Specialists' Course 2008

On 12-14 June 2008, our Sec.3 cadets attended their Specialists’ Course, which was their qualifying course to become fully-fledged Specialists to be charged with the duty of running the SJI NCC (Air) Unit once their seniors had passed out. This was most definitely a monumental task to undertake at the best of times, and leadership was as natural for some as it was utterly novel for others. Thus, the main objective of this course was to properly equip the future Specialists with all the necessary skills required to run the unit effectively. For most, the idea of the Spec Course (its affectionate nickname) was damnably appalling, a waste of 3 days of their holidays. Indeed, most were dreading the harshness of the course itself. During the course itself, which was actually a 3D2N camp at NCC HQ, the activities revolved around acquiring the prerequisite skills expected of Air Cadets, which in addition to the standard syllabus (Individual Fieldcraft, Marksmanship Fundamentals etc.), also comprised of the Air Syllabus, an in-depth study of aviation and avionics. Of course, it also involved raising the bar for these future Specs, as their drills were pushed to the most precise limit, as well as their marching, to ensure they set an example to be emulated. Along the way, friendships were also forged as the cadets were grouped randomly with other schools also undergoing the course. At the end of the 3 days, after having officially passed out as Specialists, they were definitely elated to be returning home, though without some twinges (however minuscule) of regret. However, the Specialists more than made up for it by trying their very best from then on to uphold the values of NCC (Air) and to set themselves as someone to be admired for their juniors.