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RAWDY 21 - Elite Guardsmen!
I brought my section guys out for dinner at Marina Bay for one the last time yesterday. Simply put, it was fun, but with a tinge of sadness. These guys have been with me since they were recruits, blur sotongs who enlisted without knowing what to expect. I carried them along through AIT, thorugh their conversion to be Guardsmen. Even as the stumbled out of conversion and into section ops, they still needed alot of guidance and direction to go.
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How time flies, from being totally reliant on the section commander, i've trained them to be self-reliant, they are a capable fighting unit that can readily take over and take care of themselves when the time arises, should the section commander be down, i know my 2IC is more than poised to run the show. HE has done it before with amazing results and i'm proud to have chosen and trained him to be my 2IC.
As the new section commander will be bringing them to Brunei, i honestly feel very worried for my guys. I know their strengths, their weaknesses, their pros and their flaws. The new section commander doesn't. How then will he be able to draw out and motivate my men to go the distance in Brunei? He just took over a few weeks ago without my outfield experience with them. Things do not look that positive. But i pray and i hope that everything will turn out fine.
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I'm honestly worried for them. I really hope that they will be able to stick together and fight together in Brunei and not ever give up. I have alot of faith in my section, they have good spirit and i'm confident they will never let me down. But still, i cannot help but feel worried for them. They have told me before that section 1 is different from the rest to which i agree. I believe i did the right things in choosing my section men. They each have their own distinct characteristic and every single one of them adds something different and unique to the section. But the most important thing was that i managed to choose people who could work well together. Because their characteristics and working styles are more of less very moderate and no one person has a very "explosive" character. They are able to synergise and produce results far better than many of the other sections.
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Case in point, my section moves out for missions with almost 100% strength all the time and the only time that they will not be able to move out together is if they are injured to which also, more often than not they will still move out. Its not because they want to show that they're garang, they are so past that stage, but rather, i feel that its because they do not want to let their section and me down. They know that they've trained hard and they've trained together. I believe it is these intrinsic values that sets them apart from many of the section in Rawdy coy.
I'm able to draw out their potential and they are able to draw out mine. We share good synergy with eachother. I'm able to encourage them when they need to and likewise, they encurage me when i need it too. As of now, even to the run up to Brunei, my section has never had a major fight, nor showed any signs of unhappiness within. They are still able to work and synergise, they are able to overcome all obstacles together, support eachother in times of need and give eachother a reason to smile and laugh when the need arises. I have a good section and i believe they will go far.
Even for Raizahan a guy of his size, for him to come this far from where he was when he was in BMT is testament to his spirit, resilience and attitude. I'm so immensely proud of him all the time because i know that he puts in 100% for everything that he does.
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I do not need a section made up of very good people, i'm willing to rope in less than perfect people so that i can mould them easily to become the section that i desire and want. This is what i feel most happy about, that i'm able to mould them, train them and bring out their best in them everytime. =)
I told my 2IC Saiful, that if there is anything that must not change in the section, that will be the Section Spirit and Integrity. Everything else can change, the way they clear trenches, or the way they do fire and movement. But the ONE thing that must NEVER change is the Section Integrity and Spirit. It is this Spirit and integrity that makes Section 1 what it is. Section 1 is Section 1, people recognise us for what we stand for, our abilities and our strengths. Hence, it must never change. It is this spirit that makes Section 1 US. This spirit of tenacity, aggressiveness, speed, unity and care for eachother is what sets us apart from the other sections in the company. Even my men have told me before that they feel that section 1 is different. We are able to work together and get things done properly.
Under their new Section commander, their standards must never drop, they must maintain it and IMPROVE on it. If they choose to let it slide or if the new cmdr lets it slide, they will undo all the good work they've been doing all these while and If i get wind of it, i will personally go back and sort it out. I do not want my section to grow weaker from where it is now. They must grow stronger, improve on everythign as time goes by.
I'm not boasting, but the results speaks for itself and the comments i always get from my PC and PS about my section is more often than not, postive and very encouraging.
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I feel that all the money, time and patience commited towards them, buying food and supplies for them, treating them dinner, will gel and make the section aware that we're in this together, that they are one section, fighting together and helping eachother along the way. But the most important this is that i hope that it will put them in good stead to fight atec.
Many of my men have asked me why don't i extend my ORD, because they want to go all out to beat the Commandos in the Best Combat Unit award next year and they say that they want the Old commanders to fight with them. They have faith in us. But to extend means that i will only ORD next NOV (min term is 1 year). Whihch will be a problem for me because i will have to disrupt my University studies for another year. Don't get me wrong, i love the Army, i love the adventures, i love that adrenaline rush when i have to make split second decidions, when the lives of 6 men under me is at stake and at my fingertips. I love that happiness that cannot be found elsewhere when my section completes a missiosn successfully, when they all come back safe and sound. Such experiences cannot be found elsewhere. Only a Section Commander will know how it feels. A PC will never get a chance to feel that strong sense of attachment to the men as much as a Section Commander.
I Feel sad to leave them, i really want to go all out, i really really want to. However, i'm split, torn between the two. My Passion AND my education.
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Being a pragmatic person, i have to make a decision and i chose the latter over the former.
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As of now, before they are flying off to Brunei. I believe that they are poised to do well. It is not going to be easy i know but i have alot of faith in my men. I know and i believe that they will go all out, they will not disappoint me, the platoon or the company. But most importantly, they will not disappoint themselves. They wil do what is right and they will do it well. I have faith in every single one of them.
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Section 1 buckle up! Prepare to jump! Lets FLY!
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Some pictures taken last night using my camera phone. =)
Before i left i gave each of them a personalized card with what i wish to say to them together with some pictures of themselves. I also attached a personalized key chain to their cards.
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..:: Semper Paratus, Sine Mora ::..
RAWDY 21 - Elite Guardsmen!
