8th Penang Enrolment Service 2013

My second day in Penang, having spent the night at Chinese Methodist Church Air Itam. It was a pleasant Sunday morning on the streets with an old rustic scene, as though looking through a window to the past. Motorcycles, cars and people cramming unto the streets for morning shopping in the markets and breakfast, buzzing away in the Hokkien dialect, it was truly another world from KL. It was quite an interesting set up to what was to come later that morning.

CMC Air Itam is the sponsoring authority of the 8th Penang Company Boys' Brigade and the 4th Penang Company Girls' Brigade, which so happen to be having their Enrolment Service. 

It was a packed church compound with Boys getting last minute uniform parts from their NCOs and practices for Guard of Honour were under away. All familiar scenes in any BB company. 

Warrant Officer Lim Chong Kiat, the Parade Commander for the Guard of Honour

It was a joint Guard of Honour, one of the first complete ones I've seen. Normally a BB-GB Enrolment will have an equal mix from both forming 1 GOH, but in 8th Penang BB and 4th Penang GB's case, they had enough members to form two complete GOHs. The rest of their members falled-in for review at the rear of the GOH. 

8th Penang is one of (or probably is) the biggest BB companies in Peninsula Malaysia. With 270 Boys and Officers present for Enrolment Service and a recorded membership of 350 spread out among their three schools - SMJK Chung Ling Penang, SMK Air Itam and SMK Sacred Heart. The 4th Penang Girls' Brigade, at one point was the biggest Girls' Brigade company in Malaysia.

Impressive membership at 8th Penang BB and 4th Penang GB

Marching in of the Colours

Awesome praise and worship 

The chaplain giving away promotions and appointments

Mr Teh Gim Beng, Captain of the 8th Penang Company

It was a typical Enrolment Service, but come to think about it, it was probably the first Chinese-language Enrolment I've ever attended. The message of the day was delivered in Mandarin. Fortunately, my good friend Mr Teh Gim Beng was doing direct translations alongside the pastor. Unfortunately.. he translated to Hokkien.

The enrolment ceremony took place after the promotions of NCOs and appointment of officers. This was one thing they did different from most companies, which do their enrolment parts in one go. This company promoted NCOs and straight away enrolled them, followed by the officers in the same manner. Still, it all works out the same.

Since it was rare for all the BB and GB members from all the schools to come together, a "fun day" was organised after the Enrolment Service, with members staying on until 5pm when Enrolment ended at 1pm. It was a great honour to be present with them this day. Cheers 8th Penang!

4th Stedfast Regional Games

I was in Penang from 29th June to 1st July 2013. Initially, it was my intention to drive and visit some of the Methodist TRAC BB companies on the way. But coincidentally, all of them were off or having a form of special program. So I decided to save money and took the bus instead. Why did it have to be that particular weekend? Because the Stedfast Association was having their 4th Regional Games.

2nd Penang and 3rd Butterworth combined (or might as well be known as the Penang State Council) Pipeband

I did not take part in the games personally - missed the registration deadline twice. But I was happy just to catch up and have fellowship during their dinner. This event was organised for the Stedfast Associations in the region, which includes Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Penang, Kuching and Ipoh. 

This years games is hosted by SA Penang, led by it's President Dato' Harry Goh, who is also the founder of 8th Penang Company. SA Penang worked hand-in-hand with Penang State Council BB, which handled many of the programs and logistics. Feedback from all my associates who attended the event was highly positive. So, kudos to the Penangites!

Mr Michael Yei, SAKL President

Reverend Paul Christie, Wesley Methodist Church Penang pastor and 2nd Penang BB chaplain

Mr Goh, SA Penang President

A former 4th Penang BB member sharing his testimony

Despite being out and away from BB for a long time, all of them stood in attention as the Last Post was played, marking the end to this year's games. 

The dinner event was held in Wesley Methodist Church Penang. which also happens to be the sponsoring authority of the 2nd Penang Company, the second oldest BB company in Malaysia. 

