It's been more than 2 weeks into 2013 and I'm glad to say that the year has been great so far. Spent the 1st day of 2013 at home, didn't want to go to camp/work the 2nd day of the year (which is a weekday) since it always reminded me that I had to report to school back in schooling days, but I had to, since there's a course waiting for me.

Honestly, I feel bad to the current batch of trainees for having not really being there during the 1st 3 weeks of the course. Well, 1st 2 weeks of the course was basically the last 2 weeks of my 13/12 Spec course so I spent my time at Pasir Laba Camp training for the graduation and taking leave (which I hadn't touched for the whole year back then). The 3rd week was basically a break for me since I hadn't cleared my leave then. So, cabbing down and reporting to work at 0700h on 02012013 was kinda of awesome, feeling all freshened up and ready to start work.

The first 2 weeks of the year wasn't a walk in the park at all. Back to camp and I had like tons of work out there waiting for me to clear. Outfield events coupled with a lot of loose ends to tie, those weeks were hectic. The holiday mood during December 2012 quickly transited into Working mode at a turn of reporting to camp. I guess I'm trained well to quickly adapt to the working atmosphere given the 'trainings' last year.

This week felt long all of a sudden. Not that I hate it, I kinda of enjoy it actually. As I think about the fact that I only have like 2 months left in camp, I want to maximise my time in camp as much as possible. To spend time working with my other instructors, superiors and meeting all the familiar faces that I have constantly been in contact with over the past year. Things have been changing in the office recently and sometimes, I can't help but feel disappointed about it. Not about the work changes, but rather the attitude of people I see. This was a observation which I pondered for quite a while and reflected much over the week with some of my colleagues in camp.

Some questions I thought to myself was: "Why are there people out there who does little or no work related to their job scope and yet can continue living their life without guilt? How can they bear to just see others slogging their guts out to cover their job and not do anything about it when the lack of  real manpower is due to their very existence? To make it worst, all these people do is just hanging around and behave like king, making remarks which serve no more than a piece of crap. How is it possible for one who has been here for so long to know nuts about simple things which every new guy would know on their first day? How could one behave like the whole world owes him a living when he actually contribute in very minute amounts related to his job? It's just so amazing that these people are able to talk well, yet so bad at what they are ought to do in the first place. Worst of all, they choose not to do anything about it." Professionalism much? Attitude Shapes Character. Well, the least credit I can give to them is to have reminded me to not be like them and continue to uphold my beliefs as an instructor, a section commander and a Specialist.

Another observation was that the bonding and the working style between instructors. Like what my encik mentioned to me before, instructors back in the past were very cohesive, always there for the course and for the trainees. Imagine a course where all instructors are able to work together cohesively with the same goal, always helping one another and there for the trainees. That would be a well-remembered course that is enjoyable. It's quite sad when I thought of that and observe that it doesn't exist in my office anymore. The thought of helping one another is no longer there. Sometimes, I even feel that some of the instructors are not professional at all. Could it be our varying working styles, where some are individual players while some are team players? Could it be of our independence, to the extent where we don't want help from people? Could it be expectations, where we're afraid that the outcome of a job done by another isn't up to our individual standard? Perhaps some of us are calculative about work done by each other? Or is it because of our varying attitudes? Could it even be my existence which cause all these to happen?

There was once when I was the duty instructor who is required to bring the trainees for breakfast. Another sergeant who was the duty instructor for the other course told me that he would join me when we're on the topic. I was quite surprised when he mentioned that he goes down every morning and tags along the duty instructor. His reason was very simple. His PC was there every single morning back when he was a trainee, thus he mentioned that he should do the same. A very simple conversation, yet it triggered much thought into me. How would it have turned out had a group of well-bonded instructors were there to run a course? The seamless co-operation, knowing each other's thoughts, good and bad points. Even when things don't go our way, we'll be there to help one another, solving problem together, that sense of suffering together and enjoy the good together. Everyone is willing to contribute and render help for one another. How awesome would that be?

A sudden thought of my own MP section came into mind. Well, the whole section may not be bonded very well, at least there's a bunch of us who are able to work together and willing to help one another. That's quite rare to materialise for instructors, especially when all instructors come from varying batches, friction is bound to happen when working together. Perhaps it happens everywhere and at every level? Oh well.

Pardon me for having drifted off topic, just needed to talk about it to remind me about this in the future. Professionalism. Teamwork. Team excellence. Discipline. Leadership. Gonna remind myself about all these words in the future when I move on to working in the world out there.


Just a reminder for myself - to talk about each trainee phase, credit each course, different office in camp and overall learning experience as an instructor.