58th Cadet Officer Course

From the 23rd November to 11th December, HQ NCC conducted the 58th Cadet Officer Course for post secondary students. The objective of the course was to nature young leaders in mentoring and managing other people. Trough a Leadership camp which involved numerous situational tests, practical and theoretical exercises, cadets are expected o demonstrate skills and proficiencies of the NCC Syllabus, while activities include lessons on conflict management, delegation, decision-making and negotiation skills. Cadets also had the opportunity to meet senior officers who shared their experiences of leadership.

We the SJI NCC (Air) Company would like to congratulate the 2 new C/OFFRs Jeremy Tang and Nicholas Fung for successfully completing the course. With your expertise and guidance, we’re sure that together we can soar to greater heights!

4th Basic Aeromodelling Wings Course

From the 23rd to the 25th of November, 4 of our cadets went for the Basic Aeromodelling Wings course at HQ NCC in Amoy Quee camp. This camp included 3 other Saturdays as additional training and a 3 day 2 night stayover at HQ NCC. The objective of the camp was to impart to the new batch of aeromodelling instructors the skills for flying a radio controlled aircraft, as well as the theory involved in flying a radio-controlled aircraft.

The camp allowed for more practice as cadets had to pass the flight simulator test on a computer before moving on to flying the real aircraft. This camp has allowed the cadets to brush up on the new skills they have learnt as well as teach them how to impart the knowledge of radio control flying to their juniors. The theory lessons also taught us the principles of flight, battery safety, flying safety and pre-flight checks and many other important information. The theory test required cadets to answer multiple choice, structured and essay questions. In order to pass, cadets have to pass both the practical and theory components, in which the passing mark is 75%.

All 4 of the cadets who have gone for the Basic Aeromodelling Wing Course have successfully passed the course and have received their Basic Aeromodelling Wings. One of our cadets, 1SG Brian Koh, has also done us proud by clinching the award for best in theory with a score of 95.5%. The camp has imparted us with a great deal of skills and knowledge, as well as helping us enjoy the hobby of flying radio control aircraft.

Specialist Course Phase 2

On the 8th to 11th of September, 4 of our Part C Cadets went to Pasir Laba Camp to attend the Specialist Course Phase 2. It was a four-day, three-night camp involving NCC cadets from other various schools as well. The objective of this camp was to impart to the participants the knowledge and skills that a specialist should possess and which can also be used to teach the younger cadets of their school. This camp was similiar to the First Specialist Course in June except its longer duration.

On the whole, our 4 cadets achieved their 3SG ranks and the RSAF Badge, and it was a tiring but yet memorable time for all.

Aeromodelling Competition 2009

On the 27th of August and 4th of September, 14 of our cadets from Part A, B and C took part in the Aeromodelling Competition organized by HQ NCC, a competition unique to NCC (Air) as part of its air syllabus. Teams were sent in for the Remote Control Flying category, Line Control Flying category for Part B and C cadets as well as the Aircraft Design Category for the Part A cadets.

In the Remote Control Category, participants had to fly a plane in a flight simulator and pop balloons generated by the simulator and also guide the plane into a perfect landing on a runway. The line control category required participants to fly against a competitor in the same flying circle and at the same time, complete a fixed number of rounds. The aircraft design category tested the creativity of the part A cadets as they had to build a model airplane based on creativity and do a short presentation on their plane.

SJI NCC (Air) has emerged 5th overall in this competition. Much time and effort has been put into the competition and we would like to acknowledge the cadets who have done us proud. We would also like to thank our teachers-in-charge, Mr Mok and Mr Ho for their utmost support and guidance in this competition, as well as the supporters from SJI NCC(Air) for their undying support for us during the competition.

Line control category:
Shayne Yang(Flyer) and Joachim Tan(Mechanic)
Raihan Hakim(Flyer) and Daniel Goh(Mechanic)
Nikolas Iverson(Flyer) and Elton Tong(Mechanic)
Brian Koh(Flyer) and Alexander Soo(Mechanic)

Remote control category:
Abdul Khaliq
Ryan Ong
Joshua Ho
Anchelski Teo

Aircraft Design category:
Travis Pereira
Joshua Ng


Done By:
1SG Brian Koh

Visit to the Army Open House

On the 3rd of September, 27 cadets and 6 Specialists, together with Mr. Mok, took a trip to the Army Open House, held annually at the Pasir Laba camp.

