Posted on 03-Nov-2014
Reported by Lance Corporal Teh Eng Hong of 12th Kuala Lumpur Company
October 21st, 2014
Being a new NCO on board, we are told by our seniors, the Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) is a really vital part in the Saturday parade. They are very important to keep the parade running as it should be. But in what aspect? Let’s find out.
What is your impression of the NCO? Are they scary, intimidating, or the shadows or workers of the Officers? Or maybe your answer could be : people who usually possess their usual catchphrase: DOWN 10! Actually, no. They are leaders; Members who have risen over all odds to earn their stripe/stripes. The Lance Corporals, Corporals, Sergeants form a council that is tasked to run the Company, and hopefully can solve every single problem that could ever pop up. Yes. They can be your friends. At the same time, they can also be your superiors.
NCOs are important in the Saturday Parade to ensure that things run smoothly. Members have to understand that every BB Parade has to run smoothly regardless of the weather or the attendance turn out. NCOs can get scolded by the Officers if things go wrong. For example: if the Logistics is not prepared or prepared last minute, or during Drill session where members are in disorder, or simply Members are lacking in discipline – these would require the NCOs being answerable to the Council. This is just one of the contributions of the NCOs in the weekly parade. 
Another factor is NCOs help to maintain discipline in the parade. Discipline is also one of the pillars of The Boys’ Brigade. Without discipline, things can go sideways in the Parade very easily; as easy as answering a simple Math question such as 1+1. Let me further elaborate. Are these incidences examples of discipline maintained: Members playing with handphone games, or Members not listening to whomever is talking in front, or one Member is eating in the chapel where the rest of us are having our parade, or a group of new Recruits making a lot of noise so much so that we could hardly hear any announcement that was being made, or any Members seen fooling around during Praise and Worship session? The answer is a gigantic NO! Those incidences mentioned need to be taken care during the Parade. This is also one of the works or duties of NCOs in the parade.
All NCOs have been told that in any BB Parade, discipline and order are to be maintained. NCOs play a vital part to ensure that the parade runs smoothly and not in chaos. NCOs are to ensure that everything runs smoothly. By now, some of you would say this is easier said than done. It demands the co-operation from all other Members. As it was said: a plan is good as it is on paper. Officers can come out with any plans to make Parade interesting, to keep the Parade going and NCOs are supposed to help to ensure that these plans get executed effectively.
One more role of an NCO in the parade is to inspire others by setting good example for the Members to model after. An effective NCO displays leadership through example. And when I say leadership, you can’t get leadership by just sitting down in a classroom and reading a textbook. No. You have to learn it through experience. A good example would be a NCO teaching drill. He does not just say, this is “senang diri, follow me!” No, that is not how it is done. An NCO’s leadership skills and qualities are vital to the betterment of the company and the smooth running of a BB Parade.
To all BB members out there don’t think of us NCOs as chevron wielding Members who like to boss people around. Think of us as your friends. In fact, think of us as your true friends - because NCOs are vital to the smooth running of the BB parade. NCOs are given the stripes with responsibilities and with that one or two or three stripes, we are to maintain discipline and order in our Company. All tasks given to us are all part and parcels of our duties. Maintain order, execute tasks, run the Company well alongside the Officers as our mentors – all these are part of a Parade day in an NCO’s line of duty.
Page Created: 4th November 2014