Parade on 23rd August 2014 - Special Visit by Mr. Kenny Lee

It was meant to be just a casual catch up session, but instead I got my old friend, Mr. Kenny Lee from Penang to speak to the Boys. Kenny does marketing for a family-owned business school called EDS which specialises in post-graduate business studies, like MBA programmes. 

Kenny and I knew each other since the days or ICQ (or was it later on, with MSN Messenger?). He started off in the 4th Butterworth Company, making to Sergeant. Unfortunately, the company went defunct, so we transferred to the 14th Penang Company, where he spent the last days in his Blues. Now, he is an officer with the 18th Penang Company. Mr. Lee is also active in politics, where his efforts have earned him a PJK (Pingat Jasa Kemangkuan) for services to the community. 

Kenny shared his life story and BB experience with our Boys, whom unfortunately did not register good attendance. In fact, it might have been the worst attendance 3rd KL has seen - ever. With just about a handful of Senior during closing, many of the Boys went missing after the morning inter-uniform group drill competition in conjunction with Hari Ko-kurikulum. I was disappointed with such displays in attitude, as practically all the afternoon session members from SMK Taman Desa choose not to attend parade despite the events not clashing with one another. This is worrying and something we will definitely need to fix. 

Anyway, congratulations to the SMK Taman Desa BB drill team for once again winning the competition! However, there is an urgent need to examine yourselves as a winner is only as good as his character. Honour and respect is earned, not given. 

Pesta 1994 Drill Competition - 1st Johor Bahru, 1st Melaka, 6th Penang, and 3rd Kajang Teams

Another batch of videos from Pesta 1994. Unfortunately, these are the last ones from drill I was able to salvage as the other tapes were missing. Will try to look for someone who might have a spare copy, but would still need someone to lend me their VCR player. 

Anyways, first up is the 1st Johor Bahru drill team led by Staff Sergeant Tan Khan. This is the champion drill team. 

Next is the 1st Melaka drill team. This team placed in the Top 3, but we're uncertain if it was 2nd or 3rd Place. 

6th Penang's drill team. I thought they were pretty good!

3rd Kajang drill team. 

The next videos will prove to be more interesting - those from Pesta 1996. So stay tuned!

Parade on 16th August 2014

Today's parade was a little (okay, quite) messy. Singspiration was cancelled due to a lack of musicians - something we will need to address soon, and the Form 3 and 5 Boys are on leave, leading to poor attendance. Effective, we are a company of Form 1 and 2 Boys, with just a couple of Form 4 NCOs. 

Still, there was much to look forward to. Problem solving is one of the challenges I like taking, and slowly putting the 3rd KL Senior Section back into shape. We are lacking in many resources, equipment.. even necessary skills and experience on part of some of the Boys and officers in order to do certain programs. In time, training will need to be given. The recovery process won't be straightforward, but slowly and surely, we'll be stronger than we were before. The most important element is passion and commitment, to the BB and to our fellow brethren. 

Shall we crack on then? 

2nd Kampar Pesta 1994 Drill Competition Video

Next up is the 2nd Kampar team. Very touching towards the end as the commander, who has a leg injury, was helped out of the drill grounds by his team-mates.

Parades on 9th August 2014

My second full parade since being back in action. This time it a full Saturday, as I have agreed to help 6th Kuala Lumpur, as their captain will be occupied half the time with MBA studies on Saturdays. Before that, I dropped by at 13th Kuala Lumpur to say hi to the SMK Seri Saujana Boys. I was quite touched that they waited for me to return before opening a hamper they've won for placing 3rd in the school's sports day march past. Congratulations to the team for their hard work! I am glad to see things running smoothly, so well done to the officers. 

Mr. Lee conducting Citizenship Basic classes with 13th KL

Due to the time I spent in 13th KL, I was short on time by the time I reached 6th KL, but was able to assist Mr. Jonathan Kong with Junior Drill, which he needed a hand in so that he can give some attention to the Seniors. Honestly, Junior Section has not proven to be my strong points. But I am always up for a challenge and did what I could. May need to adjust from time to time as there were several interesting characters in the team. 

Onward to 3rd KL. I've become their Senior Section OIC and have a mountain load of issues to sort out. But first, today's parade saw a slight change in program as we had guest from Japan visiting us. It was a group of teenagers who were on a language exchange program. We did a few games, led by the NCOs which did two games learned from Pesta (one was the hit-and-chase with a bottle game, where one person will be running around with a bottle trying to hit a person before he/she sat down in a line, if successful would trigger a person running from the other end of the same line). I think I guest enjoyed themselves. Singspiration was carried out by Mr. Ho Yew Hon and one of the Private (can't remember his name), which went well. 

Two of the older Japanese guest

The games in session

I gave extra time to the drill teams members from SMK Taman Desa to practice for their upcoming extra co-curricular day drill competition. While there were at it, I did Christian education based on an assigned topic, which message was that it was never too late to redeem ourselves. The material required me to talk about Manchester United during an ancient Champions League game, but I instead showed them a YouTube video of Manchester City and Queen's Park Rangers 2012 Premier League finals. The rest of parade was routine, as the program proceeded with drill handled by Mr. Steven Voo, followed by closing parade, then the band.

Although things went adequately, I have been exposed to many weaknesses in 3rd KL, which I hold to quickly sort out (technical and resource based issues), but some would simply take time (attitudes, motivation, interest, and leadership).

Still, it is great to be back in the saddle again. Also glad to be on "the other side", the non-full-time side which allows me to be more vocal and honest. Looking forward to take BB to a higher level!

3rd KL's Pesta 1994 Drill Team Video

I have a cache of BB videos I digitised during my time in BBM Headquarters. Instead of leaving it in my hard drive waiting to breakdown, I will be posting them up bit by bit for everyone's viewing pleasure.

First up  of course if one from my home company, 3rd Kuala Lumpur Company.