the newspaper that i sometimes don't get to read. There's still many restriction e.g. internet access is only for office work, not for personal use.. The library which we can't go due to some unforeseen circumstances and as after office hour everyone goes home.. The reading room with tv set but pathetic/poor reception and which we can't go in because they put some stuff inside and scare ppl will steal so it's out-of-bound.. -.-

Someone enlighten me?

Well, gladly i still have sat n' sun which i get to go home~(^ ^,)
At least it's something i look forward to! - Home Sweet Home -

Went out to Cine ystday (Dated: 2ndSep06, Sat) with Xiu wen, Wei Ling, Peiling, Berlin, Teddy yesterday n' saw Fir and Qing Bing! It's indeed a small world._. Dine-in at Pasta-Mania n' as Teddy was chatting with me while making our order at the two different counter..

At Cineleisure Pasta Mania,
Counter-Staff1 Serving Teddy: So your order is... n' total is...
Counter-Staff2 Serving me: Are you two sharing the same seat?
Me: Yep, same.
Counter-staff1: huh? Means both of you sitting together on top of ea. other? *Hand-gesture n' LOL* o.=!
Me: We're sharing the same table, but understandable what's he is making sense of..
*ALL*: LOL.. (- _____ -)

i must say i had a good laugh, and splendid time spend with the peeps!
Time files, but ticks us closer to our destiny.

To-Do List
1) Get my CPU fixed or purchase a new one
2) Grab a new phone (Most likely will be N93)
3) Read-up on the reviews in the Training Plan n' prepare myself as an instructor
4) Complete the First Aid Basics (FAB) for encik
5) Create a Cert to give to my instructors as a form of appreciation
6) Plan for my job/further studies opportunities (Resume/Portfolio)

What's yours?
To plan ahead is to anticipate, for life's too short for a break.

I'm as carefree as a bird n' i need more stress which is healthy to keep me going, so pardon me for the sentence made above. Because even when we need a break, we need to plan for things don't just happen. (^ ^,)

Cheers n' takecare!
JJ, Benson 'Tan