Posted on 28-Oct-2014
Written by Sergeant Jack Lim Kuan Wei, 12th Kuala Lumpur Company
September 22nd, 2014
Boys’ Brigade activities hardly come to a stop even during school holidays. For my Company, our Officers decided to proceed with our parades during the recently ended one-week term break (13–21st September 2014) as we are in the our final laps of completing our badgework classes. Calling for the parades might be the best way to push the Boys to work for their awards before the final examinations start in a couple of weeks’ time.
The parade on 13 September 2014, being the first day of the term break, started as usual but it was drizzling before NCOs fall in at 7.25am. Hence, the Parade Commander for the day, our faithful Sergeant Ong Wil Sern, called for NCOs to fall in at the Chapel. Every NCOs were early to fall in. After inspection and briefing, we all proceeded to take our places, getting ready for the Opening Parade. Some NCOs were sent down to our usual parade ground to inform the Members. During the opening parade, our PC reported a total of 50 Boys present. In my mind, I thought that was a good number for a holiday. Apparently many of them came back for the sake of going for games after the Parade. But the fact that they came back for parade was a good sign of their passion towards the Company in anyhow.
Parade activities were carried on usual on that day; Praise and Worship, Squad Bible Study, Squad Drill and Badgework classes. Thank God the rain stopped before we started our Drill. Else, we really wonder where all Squads could go for the Session. It was a good feeling though, being able to have the entire school for our use! Our Officers said that it was good to make BB presence felt in the school. I couldn’t agree more to that!
Parade ended as usual at about 12.30pm. Our usual Drumline practice was called off however as some of us were staying back to complete two main tasks for the Company and for the school – spring cleaning of our beloved Anchor Room and the planting of basil seeds. You might ask why are we planting basil seeds? Well, the basil plant is actually in line with our school’s eco-project. We would need to wait for the basil seeds to grow for the next 6 weeks before transplanted back to the school compound. As for our Anchor Room, it was few months back when we last cleaned up the room. As our Officers were having their meeting in the canteen, we were happily spring cleaning the Anchor Room. Before we knew it, it was almost 5pm and time for us to head back home. A tiring day, but it was all worth it.
We all went our separate ways home and had a good rest for the next five days before coming back on 20 September, which was two days before school reopens. NCO fall in was as usual at 7.25am in the assembly ground. Together with Sergeant Ong Wil Sern and Corporal Nicholas Ng, we did the uniform inspection. Halfway through, it started raining and we adjourned to the chapel. This time round, we only had an approximately 40 Boys for the parade.
Led by Sergeant Ong Wil Sern, the Praise and Worship session started at 8.00 a.m. with songs “With Christ in the Vessel”, “Nothing is Impossible” and “Christ is Enough”. As there were not many of the Boys, we felt a warmer fellowship with one another. Quick announcements were made by Mr Andrew after that. He instructed us to take down notes as he was going to tell us of the plans for the coming weeks till the last parade. Many Boys were on cloud nine when they heard that next week, we are going to have a swimming outing in the PJ Sports Complex!
Squad Time started at 8.25am with Corporal Brian explaining to us what we would be learning today from the Bible Study. After he explained the objectives, all Squad Leaders were instructed to take the materials to share in their respective squads. Smaller squads were combined for the session. The Bible passage that we studied on was James 1:2-4, talking on a growing relationship we have with Jesus. Following that, Mr Andrew led us to do sum up what we have learned on from the passage.
At 9.15am, all Members were called down to the assembly ground for the drill session among the squads. Today, the squads had a recap on what they have learnt for the past few weeks. Before the members were called to their respective badgework classes at 9.50 a.m., all the Drill Team Members had a brief demonstration for the members on how to properly form a squad. The badge work classes ran smoothly until the closing parade at 11 a.m. in the chapel.
Second attendance was taken before we were released to our second badgework slot. At 12.30 p.m. most of the members went back home after their classes. Some of them stayed back to play sports. We were supposed to have our NCO Council in the chapel before we were caught by surprise when one of the parents bought in cake to celebrate the birthday of one of our Lance Corporals, Lance Corporal Ajith Nair. It was then we all realized that today was Lance Corporal Ajith Nair’s birthday and a celebration was held in the canteen. Therefore, we could only start our NCO Council meeting at 1.00 p.m. in the chapel.
During our NCO Meeting, we deliberated on various issues on hand and discussions were held to plan for the upcoming events throughout the year. The NCOs were dismissed at 3.00 p.m. after a fruitful discussion. Another long day gone and everyone wished the holiday could have been longer as this holiday has passed by too quickly. These two parades; 13 and 20 September, however were not just any usual parades we have had so far though. Doing a quick count, we NCOs have achieved three main tasks for this term break; planted basil plant as an effort to contribute to the greenery surroundings for the school, spring cleaned and gave our Anchor Room a fresh new look and had a fruitful NCOs Council meeting with a surprise birthday celebration. I would say it was a week that was well spent. Till we meet again in the next parade!