Duty, Honor, Country
Heh...today i was been "arrowed" to go back to the place where I was trained to be an officer, Officer Cadet School (OCS), at Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI). I was the host for the newly graduting batch of officers. My juniors.
Before the dinner, i was there watching their comissioning parade. As I watched them, a strong feeling passed me by. I think the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has done a great job to instill a sense of pride as an officer of the SAF. It brought back good memories where I was a trainee. The sweet and sour days. Fond memories filled me. Retard to some, but at that instance when i watched them, and as Dr Vivian Balakrishnan delivered his speech to the new batch of officers-to-be....I feel a sense of pride. Thou I am leaving the service soon, I feel proud to have ever made it into the officers' corp and walk tall with the responsibilites given.
The creed is important..I remember when I proudly shouted it out at the parade ground...In july 2001:
I am an officer of the Singapore Armed Forces.
My Duty is to lead, to excel and to overcome.
I lead my men by example.
I answer for their training morale and discipline.
I must excel in everything I do.
I serve with pride, honour and integrity.
I will overcome adversity with courage, fortitude and determination.
I dedicate my life to Singapore.
As the cadets (or Officers-to-be), marched up the stairs as a part of their ceremonial, it filled me with tears. These are steps towards getting their rank after months of hard work, months of turmoil. Each bang are filled with the zest to look forward to their reward as an officer. The song they sang as they marched up the stairs still echo in my head after so many years. Song that I will never forget:
We come from many places
All across the land
Of many different races
Together hand in hand
United we stand
Divided we fall
Ready to serve our nation's call
We come from OCS
We are the very best
Leading with dignity and pride
Wherever we go
We will always know
Our spirit lives forever more
Loyalty to country
Thats wat we all believe
To lead, Excel and Overcome
Is what we must achieve
Forever strong and Valiant
We'll give our lives and more
Never ceasing to serve Singapore
We come from OCS,
We are the very best
Leading with dignity and pride
Wherever we go
We will always know
Our spirit lives forever more.
And it was such a sight when they came back to the parade ground where their parents and loved ones helped them change into their officer rank. I still remember mine. My parents were proud of me. My siblings were so happy. My friends too. I remember it so clearly. Tears continue to fill my eyes.
The procedures are still the same after so many years. Finally, the long awaited announcement, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the new batch of comissioned officers!" and the song "Congratulations" was aired. These newly commissioned officers threw their peak caps into the air as high as they could. Then running towards each others and hugging one another. My tears flowed down my cheek. I still do so as I write this.
I am glad to have been able to attend this parade before I leave the service. It reminded me of the good old days. It reminded me that this will forever be an unforgettable chapter in my life. Things I have learnt. People whom I have met.
Life is great. Today is great. To any newly commissioned officers:
Even thou you will hear people saying things bad about being an officer, or even being an officer is no big deal. But ask yourself inside of you, feel it, it makes a difference in you did it? At least it did for me. I wish you all the best in your next appointment, be it as a regular or an NSF. Don't forget your roots. Once an officer, always an officer. Live with the right values. Respect is to be earned and to be well respected doesn't always make you well liked. You have to be prepared. Hold your integrity no matter what. And it will lead you through the adversities that you will face.
Subsequently..i went on to host the table where we had a hearty meal as I chat with the families of the newly commissioned officers. To assure them, their son has grown up. He is now an officer. :)
That's all from me today....
Before the dinner, i was there watching their comissioning parade. As I watched them, a strong feeling passed me by. I think the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has done a great job to instill a sense of pride as an officer of the SAF. It brought back good memories where I was a trainee. The sweet and sour days. Fond memories filled me. Retard to some, but at that instance when i watched them, and as Dr Vivian Balakrishnan delivered his speech to the new batch of officers-to-be....I feel a sense of pride. Thou I am leaving the service soon, I feel proud to have ever made it into the officers' corp and walk tall with the responsibilites given.
The creed is important..I remember when I proudly shouted it out at the parade ground...In july 2001:
I am an officer of the Singapore Armed Forces.
My Duty is to lead, to excel and to overcome.
I lead my men by example.
I answer for their training morale and discipline.
I must excel in everything I do.
I serve with pride, honour and integrity.
I will overcome adversity with courage, fortitude and determination.
I dedicate my life to Singapore.
As the cadets (or Officers-to-be), marched up the stairs as a part of their ceremonial, it filled me with tears. These are steps towards getting their rank after months of hard work, months of turmoil. Each bang are filled with the zest to look forward to their reward as an officer. The song they sang as they marched up the stairs still echo in my head after so many years. Song that I will never forget:
We come from many places
All across the land
Of many different races
Together hand in hand
United we stand
Divided we fall
Ready to serve our nation's call
We come from OCS
We are the very best
Leading with dignity and pride
Wherever we go
We will always know
Our spirit lives forever more
Loyalty to country
Thats wat we all believe
To lead, Excel and Overcome
Is what we must achieve
Forever strong and Valiant
We'll give our lives and more
Never ceasing to serve Singapore
We come from OCS,
We are the very best
Leading with dignity and pride
Wherever we go
We will always know
Our spirit lives forever more.
And it was such a sight when they came back to the parade ground where their parents and loved ones helped them change into their officer rank. I still remember mine. My parents were proud of me. My siblings were so happy. My friends too. I remember it so clearly. Tears continue to fill my eyes.
The procedures are still the same after so many years. Finally, the long awaited announcement, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the new batch of comissioned officers!" and the song "Congratulations" was aired. These newly commissioned officers threw their peak caps into the air as high as they could. Then running towards each others and hugging one another. My tears flowed down my cheek. I still do so as I write this.
I am glad to have been able to attend this parade before I leave the service. It reminded me of the good old days. It reminded me that this will forever be an unforgettable chapter in my life. Things I have learnt. People whom I have met.
Life is great. Today is great. To any newly commissioned officers:
Even thou you will hear people saying things bad about being an officer, or even being an officer is no big deal. But ask yourself inside of you, feel it, it makes a difference in you did it? At least it did for me. I wish you all the best in your next appointment, be it as a regular or an NSF. Don't forget your roots. Once an officer, always an officer. Live with the right values. Respect is to be earned and to be well respected doesn't always make you well liked. You have to be prepared. Hold your integrity no matter what. And it will lead you through the adversities that you will face.
Subsequently..i went on to host the table where we had a hearty meal as I chat with the families of the newly commissioned officers. To assure them, their son has grown up. He is now an officer. :)
That's all from me today....
posted by Wilson Ang a.k.a ShamU at 12:43 AM
1 Comments:
Hey nice entry. I agree that SAF has taught me so much and made me a better and stronger person, so its only right that we return thr favour with our best! It takes officers like you to help upkeep the morale of the otherwise very jaded organisation =)Take care and best of your future endeavours
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