Decked out in their No.4 uniforms, the cadets and specs were eager to get close up to the state-of-the-art weaponry and artillery used by the 3rd-Gen Singapore Armed Forces today. Upon arrival at the venue, we were each handed a souvenir in the form of a strikingly-designed cap, which the cadets then proceed to enthusiastically put on.

Our tour proper began at the entrance, where we were met by our tour guide. He took us to visit the showcases put on by the different battalions in the SAF, like the Commandos, Guards, 9th Infantry, Artillery and more. We got to see the different equipment used by the battalions, such as the current generation of No.4s issued by the SAF, with its pixilated weaving. Impressive as all these were, it was undeniable that the star of this particular show was the Armor battalions. Presenting their vehicles such as the Bionix troop carrier, people were awestruck by its imposing and menacing image.

Not to be outdone, the Air Force brought in their Apaches, and outfitted with its deadly array of missiles, it was a force to be reckoned with. After touring around the exhibitions for 25 minutes, we then headed to another exhibition. Contrary to what the average Singaporean thinks of the SAF, they are not just an armed force with guns and tanks. They were also sent on peace-keeping missions and as relief squads.

This non-military side of the SAF was what we got to see at the next exhibition. The various military personnel explained to us what the SAF did in times of crises. An excellent example would be the 2004 tsunami disaster. Just 24 hours after the incident, the SAF had already deployed a team to aid the relief effort. We were impressed with the speed with which they responded to the crisis. Next, we also got to see the dogs from the K9 unit and watched a video explaining the roles played by the different dogs, such as explosives, drugs and more.

The last exhibition we visited for the day was focused on the history of the SAF. Also showcased were a few aspects of a soldier’s life, such as his bunk, the combat rations which he gets and more. At the end of the day, everyone left with a better understanding of our SAF and instilled with a passion for our country and its people. All in all, it was a very enjoyable and memorable trip.


Done By:
2SG Heah Jian Chern

Specialist Course 2009

On the 16th to 18th of June, 21 of our Part Cs went to Amoy Quee Camp, the headquarters of the National Cadet Corps to attend the Specialist Course. It is a three-day, two-night residential camp involving cadets from other various schools as well. The camp aimed to impart to the participants the knowledge and skills intrinsic to the Corps that they can impart to their juniors.

Throughout the duration of this course, cadets were taught and tested on their knowledge on Individual Field Craft and its practical use. Also cadets were tested on how to handle armament and also their understanding and knowledge on General Specialist Knowledge as well as the Air Syllabus, which every NCC Air Cadet is required to know. As boring as it sounds, cadets were also given the opportunity to go through IMT while using several weapons like the MATADOR and M203 and also tour around the army museum to learn about the pre-independence period to the current-day capabilities of the 3rd Generation Army.

Ultimately, what every cadet wanted to take back and achieve from this course, was the 2SG rank as well as the prestigious RSAF Badge which every Air Cadet yearns to wear on their No.1 or No.3 Uniforms. Also, several more outstanding cadets won academic,” Best Platoon”, “Best Company” award for achieving excellence in their IFC, Trainfire, GSK or Air Syllabus tests or outshining and being enthusiastic in their respective platoons. All in all, it was a wonderful and memorable time for all.

Written by: 2SG Lucian

SJI UG Games Day

On the 25th April, the SJI UGOs got together to host the 2009 SJI UGO Games Day. All the SJI UGOs except the SJIMB attended the Games Day, which featured four games being played simultaneously. They are 7 A-side Street Soccer, 11 A-side Field Soccer, Captain’s Ball and Carom. Some of our NCC Air Cadets participated in Captain’s Ball and Carom while the rest pitted against other UG cadets in the Street and Field Soccer. At the end of the day, a simple prize presentation was held for the winning teams in each game. The hard work put in by the various UGO teachers and cadets paid off. In the end, all the participants had fun and through the games had got to know each other better as well as other UG cadets.

Mr Tung Kok Cheong's Farewell Ceremony

The Farewell Ceremony recently held for urrent Administration Officer Mr. Tung Kok Cheong was indeed a respectable event. There was both grief and joy in equal measures as the SJI NCC (Air) Company bid farewell to its erstwhile Commanding Officer (of the past) and incumbent Administration Officer, while wishing him a most fruitful and resting retirement.