12th KL Enrolment Service 2013

Another early day, 7.30am from home - yet not early enough to be on time for the event of the morning which was 12th KL's Enrolment Service. I took the LRT from my office in Sungai Besi all the way to Sentul. Good thing it was the same line. It seemed like just yesterday I went for 12th KL's Enrolment and Awards Day in Wesley Methodist Church Kepong last year. How time flies. Today's event takes place on a Saturday at their school base, Wesley Methodist School Kuala Lumpur. They choose a Saturday this time around as the church was not able to house so both the BB and the congregation at one go. With 12th KL's sudden increase of member's this year.. and trying to encourage parents to come.. having it in the school proved necessary. 

Anyway, as usual I missed the Guard of Honor. Mr Nicholas Yeap, the company's captain was the MC and giving a speech when I walked in. Looks like I'm the only non-12th KL BB personnel around. Oh well. 

12th KL's Captain, Mr Nicholas Yeap giving a speech

I've constantly been impressed by 12th KL eversince the change to it's current captain. It is essentially a ONE-OFFICER company, last year was managing about 50-60 members. This year, WMSKL made it compulsory for all Form 1s to join the BB. Membership skyrocketed to 150 (on paper). Just when one might expect to struggle, they seem to be adapting well and are able to maintain their Boys' interest in the BB programs.

Happy faces!

Pastor Tan Chew Mae giving out awards and promotions. She seemed quite experienced with Brigade Enrolment. I wonder if she was in GB before..

Testimonial by one of the 12th KL Boys

It was a packed program with speeches, testimonials, a sketch, singing and of course the usual giving out of awards and promotions, not forgetting the Enrolment pledge itself. This year also the first milestone for 12th KL for producing it's first Sergeant, completing the NCOs Council. It is truly encouraging to see!

Newly promoted Sergeant Jason Pereira receiving his sash

The first two Sergeants of 12th KL, the other being Sergeant Yip Wei Jian

Enrolment of officers, teacher advisers and instructors

2013/2014 NCOs Council 

Looking forward to more great things from 12th KL. Will pray for more volunteers to step forward - or to see their NCOs turn officers in the near future!

 Marching out of the 12th KL colours

 

12th KL group photo

1st Klang Enrolment Service 2013

On an early sleepy morning of 16th June 2013, I took the long drive from my doubly-sleepy town of Seri Kembangan for a 45 minute drive westward towards Klang. This day, the 1st Klang Company was having it's Enrolment Service. Due to start at 8.15am, I was just a minute late.. but late enough to miss the Guard of Honour. I did manage to catch them fall out though. It was a bit of a dejavu moment as I was here 7 years ago for their 2006 Enrolment. Some of the NCOs then are now officers. Lolz. 

1st Klang was founded in 1957 by a Captain Peter Dawson (presumably a British Soldier) and Reverend Ronald Buttler-White, but the the 1st Klang we see today is a reformed company, being reorganised in 1996, having ceased operation due to some confidential reasons not appropriate to mention here. 

Many outstanding leaders have gone through the ranks since, making 1st Klang one of the model companies in BB Malaysia. They placed highly in Pesta and Selangor Drill Competitions, consistency being champions of the State. Their brass band last took part in Pesta in 2006 and will be participating in the Band Festival Concert. They are well established in ACS Klang and this year acquired Wesley Methodist School Klang, the school they conduct meetings in. 1st Klang is currently being captained by Mr Allen Tham, a professional auditor since 2010,  having replaced Mr Terrence Tan who has relocated to Kuching by Nestle whom he works for. 

Marching in of the 1st Klang Colours

Reverend Ashok Amarasingham conducting the Enrolment Service

1st Klang NCOs reenrollming for another year

Well, enrolments are pretty standard.. so I'm not sure how to make reporting on one anymore interesting unless something is really out of the ordinary. They did have a band performance and video presentation. A surprised for me was seeing Dr Ting Cheh Sing at the service. He so happened to be around to attend a TRAC executive board meeting and availed himself to speak at 1st Klang's Enrolment Service

Dr Ting, the Honorary Captain of 1st Ipoh giving the day's sermon

1st Klang band performing

I was made it a point to attend this enrolment for two reasons, the first was to pass some tickets and posters of the band concert festival for them to advertise and invite friends.. the second was to show some encouragement as TRAC BB representatives. The following few weeks, I'll be visiting other TRAC BB companies.

