I learnt how to trust my squadmates, also how to be fair to others, learn how to care of them and learnt to share our workload. I’ve also realized I’ve been a burden to them and they don’t blame me.
Alicia’s Reflection:
Hi, I’m Alicia. Basically through this 3D2N camp, I learnt a lot of stuff. Such like: Learning how to handle stress, how does it feel like to be a in-charge, how stressful it can be, how does it feel like to speak in front of a big crowd, my posture of standing when speaking, how problematic our juniors can be, what am I suppose to do when our juniors doesn’t co-operate etc.
Also, I learnt the importance of teamwork. On the second day of camp during breakfast, our hands/wrist are being tied up using twine. We got to have teamwork and co-operate with one another, or else we can never work things out. Not forgetting, I find myself more confident in speech, be it leading cheers or giving out instructions.
Wei Sheng’s Reflection:
Over the past three days during the USTC Camp, I’ve learned quiet a lot such as leadership skills. During the last 2 days of the camp, I have gained some hands on experience of being in charge. Even though it was only for a brief period, it was enough to let me get an overview of how it’s like being in charge. So, I would definitely use this experience and what I have learnt during this USTC camp and apply it when me and my squad take over the unit.
Shanice’s Reflection:
During this USTC camp, I have learnt much more than I expected. First of all, the whole purpose of this training camp is to train and teach us to be better leaders. I feel that this camp did not fail to do so. We learnt how to be responsible for our doings. For example, we were told to bring the batons with us. This allowed us to learn to be responsible to our juniors. Being given to have the chance to lead (PT, cheers), allowed us to gain experience from it. I’m sure that to have this experience, it would let us know, what we should do or what we should avoid. Also, when we were we given the chance to help out in the meals, the sec 3s were so stressed up. We needed to be on time and to make sure that everyone had enough portion of food. I think that learning to cope with stress is very important. As future leaders, we would need to plan for events or even camps. As time goes by, we would encounter many problems. We should always come up with the solution instead of thinking what the problem is. I have learnt that even though how stressful it is; we should always move on and not give up. Giving up so easily would only mean that this person has no perseverance. We should always persevere and move forward. I have achieved a lot from this camp and hope that my achievement would help me to become a better leader in the future. Thank you.
Nadia’s Reflection:
This camp has allowed me to bond with my squadmates and learn how to work together and communicate better with them. To me, this is important as I joined a year later than every one else. This camp has also helped me to gain some confidence at speaking out in front of groups which is important for a Cadet Leader. I have learnt many tips from the seniors about how to be a good leader.
Adeline’s Reflection:
USTC 2011 has really taught me many things. As we are going to be cadet leaders leading the unit next year, we were given some opportunities to have a feel of what it was like to organize a certain “event”. We were in charge of meals on the 2nd day of the camp. The food IC (Jasper) assigned us jobs such as serving the food etc. Through this, I have learnt that we have to work as a team to complete the assignment given to us within the time limit. Also, the Sec 4 seniors also gave us a few talks for example: the talk on leadership and what is expected of us as cadet leaders.
The camp has boosted my confidence by a little. I spoke up more. Also, we had to do MOI. We had to teach certain drills/campcraft skills to our squadmates. Through MOI, I have become more confident.
Overall, the camp has been a fruitful one.
Lydia’s Reflection:
This camp was really a different camp in a way that it really changed us a lot. Compared to all the training camps we had, this was one of the camps that we honestly learnt something and had change for the better. During this camp, all the secondary 3s were constantly asked to volunteer. We were asked to lead the PT, manage meals (example, lunch) and speak in front of groups. Through all this, we learnt to speak up, we learnt to be confident about what we are doing, and we also learnt to work as a team. We also had chance to lead something, so that we could face our "speaking in front of a group" fears. After this camp, I really had more confidence in myself and finally dared to speak up. Through the meals session where the secondary 3s had to prepare the meals, the food ICs had to give instructions to split the jobs to the other secondary 3s of what to do. Both Jermaine and Jasper agreed it was a really stressful job, but they did well. Although the meal sessions were not really well done, our squadmates really put in a lot effort and were quite satisfied with our results and our teamwork. In the camp, i learnt that leading isn't easy. You have to be a good role model, to gain respect from whom you're leading. You got to have self discipline, because every action you're doing is going to affect who you are leading. We also learnt how to teach with MOI (method of instructions ) which would help us in future when we are going to teach the juniors new things. Overall, the camp really changed and affected us in a good way, for me and my squadmates.
Brian’s Reflection:
The Unit Specialist's Training Camp (USTC) has made a huge difference in me, as i was told how to lead and to be a responsible leader. The seniors also share their experiences with us, which furthermore give as a clear idea of how to lead and handle our cadets especially the upcoming sec 1s.Batons was also issue to us and we were told to handle it like our own juniors, making us more responsible, The fact of Officers walking around stealing our batons, also help us to be more responsible, being afraid to lose it. The Method of instructions(MOI), also make us a more confident person, as we were told to stand in front of our own squad and treat them like our own juniors, giving them instructions on how to execute the foot drills properly, for some of us it would be breaking the fear of speaking in front of the audience. This camp also taught us to be that ranks are not that important. Leadership is more important than anything. This purpose of this camp is not only for us to receive our Sergeant rank, but it is to build up the values of a leader in ourselves.
Haikal’s Reflection:
The Unit Specialist Training Camp organized from the 27th December to the 29th December 2011 was a fruitful camp. Through the camp, I have learnt several skills that are necessary to run the unit in the year 2012. The camp has also taught me to be a little bit more confident in passing down instructions and gathering feedback from cadets regarding the camp. I have also learnt the importance of feedback in helping to improve future camps or trainings. The hands-on experience on handling lunch was a good experience. It shows that what seems to look simple is actually quite a stressful.