The Ceremony commenced with a video presentation of Mr Tung’s past achievements in SJI NCC (Air) and his contributions to the development of the unit into what it has become today; a centre of excellence for Uniformed Groups training. The presentation was followed by a gift presentation on behalf of the Teacher Officers, who presented Mr Tung with a model aircraft as a memento of his years spent in the service of the Corps. On behalf of the cadets of the Unit, Mr Tung was presented with a card and vanguard sheets decorated with well-wishes and signatures, sincerely embellished by the cadets themselves. The Ceremony was concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony, whereby Mr Tung himself cut the first slice, and subsequently the company was treated to a slice of celebration cake. It was indeed a most significant event for the SJI NCC (Air) Company.

SJI NCC (Air) Company would like to wish Mr Tung a most peaceful and refreshing retirement, and to wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavours! May you continue soaring to greater heights!

Written by: 1SG Mikhail

Camp STEEL

All Secondary 2 cadets were required to go for Camp STEEL, a leadership camp organized by NCC HQ on 27 and 28 May. Upon reaching the camp venue, we split into 4 platoons, which we were to carry out our activities with for the duration of the camp. Selected cadets were given the opportunity to be in charge of organizing their platoon. We then went on to attend a talk by MAJ(NCC) James on the objectives of the camp, to deliver cadets who possess strong leadership competencies, as well as giving us tips on leadership and teamwork. In the afternoon, my platoon went for a paintball game, playing against each other in groups of 6. It was good fun for both the players and the spectators.

As part of the Leadership Competency Model (LCM), we had a Team Building Team Learning (TBTL) exercise, which we formed groups with cadets from different schools and discussed various teamwork strategies. Time was also set aside for self-reflection, and we were given journals to write down our reflections and notes.

On the next day immediately after breakfast, we had the Motivational Obstacle Course. During this obstacle course, we experienced various challenges such as climbing the high wall, attempting the leopard crawl and walking on the balancing beams. It was a thrilling experience and if not for time constraint, we would surely do the course several times! The highlight of this camp was rappelling. One by one, we rappelled down a 4-story building, some of us feeling rather fearful at first, but at the end everyone was satisfied with the experience.

The final activity of the camp was a leadership lecture by CPT(NCC) Angela, our Camp Commandant. Cadets learnt from this lecture what makes a successful leader, and how to improve our emotional intelligence so that we can, in future, handle any problems we may face and how to solve them with the best solution available. Through this camp, we have learnt to be future leaders for NCC, which can also be used in other areas of our life. In doing so, we also had an enjoyable and memorable Camp STEEL.

Joachim Tan

Freestyle Drill Competition

On the 14^th of March 2009, Saturday, 15 of our very own cadets took part in the Freestyle Drill Competition held by NCC HQ. It is a competition in which units choreograph freestyle exhibition routines and compete with each other. Many hours have been sacrificed in preparation for this competition, and SJI NCC (Air) would like to acknowledge these cadets for their hard work and participation.

Part C: Jit Ray, Andre, Ryan, Sean, Marcus, Kevin, Deeban, Nikolas, Jian Chern, Julian, Brian Koh

Part B: Daniel Goh, Joachim, Elton, Boon Seek

Part B Marksmen

The Unit would like to congratulate the following Part B cadets for achieving a Marksman standard during their IMT. We hope that others will use their example to aspire to succeed, similarly. Continue to work hard, and soar to greater heights!

Part B Marksmen:
Daniel Goh - 201
Joachim Tan - 202
Alexander Soo - 203
Elton Lim - 203
Aaron Koh - 205
Anchelski Teo - 205
Amirul Fazrin - 205
Isaac Chong - 211

Challenge Quest 2008

The following is a personal recount by 1SG K. Goutham, one of the participants and Specialists who participated in the Challenge Quest.

During October 2008, 4 NCC (Air) cadets (Balaji, Jit Ray, Goutham and Nicholas) participated in the annual Challenge Quest organised by MCC HQ. It is a fitness competition in which NCC units compete against each other in a fitness test comprising of push ups, sit ups, a run and an obstacle course.

