My BSLC Reflections :D

Before I crystallise and pen my thoughts, let me identify a few abbreviations that the non-NS people won't know. :D

BSLC: Basic Section Leader's Course. SISPEC's (School of Infantry Specialists; Training school for future Sergeants) basic training phase.
PWO: Platoon Warrant Officer. A staff sergeant that's in charge of his platoon
LSC: Leader Section Commander. Trainee that's in charge of his section
LPS: Leader Platoon Sergeant. Trainee that's in charge of his platoon
LSM: Leader Sergeant Major. Trainee that's in charge of his company

BSLC was good for me :D It wasn't all that tough. I think the physically toughest event was my graduation 28km road march WITH STORE ITEMS. In BMT, our 24km road march was store-item-LESS. Haha. So this one was really bad. It left my shoulders aching very badly for 2 whole days. Haha.

Anyway, the main thing I learnt during BSLC is selflessness. Throughout this whole course, all of us (including myself) were really selfish I must say. Here are a few instances that I can still recall:

1) LSC Paul telling me "Jonavan, help me get 2 people from our section to resup the 2 jerry cans over there..."

I went back and asked "Who wants to refill their bottle?" Straight away everyone said "ME!" and raised their bottles to me to fill.
The next question I asked "Ok, I need another person to come with me to fill because we need to resup 2 jerry cans."
Straight away, all the hands went down and the section was silent with selfishness.

I volunteered because I wanted to fill my own bottle :D 1 more volunteer? Took 10mins before Mao accompanied me. While we were refilling the bottles Mao was telling me "Don't you find our section so ****ing selfish? I really miss my BMT section mates man."

I agreed but not without examining myself first. I too became selfish-er.

2) Area cleaning.

PWO "Your fans are ****ing dusty! Go clean it up before the next stand by area!!"

Once again, everyone got busy doing the easiest aspects of area cleaning: sweeping (I did that :D :P), cleaning the bed frame, arranging bed, etc...The fans? Someone had to shift the table and stand on it to clean the ceiling fans. And there were 6 fans.

That someone was Mr. Nice Joseph & Jian Xiong on 2 separate occasions :D He shifted the table and wiped all the fans in the bunk. He later was complaining that no one else did anything. But, what to do? When everyone's concerned only for themselves, that's what happens lor...suck thumb. Haha.

3) Clear rubbish.

LPS "Get one guy from each section to clear the rubbish!"
LSC Kenneth (my section LSC) "Anyone wants to clear the rubbish?"
**SILENCE**
"Ok la, Jonavan go clear the rubbish :D"

I complained and ranted a bit, but still went to clear it. Haha.

There's many more instances but I think these few are the most etched in my brain. Haha.

For me, I think the selfish-kings (8 of 'em) in my bunk are way selfish-er than me cos they always volunteer me and a few others (5 of us) to do stuff while they do the bare minimum or sometimes, nothing at all. Some of them will help only if it benefits them...Like for myself when I resupped the jerry cans :D

A few of us like Mao & Joseph are actually pretty helpful in nature. But even Mao & Joseph got sick of being helpful. Why? Because by being helpful, they became the ones being taken advantaged of. So why be helpful?

In a section of selfish fishmongers, the generous and helpful get abused. So they withdraw that nice side of them and this results in a really big problem with everyone pointing fingers at each other to do things.

That applies for me too. I'm always willing to help. But I withdrew that side of me since BMT. Why? Because I want to help appreciative people that will reciprocate and really appreciate you for helping instead of just saying a temporal "Thanks alot man!" You can thank me for all I care, but I want to see you doing your part as well.

But I think I still am in the wrong because if being Christ-like means being helpful relentlessly then I have failed to meet that mark. I've also helped with a complaining and selfish attitude, complaining about others not helping after I've helped.

If I had helped willingly and lovingly, I wouldn't expect anything in return. However, I actually did expect something in return, thus I was upset with those that didn't help. So is that true Christ-like generosity? I guess not.

I shall work on this area of my character and I really hope I can see a change in my next 3 months of my trainee life.

Help me to enjoy my ASLC God! I really need your favour and strength! :)