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.