All participating cadets were required to be dressed in their full No.4 (army fatigues) attire. After waiting about an hour for our turn, we finally got a chance to participate in our first event - push ups. Doing push ups in our uniform was harder than doing it in the PE attire though. We had to do as many push-ups as we could in a minute. Right after that,we had to try and do 50 sit-ups in a minute. Then we had to go for a run which i guess was about 1.6km. Most of us found running after the two strenous exercises really tough.

We encouraged each other to keep up and we did complete the run without stopping. Then came the most fun part of the test-the obstacle course. All of us managed to finish the course. Finally we waited for other teams to finish the course and for the results. We were provided with refreshments in the meantime. Though we were disappointed that we had not finished in the top 3, we knew we had all tried our best. It was a very meaningful activity which taught us the values of teamwork and encouragement, pardon the cliche.

Written by: 1SG K. Goutham

Congratulations CLTs!

I would like to congratulate, on behalf of SJI NCC (Air) Company, our 3 new C/OFFRs Jian Pheng , Lee Xun and Marvin for successfully completing their CLT course. Together with your experience and guidance, I’m positive that we would be able to soar to greater heights as one unit. Round of applause (Clap clap!)

JPChitty

NCC (Air) Pamphlet

The following is a brief journal as 1SG Ryan Lee gives a short description of what it was like to work on the NCC Pamphlet, an initiative newly introduced this year as part of our ongoing efforts to further educate parents and students about our CCA.

Doing this pamphlet was a great experience for me because it was my first time doing one. With much help from Mr Mok, I’ve finally produced a pamphlet for SJI NCC (Air). It was a challenging task because there are many points and information that have to be written in the pamphlet but there was not enough space to fit so many things into the pamphlet. Besides, the pamphlet would have looked too wordy for a pamphlet. I spent a quite a lot of time on the pamphlet, editing and asking opinions from both Mr Mok and Kok Keat. It was a great exposure for me as I learnt much more about SJI NCC (Air), not just within my Part, but also the Part As and Bs. I’m glad to have this opportunity to do the pamphlet for my CCA.

Written by 1SG Ryan Lee

NB: Anyone who wishes to view the pamphlet may send their request to "sjinccair06@gmail.com " with the subject header "PAMPHLET" in the subject field. Any other email will be ignored. Thank you.

Fitness Course

The SJI NCC (Air) unit would also like to acknowledge the participation of one of our cadets in a certain proficiency course. 1SG Ryan Lee attended the Fitness Programme conducted by PTIs from SAF on 26 & 27 Nov. After passing the course, Ryan is a certified fitness instructor of NCC.

Shooting Competition

The SJI NCC (Air) Unit would like to acknowledge the following cadets for their participation in the Shooting Competition held from 18-20 November 2008. We would like to applaud their efforts and their willingness to sacrifice their time dfor the competition.

Part C : Nicholas,Kok Keat, Lingges, Akid [Reserve: Frederick]
Part B : Kevin, Ryan, Sean, Andre [Reserve: Nikolas]
Part A : Isaac Francis, Alexander Soo, Anchelski Teo, Elton Lim [Reserve: Dominic, Gerald, Roy]

1-Star Kayaking Course

The 1-Star Kayaking Course is a course which aims to provide cadets with a basic understanding as well as techniques of kayaking, so as to enable them to survive even in marine conditions. Several NCC (Air) cadets participated in the course, and a personalised report follows.

Day 1

On the first day, all of us were excited to start kayaking; have fun and all that, but to our dismay, the fun could only be had later. We were taught the structure of the kayak, the anatomy of the paddles, and also the buoyancy vest. We were also told what to take note of; like the brief checks on our equipment, or if there was a hole in the kayak, if the buoyancy vest was safe for usage etc. But all that stuff was boring me.

Finally, the fun part arrived. We were told to gather in a circle and proceed into the cold seawater; this was the buoyancy vest test. Most people would have been familiar with this as this was what we had done during canoeing contact time in secondary one. Then we were taught the procedure of launching and also CAPSIZING! This was what I had dreaded at first, but when it was my turn and all had been done, I actually found it quite fun, you know, when water go into your ears and then you shout for help and stuff like that.