All in all, I was happy to see 1st Klang company, after they had a rough transition time as many officers left fro studies and work. I pray that the company will continue to grow from strength to strength.

1st Klang group photo

4th KL Band Fundraiser

4th KL and St. Mary's Secondary combined brass band

4th KL Boys' Brigade held a joint band performance wit the St. Mary's Secondary School band at the Luther Centre, Petaling Jaya for a fundraiser. I attended it with a few 3rd KL officers before being flanked on the same row of seats by a few Boys from 1st KL.

They played well, playing favorite tunes like selections from the movie Totoro. I didn't stay for the whole show as I wasn't feeling well. But congratulations to 4th KL for fixing up a great show.

I was however concerned with the lack of attendees. There are just too many BB fundraisers going around. I think Nationally and State wide, we need to think of a more effective way to raise funds and dividing them, rather than splitting resources and "competing" with ourselves. I wonder if we can figure out something.. hmm.

Visit to the USS Blue Ridge

We got another chance to visit and go on-board a US Navy vessel, this time the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), which is the Command Ship for the US Navy's Seventh Fleet. I joined 3rd KL once again on this outing, this time in BB uniform, bringing along 13 others. Mr Lawrence Tay was also one of the accompanying officers on this trip. 

We gathered outside SMK Taman Desa at 7.30am (well, most of us) but only departed for Port Klang at 8.00am. The ship was anchored at the Glen Cruise Terminal, the same one USS Carl Vinson docked at two years ago. 

We were hosted by two gentlemen, PO1 Bobby and PO2 Andrew (can't remember their surnames). PO stands for Petty Officer, 1 for First Class and 2 for Second Class, which are the Navy's NCOs. 

PO1 Bobby giving a tour of the Blue Ridge at their "museum section", which is also the section  Fleet's CO enters or exits the ship 

Forecastle, where chains to the ships anchor is raised or dropped

On the deck

The ship has a rich history and has seen service in the Vietnam War. Yet, it didn't feel old surprisingly, compared to the relatively newer Carl Vinson. I guess having an Admiral has an effect. It was nicely air conditioned too. 

Flight Deck with it's full complement of two Seahawk hilos. 

Being a command ship, their primary function (presumably) is the coordination of missions for ships and units of the US Seventh Fleet. There were a lot of radars and communication devices mounted on the ship, much more than any other vessel I've seen in pictures within the US Navy arsenal. I suppose thanks to that most of the crew get to enjoy unrestricted internet access too. There was detachment of marines on aboard as well. Apparently the Navy and Marine people don't interact much.. interesting.

Bridge. Andrew is showing us what he primary job on the ship, which is steering the ship. 

Mess hall. The food smelled pretty good.. can't actually sense the  parmesan cheese

Full view of the ship. Yeah, it looks small thanks to the massive cruise ship beside it. 

Posing with Bobby and Andrew, our guides for the day. They were extremely friendly!

After an hour on aboard, we were quite impressed with ship and the crew's hospitality. We would like to thank them for allowing us on board as well as extending thanks to Mr Ivan Christie, one of the YMCA Board members for connecting for this trip. 

My First KL ANTS as Headcoach

Once again, it is NCOs Training School season, as this time around KL State Council decided to have it at the Methodist Boys' Secondary School Kuala Lumpur between 23-25th March 2013. Having it at MBSSKL-KL Wesley Church brings back many fond memories as I had my first BNTS here as well in 1998 (yes, first.. because they were supposed to give us a test, but somehow it never happened, so I had to go for another one the following year in Melaka).  We opened our ANTS program to other State Councils as well and had participants from Selangor who made up two-thirds of the participants. Apparently Penang, Sabah and Johor were also running their NCOs' Training Schools simultaneously. It was certainly a very busy BB weekend!

Despite being around for more than 3 years as a full-time officer in BB and being the ANTS headcoach in Perak and Johor, it is actually my first time headcoaching in my own home grounds. It was a relatively big group this year for KL standards.. 39 ANTS participants under the care of 11 officers, instructors and site administrators. The BNTS side had 25 participants and 6 officers, which is rare because the size of participants for BNTS is usually two times bigger. Oh well, first time for everything.

