Guinea Pig Evening~

This evening I’ve been eating “First hand” food. Mummy had her first Japanese culinary lesson last Tuesday. Today, she decided make me and my dad the guinea pigs. Hmm… For the first try, commendable. Not for the taste, but for the effort she puts in. Yeah… This package is the second culinary package she is taking up on top of her “Jia1 Chuan2 Mi4 Fang1”.

What’s the other? MICHELLE’s oneh oneh and dumplings. Oh man!! Pros and Cons living so near her.

Pros: more food.
Cons: may not be “clean”.

Mich’s first try with the 2 dishes.
Verdict: For the first try, commendable. Not for the taste, but for the effort she puts in. (Isn’t the same as my mum??)

Well, thank her for the food she often brings up. She’s the best with hospitality!! Maybe next time should treat her some air defence missiles..

Being "Tied" and asked to "Fly"

Well, this was the week that I was being appointed as one of the wing appointment holders, the Cadet Squadron Commander. Job scope: Discipline, discipline and more discipline.

It feels different being the disciplinarian in Air Wing or should I say in the Air Force. There is a huge contrast between the Army and Air Force. What I gather is the difference in the culture and so the needs of both organizations will be in turn differs. In the army missions, decisions will be made at the top. Men below will have to follow strictly to it, hence, the need for strong regimentation and discipline is often emphasized. Whereas, in the RSAF, the job scopes of each vocation are specialized, and when objectives are given, one is able to achieve them with their own methods, more flexibility is given. Because of this nature, self discipline is very important, if not, everything will go hay wire. So, when is comes to regimentation and discipline, it is all in all a different approach.

I like the regimentation of the Army wings; it makes things more efficient and effective. I also like the Air wing’s flexibility and the cadet governed approach. If only both can be integrated more like what I told the Permanent Secretary when he visits us. Well, we can’t always have the best of both worlds.

I tried in the week, bit by bit. I conducted the full pack inspection. Many wanted to be done with more flexi but it was done in the parade square. I conducted the first area inspection, I gave the first punishment. Resulted in complaints. All these things are already done in a VERY relaxed tone, but people still wanted more. Because of the culture, the attitude people I feel inhibited, and it I not a good feeling. Just imagine you are really hungry, but your hands and legs are tie up and having restricted movements.

Of course, there are always 2 sides of world, there also people who are quite supportive. From these encounters, observations made on people, one can see the contrast very clearly, friends from *******. Ironically, the friends I’ve found the Alpha cross over, and a commando!! Talking about professionalism..

OCS Challenge 2004

Hmm… This is the first challenge for me in Air Wing. This OCS challenge thingy is like a mini Adventure Quest or AXN challenge except the area only covers SAFTI and Pasir Laba ground which only has a time cover of 2 hours.

I am posted 1 and half day later then the rest in the wing, hence, all the “garang” dudes have already grouped together ready for the challenge. Out of a sudden, I have this idea of grouping the whole wing’s ladies (only 3) together and forming up a team. Then, because there were lots of time in Air Wing to spare, I spend much planning the route to take and calculating the points we were able to grab. The ladies were great too, they actually did good job in bringing the out of place, unsettled boy in. Felt really comfortable with them. This few days was actually a period for me to settle myself in. From the Dy Commander (Air), he wants us not to get last as the goal, and then we may get more privileges on top of what we have now. Haha..

Well, I didn’t plan for that. Being the kick start work, I would like to make it big. We did, I lead the team with 3 ladies and an ex-CI into being the top team, accumulating the most points amongst around 80 teams (senior and junior wings). Jack Pot!! The ladies were great, not only displayed the positive attitude all the way, and also shown the fighting spirit. Of course, with them we got extra bonus points, but I must say without the bonus points, our net score was also quite high. In the end, Air Wing actually won the jack pot of having the top team, best mascot, and also the overall champ when teams’ score are combined.

Hmm… Ironically, I didn’t feel the extreme rush when I heard the results. I don’t know why, maybe because I wanted to win it with Alpha, maybe because Alpha Wing wasn’t there, maybe because my comrades weren’t there. (Alpha was quarantined because of chicken pox outbreak)

Ultimately, I must say thank you Air Wing Team 7, I would still choose you guys even we weren't the top team. For running your hearts out and for all the efforts. because of you, I am beginning to find my place in Air Wing.

From 'A' to Air

I am transferred to the Air Force, now Air Wing. Hmm.. From the most "Siong" to the most relax. From no admin time for myself to too much admin time. From no time to eat during meals to too much, too much till I will have the time to go to the cadets' mess to relax before going to prepare for lessons. From no time to do area cleaning to lots of time to do area cleaning. From many stand by areas to no stand by area. From no gift shop breaks to every meal time have gift shop breaks.

Hmm... Now I have to readjust to the environment, and to the new mates. I miss the comrades in Alpha, I miss the spirit in Alpha and my identity in Alpha. I guess this is main thing, the spirit. In Alpha, although we are always being whacked, doing all the nonsense, running here and there, doing “the combos”, at least everyone is supporting, encouraging each other. Not that I am a sadist, that I like to go through shit, but I must say is because of the shit that we went through where relationships are formed. Because of all the training, I know that Alpha Wing definitely earns much respect from the rest in OCS, calling themselves the best in lyrics of songs is something that I am very proud of.

Anyway, the fact is am already in the Air Force, the ‘A’ will be put behind but in my heart always..