That day was indeed a big day for the 293 Officer Cadets. An evening which marks the final rite of passage to becoming an Officer. An evening of glory and an evening when we see our hardwork pay off. Upon the eyes of our families and friends, the hard-earned rank insignia of an Officer was donned. Wearing the Army Number One Uniform was probably the most smartest and proudest moment in my life till today.
74/08 Officer Cadet Course Commissioning Parade. A day which had seemed so hard to reach nine months ago...and after nine months of intensive training, there we were, standing in the Parade Square... The most beautiful moment of my life I would say...Come to think of it, I really cannot believe myself that I have made it through this ordeal. A long journey indeed...From the hell-like Delta Wing to the Model Tango Wing and then to Artillery Institute. I have really seen a lot and I guess such experience are not easily gained anywhere else in the civilian world.
In that nine full months living as the lowest life-form in the army, when my goal is only marked at the Commissioning Day, I have really come across lots of different people. The fake, the backstabbers and of course, the gossipers. People say that BMT is the place where boys turn to men. Indeed. But I would say that OCS is the place where men turn to real men of honour, real men of pride. Looking back at the good old cadet days, I think I am really missing the company of the bunch of good friends that I have made in this nine months of training. Really true friends that I will treasure for life.
We had fought this tough battle together, persevered together and suffered together. We had seen one another more than we had seen our families and girlfriends. And more importantly, we have done many crazy things together that we will never ever do when we are outside. Thank you guys for the friendship. I acknowledge all the help that I have received thus far.
For the parade itself, it was really quite an emotional for me because I have got all the flashbacks of the pain and suffering that I have been through. The thought knowing that we might not be able to see our fellow comrades as often, as we part into our several posting, made many of us really sad. My life as a cadet has seriously made me understand that 'you don’t work for yourself but the one beside you as well.' At the final moment of the parade, I almost couldn’t hold back my tears of joy especially when I threw my peak cap up high and really jump for joy. In fact, I did not even bother to throw my jockey cap then when I passed out from BMT. The feeling is really different.
Behind all the nice photos that had been placed or tagged in Facebook, not many people would have really understood the amount of pain that every single commissioned Officer had gone through, the amount of perspiration that we had sweated and the amount of tears that we had shed. Along the way, we have witnessed a couple of our fellow coursemates got out-of-course due to injuries sustained or even poor performances and it is really bitter to see them leave the course and probably be looked down upon by others who think that they have failed the course. The extend of gratitude we should show to express our heartfelt thanks to our loved ones is really unmeasurable...
Officership is not just about getting a nice rank to wear on your chest, about getting paid more than most NSFs, about making your parents and loved ones proud. It is not just about leading men, and not just bearing responsibility. Officership is about serving at an entirely different capacity.
TO LEAD I DARE, TO EXCEL I WILL, TO OVERCOME I MUST. This is the true meaning of Officership.
Army Appointment Certificate Presentation Ceremony is over. The long awaited Commissioning Parade is over. Commissioning Ball in Marina Mandarin Hotel is over and our short Commissioning Holiday Phuket trip is over as well... All these events will be something that I will remember clearly for the years to come. What really lies ahead? Yes, I am an Officer now, but what kind of officer will I be?
Indeed. I would really want to take this opportunity to thank those who have chosen to believe in me for the past nine months. Those who have once sent me their well wishes, those who have once prayed for me, those who have walked this journey with me. Without your belief, without your motivation, without your encouragement and without your company, I would not have been able to stand in the SAFTI Parade Square in my No. 1 uniform to enjoy the proud moment when the Peak Cap is thrown.
Thank you Weijie and Edmund for taking time down to see the parade. I really appreciate your presence in this gradaution parade that I have been longing for.
'Hey take care in ocs. Do your best. Others can do it and so can you. If you are emo juz sms or call me haha.' This is the short message that was sent to me by Tian Hui on the first day I stepped into SAFTI to begin on my Officership journey. Dated 22 December 2008, 0853hrs, it was ultimately the very first well-wishes that I relied on... I really acknowledge him for that.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'I am only human. I need love as much as others do and I admit that I have been longing for a hug, a kiss, a meal with sweetness and laughters, but yet I feel I am not prepared for all these. I so fear one wrong move and all is gone. It is so much easier to love than be loved, but it is so much easier to keep being loved than just to love.
If only time can turn back, I would have taken a different path. Was it really a curse seeing things start to turn out so differently everytime I knew. When the light starts to fade. I am so unclear of my path now. I feel so unsafe taking a step forward. The confidence to take risks is no longer there'
No comments:
Post a Comment