I don't consider myself a very good headcoach. A headcoach needs to be strict (which I am) and fierce (which I am the total opposite). But I was the only one in KL who knew the whole modus operandi of the ANTS, hence me getting the procedures for the year. I think in terms of program and carrying out instructions.. it was alright. Next year, hopefully someone who isn't a comedian and who doesn't feel bad making people cry can take over as headcoach. 

Now about the trainees. We had three squads this year with Giok Hui, Andrew Tan and Edward Tai taking one each. Somehow, these bunch took awhile to get to know each other. Initially, not very cooperative too. That's with each other and with ME. Some of them were quiet as well. I'm the type that gets genuinely pissed off when easy questions are asked and I don't get a reply.. cause I'm angry at the fact I was ignored and that they are insulting their own intelligence by not telling themselves they can (we're talking about kindergarten level questions, like "How was breakfast?" btw). 

There are several factors to this. (1) Clash of culture - These was clear "Kebangsaan School" and "Chinese School" mentality. Kebangsaan School trainees were generally participated and interacted more with each other and with the coaches. The ones from Chinese Schools are very reserved and at times, refused to cooperate. Makes me wonder what's the teaching MO in these school - Sit down and shut up = good? Anyway, towards the last night most of them stepped out of the cocoon.. but hopefully they'll learn that to survive in the working world, you need to impress and interact... unless they do some kinda data entry job or something. 

Another factors was (2) Language - some participants were Chinese-speaking-only members. While on the form, it has already mentioned that the course was in English and I've even email some companies back ill-advising them to send their members and instead recommended them to go to another State ANTS which provides for the lessons in Chinese, naturally these companies think I was just kidding as well and sent their members anyway. Next time, KL State will try to open a Chinese-language squad but until then, and if the course is conducted only in English, we're going to put a nice check-box with a "I hereby acknowledge that I can speak and write English, failure of which the organizers reserve the right to expelled me from camp."

The (3) company of which they came needs to shoulder some blame as well. We have been so obsessed with numbers, membership retention and showcasing that we have compromised initiative with our members. That is, officers have been doing the work for their members. Organising event, planning, whatever - all these are done by the officers nowadays. It was even evident during the ANTS itself when I had to restrain a certain officer from giving too many tips (more giving instruction) than tips to the trainees. Officers, these are kids .. of course they will make mistakes. But it is best they make mistakes now than out there in the working world. These experiences are necessary for learning. If you don't allow them to try now, where the heck are they gonna find their own self-esteem??

Last factor is (4) mindset. We are living in an age when everything comes easy. Computers, smartphones and the internet enables us to do something with far less effort than we needed just 10 years ago. Things like communication required more effort. Even food can be ordered and delivered to your doorstep, for a fee which a talking, breathing money dispenser will take care off. Being a kid in the 21st Century has little consequence. It has even reached a point when they are confident that their parents will take care of them despite them reaching a working age. Yep, they only get screwed when their parents move on I guess .. but we need another few decades to be able to observe that last bit. 

Well, problems are problems.. they will always be there. The job for me is to find a solution to it. Eventually, they all did get along and it was alright towards the end.. despite the massively slow start.  

We tried something different this year, which was getting the ANTS guys to cook their own meal. I thought it'd be more logical to do it this way since we get them to bring their mess-tins every ANTS. So finally, we are getting them to use it again. Members are given an allowance, asked to budget and plan their own meals. Incentives for the best dish came in the form of a significant reduction in accumulated starjumps (which they forgot to claim). 

As per tradition, the last night proved to be a long one with trainees jumping their socks off until the wee hours of the night, almost hitting daylight. This year's entry clocked it at 38 "lots" which finished at 5.30am. 

The punishments in the end of the day was just another form of motivation to get them to produce results. There were certain rewards too in the camp, the most significant is the knowledge and experience. It is my hope that everyone that's been through the ANTS can serve their company and community better by realising their leadership potential.