Then we had our lunch at the hawker centre. That was one of the times where we bonded not only with our part but also with the Part Bs (next year); although there were only two of them. Later, we kayaked in a small area, more like a canal, where Kevin was the first one to capsize, it may seem easy to maneuver it, but it actually takes a lot of skill; at the beginning, I too also almost capsized. Then were taught the different strokes which really helped during the period.

Day 2

When we reached Changi, we retrieved our equipment, carried the kayaks to the beach and waited for further instructions. Then we were taught the deep water TX rescue, it a kind of recue whereby if one guy capsized in the deep water, this would be really useful. Then, were we told to break into groups to carry out our own practice. In my group was Kevin, John and myself. It’s kind of scary as you could not feel the ground beneath your feet, and your life now depends on the rescuer and the assistant. It was really fun though. After our practice, we were told to gather, and we were taught more strokes to aid in our controlling of the kayak.

Sadly, right after we were told to break raft, I CAPSIZED! The worst was yet to come; less than 5 minutes after I had been rescued, I capsized (yet) again. How sad can that be? I was trying out the J draw, but I was too slow, causing me to capsize. So that was the third time I capsized that day. Then we also began riding the waves as there were many boats passing by, causing waves.
On that day, it was really choppy, so my cockpit was flooded. Notwithstanding, we had a present for NCC land; we were to capsize and they would save us. Haha [sic] , that was really fun.

By the time we reached the shore however, our legs were aching, but there was no time to rest, as we had to return all our kayaks. Then the instructor showed us the Eskimo roll and some other complex moves. So we brought the kayak back to the club, and had it washed before storing it. After washing up, we had our certificate presentation, and we were really proud of it, and I received the altogether unglamourous moniker, the “capsizer” (having capsized the most number of times).

Written by: CPL Shayne Yang

Part 'B' Leadership Camp - Pulau Ubin

25^th November - the first day of the Part B leadership training camp at Pulau Ubin. Everyone had such different feelings about it; excitement, trepidation. Some were excited to be able to camp in the great outdoors with their friends, while others were reluctant and upset about losing two days of their holidays. The purpose of the camp was to not only learn about leadership but also to be able to practice it. As a stimulating aid, CPT Mok Hsu Pan gave the cadets a talk about leadership, thus exemplifying the ideals of leading by example. Through the talk, the cadets learnt the vital qualities a leader should possess and what made a leader different from the rest.

Upon reaching Pulau Ubin, we proceeded to our campsite, pitched our tents and had lunch. Each group then revealed their amusing group names and performed their cheers before going on to their first activity: Formula R. This was similar to “The Amazing Race” where everyone was required to clear checkpoints situated around the island in the space of a certain allotted time. The prize? A 500ml bottle of Coke! This spurred us to do our very best. Through the whole activity, my group went through thick and thin, and was able to bond and strengthen our team spirit. Eventually we were able to achieve our goal and get the prize, after suffering through both hardships and savouring victories.

By nighttime, all of us had eaten our dinner and were ready to set out for the night activities, which consisted of the obstacle course, night walk, and isolation. These activities were the most hair-raising and exciting ones as they were carried out in the dark! We were most fearful, especially when 2SG Derek Tay bluffed us about Julian being bitten by a spider as big as his palm. We took on several roles of leadership throughout the night activities, and this helped us to be confident and overcome our fears, while learning to apply the previously learnt lessons about leadership in a simulated, practical environ.

26^th November - it was the second and last day of the camp. Quite a number of us were relieved as the activities were not as taxing as those of the first day. We had breakfast (MARSHMALLOWS!) and dismantled the tents, followed by games session at the concrete courtyard. Grins stretching from ear-to-ear were evident everyone’s face J as it was finally time to have some fun! I could see that everyone really enjoyed themselves, laughing and joking around. It was then time to say goodbye to Pulau Ubin as we headed back to school in Singapore.

At SJI, we ate our lunch (more food!) before having a lecture session conducted by CPT Teresa Lim. The talk was very helpful and it revealed to us the common problems leaders face with their followers, and consequently, how these problems could be handled proficiently and effectively. This was of especial importance for us as we would be taking over the SJI NCC Air Unit as NCOs in the near future.

