Today Tian Guan asked me on msn to think about what I think a good Cadet Inspector should be like, and what i think should be a target, should be a goal for me to achieve so that I would become a really good CI when I pass out from CI BTC 2006.

Being a good CI is not easy. People see you as an example to follow, not because of your rank but the respect that you gained from them. As a CI, your fellow cadets respect you, so no matter what you do, they will follow, there is an impact on every single one of your cadet, your fellow NCOs.

Firstly, the CI's uniform must always be in tip-top condition -- uniform ironed, boots polished, proper black socks etc. Appearance should also be neat and tidy at all times. Hair either kept short or tied up and pinned up using only dark blue or black clips and rubber bands. If a CI can't even be in the proper attire, how would you expect the cadets and NCOs under the CI to be in the right and proper attire at all times?

Secondly, a good CI should also display the PICARD... Only when a CI has PICARD, the cadets would naturally be influenced and follow closely to the PICARD. PICARD is actually the 6 qualities: Punctuality, Initiative, Committment, Atttitude, Responsibility and Discipline.

Why these 6 qualities? Punctuality because if everyone is not on time, it delays the training, on the long run, cadets would not be prepared for their unit or area promotion. Also, if you say meet at 2pm and you came at 3pm, it does not reflect well on you. Cadets would feel that you are one who always make empty promises and the trust between the cadets, NCOs and CIs would then be broken. Nothing can be done without TRUST.

Everyone should have the initiative, people can initiate in many ways. For example, initiate to care for your squadmates, cadets, NCOs, hence creating a caring enviroment in the CCA which is beneficial to the unit. Another example is to initiate to come up with new ideas to for example revamp the current system in the CCA to improve the way the unit works things out.

Commitment should always be there, if a CI does not have the sense of commitment to the unit, NCOs and cadets would feel the same way. It is just like if you only put in 10% of the work, people under you would feel why the higher ranked person put in so little effort and i must put in 100%... they would soon have lesser and lesser of the sense of commitment. Therefore as a CI, if you want your cadet to put in 100%, you must put in more than them... 120% or even 200%!

The attitude of the Cadet Inspectors should also be taken note of. If the Cadet Inspector have the "heck care attitude" many things/ tasks would be unable to be carried out effectively, because the NCOs or Cadets are unable to tolerate this kind of attitude.

Responsibility is also important. We should also take ownership over tasks and things and not to push the blame to anyone or make anyone our scapegoat. Whatever we do, we should always think of the consequences and then make a decision. Even if it failed, we must take responsibility and admit our mistake.

Discipline is somewhat repeated, discipline includes being on time, always in the right attire, uniform to be in tip-top condition every training etc.

There are more than these, more than words can say to be a good CI. There is no fixed answer, no fixed guidelines to determine what and how a good CI is like.

3:50 PM; undramatically.Y

11:55 PM; undramatically.Y

It's been quite sometime since i last blogged. I am just so busy now, preparing for this CI BTC. So many things to prepare and buy. Finally finished all the buying of the things in the kit list le. Now left with ironing and doing up of my uniform and the packing of my bag for this upcoming 8 days residential course.

8th Dec is the first day of my reporting day and I think I would have to wake up as early as 6am in the morning and leave the house by 6.30am and take a MRT and then a bus to Choa Chu Kang HTA. By 8am got to be ready to fall in liao and must reach before 8am so that we all have sufficient time to do all the administrative work such as to check our bunk number, squad number, ATC camp grouping and hand in all the money for the shirts we order and the giro forms that we owe the HQ. So many things to settle. Of coz must be early la~!

Before this course even started, wah dunno why i am so stressed up. Couldn't sleep properly these few days, unlike the past sleeping like for abt 10 to 12 hours per day during the holidays after 'O' Levels, after the course briefing I am like sleeping like only about 5 to 6 hours per day. Also, I have unsupportive parents who don't really like me to be so committed to this CCA, I am scolded everyday because they feel that I am finding trouble for myself, making myself so busy. People around me are now making money from their part time jobs or they are at home enjoying their holidays, but me? People bring in income, I spend all my money buying all these camp stuff and made myself so busy, running to so many places to get the things i need, things i want. This is basically how my parents felt.

So many times I tried to hold back my tears, dissappointed by the way my parents think about me, thinking i am stupid to commit myself to this course, this CCA. Suddenly, felt like i am the empress dowager in the musical we went as a literature class "Forbidden City: The Empress Portrait". "Nobody knows me... Nobody knows me", no one understands me in depth, not even Kwang Beng. No one knows why i have my heart and soul solely belonging to this CCA. Not even my parents knows.

Just dun understand why my parents are so upset... i already tried my best to go as far as i can but yet they seemed to be more and more angry with me. If you are a parent, you know that your son/ daughter is a prefect, shouldn't you be happy because you know your son/daughter must be good that's why he/she is chosen... But they were never happy that i became a prefect.

Maybe being a prefect is nothing great... my 2nd sis is also a prefect in her school. I strive hard, I became a Head Prefect. They scolded me for climbing so high up, they see me as a thrash, to them, i am nothing i cannot be a role-model for others to follow in school. They feel that it's just pure luck for me to get this post. I am dissappointed.

Fine, i am not a good head prefect in their eyes maybe, i am give my best in my CCA. They say i am stupid. People join NPCC, I also join NPCC, but i join until so busy, what do i get in the end? i get nothing but losing time. I nearly was unable to go for CCA in sec 2. I cried. Not knowing the reason, i just cried becoz i couldn't go for CCA. Maybe they could sense or they saw my tears flowing down. They agreed to let me go for CCA. Don't know why, i felt relieved, i could get to go for CCA.

NPCC made me grow up a lot from sec 1 till now. I have seen many things and learned many things that people may not know, understand things that some people may not understand, get to know many people who make me at least feel i am more fortunate than them though i may not have supportive parents...

Probably this is why i want to go for the course and come back as a Cadet Inspector, not to use my authority to win over others, but to share my experiences, my story with them, to show my gratitude also for this CCA, this unit makes me grow...

11:05 PM; undramatically.Y

This is what Tian Guan work as for part time. Isn't it cute? It looks like a mouse to me but he claimed that it is a bear. Fine~! Haha so cute... no wonder it attracted so many kids to beat him especially the tummy until he feels as though he is taking a roller coaster ride inside. It must be really stuffy inside. Not a very nice job to do. Haha so, if you are looking for part time dun find such a job. =D

10:59 PM; undramatically.Y

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