In a nutshell, the camp has opened my eyes and made me realize that running the unit is no simple task. We have to look after the welfare of the cadets and make sure that everything runs smoothly. We have to uphold BBSS NPCC’s standards or even try to improve it. 2012 will be our turn to run the unit.
Jerome’s Reflection:
Just a few days ago, we had our Unit Specialist Training Camp, a 3-day camp meant to teach us future Sec 3s skills on how to take over the Unit in 2012, which is already this year. I have learnt many things and these are some of my experiences.
In order to teach us to be future Cadet Leaders, our HODs taught us about being able to lead others and working under stress. We learnt about leading others by doing the MOI (Method of Instruction), where we had to teach our squadmates a command using this method. Here, I found myself being nervous and stammering here and there, but my voice was loud enough and my squadmates could hear what I was saying. I hope to work on my MOI so that I will be able to teach my juniors better next time. We also had to lead cheers during PT and after lunch so that the Sec 2s could learn the cheers and teach the future Sec 1s.
We learnt how to work under stress when we were tasked with being in-charge of the meals for everyone else during the 2nd and 3rd days. We had to ensure that everyone has enough food and that the food is finished. We also needed to make sure that the dishes are clean and the canteen is neat before falling-in. Through this, I have learnt about division of labor with my squadmates and sometimes forcing people to do things that they do not want to do, such as scooping more food into their plates even though they do not want any. This helps us as in the near future, many times, we will have to make our juniors do things they don’t like doing.
During my Sergeant Promotion Test, my uniform was not in good condition and I lost a lot of marks. I also did not do well for my MOI, as despite my loud voice, but due to my nervousness, I could not speak properly and failed to get my squadmates to understand the command.
Hence, it was not surprising that I failed my Sergeant Test, but I did not come to USTC to get promoted, I came here to learn about being Cadet Leaders and leading our juniors to keep the standard of BBSS NPCC. The things that I have learnt here can not only be used in NPCC, but also in my daily life. Nevertheless, I want to work hard to get my Sergeant rank and live up to the expectations of the unit.
Ajit’s Reflection:
Last week, BBSS NPCC had their USTC (Unit Specialist Training Camp) The sec 2 and some sec 3 had to come on the 27 Dec. The sec 3’s came to teach the sec 2 (my squad) on how to be leaders and as well as how to take over the unit. At the start of the camp, we were also given batons. At first, I didn’t understand why they gave us the batons. The Sir’s explained to us. They told us that the baton was our junior and we had to take care of it. As time passed, people started losing their batons. It was taken when they were not noticing it. This has taught me how to be responsible to what that has be assign to us.
On the second day, I was to lead the PT session for the whole unit. This alone has taught me to be confident when speaking in front of a large group. Based on the feedbacks that I received, I realised that my instructions were not clear. For the SGT test, we had to teach our own squad a certain command. This has given me a boost in speaking in front of my squad and more confident to speak to my juniors.
On the last day of the camp, we had to do area cleaning. Just this simple task alone has taught me to be responsible for what we used. We also had a parade to give out the ranks and badges. It was very sad to find out some didn’t get their rank. But for me, the rank does not matter. Most important is that we learn a valuable lesson in our 4 years in NPCC.
Jasper’s Reflection:
During this camp, I’ve learnt many things. I’ve learnt how to lead the rest of the squad, when we are asked to give commands to the rest of our squad during drills session on day 2. Throughout the whole time while I was giving the commands I was very nervous, however, I tried my hardest and gave my best. Finally, with the help of Senior Ting Wei and the rest of my squad, I completed what I was tasked to do by him. This made me learn that I need to be more confident in what I do and that I need to be calm to handle the situation well.
Next, I’ve learnt how to take control of situations. One such example was during meal times, when I was tasked to take the role of Food IC. During the first lunch where I took the job as food IC, I was much stressed. With the help of my other squad mates I manage to pull through, though I broke down thereafter. After having a heart to heart talk with the Sirs and seniors, I learnt that I have to set realistic expectations and goals to myself. And as a Food IC, I have to assign jobs to the rest of my squad mates and not do everything myself. I took the role of the Food IC during dinner time for the second time, and as compared to the first lunch, I felt I did a much better job in handling the food, the officers, the seniors and my juniors.
Throughout USTC, I’ve learnt to be more confident in everything I do, and when answering the Sirs and seniors when they ask a question. I’ve also learnt to be confident when I speak to a big group of people. Trust, is one other thing I’ve learnt in this camp. We need to trust our own squad mates, seniors, Sir, Ma’am. One example is when we are doing the trust run. Without trust, we won’t be able to have the courage to run through the ‘Bridge’.
To sum up my reflection, The USTC changed me a lot in a way that it changed and improve on how I lead and take control. USTC made me more confident in myself, and made me more confident in speaking up and communicating to the seniors and sir.
Jermaine’s Reflection:
During this USTC, I learnt a lot of knowledge from my seniors and officers. They taught us a lot of things that we were supposed to learnt about taking over the squad next year. I was being tasked to be a Food IC during one of the meals. This had made me experience of what it like is to be an in-charge of something. Through this, I also learnt that a leader should assigned jobs and share the workload with others.
During this camp, it was also our promotion test. Although I did not pass my test, but through this experience of failure, it had me a stronger person and I would definitely work harder to achieve my rank. Also, through games and jobs that were assigned to us, our squad became more bonded and we trust each other more. Most of us are now more confident of speaking to bigger groups of people and I am one of them that gained a lot more confidence during this camp.
To end off, this camp had changed a better person out of me and I believe I am a much stronger person than before.