We then had our promotion parade where we were finally able to be promoted from Lance Corporals (LCP) to Corporals (CPL)! The promotion was successful, with the identification of 7 cadets who had participated enthusiastically in the camp and actively taken on roles of leadership. Congratulations to the 7 cadets and to all newly-promoted Corporals. May we perform up to standard as corporals and exceed our expectations in serving our NCC Air unit! So help us, God!

I would also like to thank the Teacher Officers and Specialists who had kindly taken the trouble and to sacrifice their time to aid in the running of the camp, and making it a successful endeavour. They are CPT Mok Hsu Pan, CPT Teresa Lim, CSM Jeremy Chitty, SSG Kenneth Goh and SSG Muhd Akid, 1SG Eugene Lim, 2SG Derek Tay and 3SG Timothy Lee.

Written by: CPL Jit Ray

Photos

Hi guys. This announcement is for the ordering of photos which will be charged $1 per pictires and it would be A5 .Next, you MUST go to http://s405.photobucket.com/albums/pp138/sjinccair/ to chose your pictures. PLease tell us what pictures you would like to order berfore the end of this TERM. You would recieve your pictures when school reopen. You can inform me:Shayne, Kevin, jeremy chitty. Thank you

The following is a personal account by one of the selected participants for the Senior Specialists' Course, SSG Nicholas Fung. We hope that in publishing this personal account, more candour can be shown. We hope you enjoy reading it!

Ok. 4^th September 2008 - the start our three day long senior specialist course. Prior to the course, we had a course briefing and we practiced our arms drills and foot drills. Who are we? We are Jeremy Tang, Jeremy Chitty, Kenneth Goh, Nicholas Fung and Muhd Akid. We saw senior spec with mixed feelings, some of us were eager some of us were nervous.

Day 1: As me and Chitty walked into the camp and booked in, we could already feel the seriousness of the course. Everyone was eager to create a good first impression. Everyone was showing high standard. We split into our respective companies. Chitty was solo-ing in Echo Company. Me, Akid, Tang and Kenn were put into Foxtrot Company although I was in a different platoon. Tang, Kenn and Akid were lucky. They were in the same platoon. Well, in the morning, we had talks on the roles of the USM, words of command and pace stick drill by 1WO De Silva, SM NCC. The talks were interesting and we learnt a lot from it. Now, we now the proper way of giving a drill and how to use a pace stick properly. After lunch, we began lessons on advanced arms drills. We didn’t even hear of these drills before. Examples are Tatang Senjata, Bimbik Senjata, Baring Senjata, Angkat Senjata, Kaleh Senjata and so on and so forth. The purpose of us learning these drills is to make drills in school more interesting. It was followed by advanced foot drills. This included the official way of getting onto parade and the proper way of forming a “U”-shape formation. We will try to show these to you guys if we have time. We carried out our pace stick drills after that and dinner followed soon. The first came to a close with drill revision and night snack.

Day 2: Reveille at 6. Fall in at 6.30. Breakfast and then the much dreaded drill test. We started with foot drills. I didn’t feel very confident after my foot drill mutuals but after seeing how the others fared...... Never mind. As we had so much time, we did our arms drill mutuals and I can SAFELY that I redeemed myself. Lunch was a happy affair as we had finished our tests. Well almost. The NCC Air cadets were busy revising for their air syllabus test. In the afternoon, SM talked to us on the “illegal badges” and how to pin badges on the uniform properly. Then, he talked to us on organising a school parade. As usual, we found his talks very interesting. After dinner, the NCC Air cadets went to the theatrerette to revise our air syallbus. At this point, a sir( I shall not name who )gave us a big hint on what was coming out. We were overjoyed. When we sat for our paper, we found the hint most helpful. Thank you sir! After the paper, Maj Gary asked us on out school training programme and gave us helpful ideas and suggestions. Night snack and a briefing for the last day followed.

Day 3: Fall in at 6.10 with all bedding items and in half uniform. Breakfast followed by returning to bunks and collecting our belongings and heading to the MPH. The graduation ceremony took place after the AAR and we finally were given the coveted red and white lanyard and the staff sergeant rank. It was the end of a course that we found draining and yet useful to our development as leaders of SJI NCC Air.

Written by: SSG Nicholas Fung

Thank you all for your time, and we hope reading this has aspired all of you to continue to strive for your dreams, and to soar to greater heights!

ORA et LABORA