Farewell text 

Hello guys!

It's been a great pleasure to be in SRF Platoon 3 meeting all of you here! 

It's wonderful that I met so many awesome people that made my NS journey so much more bearable and even fun! 

Thanks for all the joy and laughter we had! 

I started off SRF being like an alien, since I come back from PRV course, but eventually u guys are very much friendly and approachable. I learnt many things through you guys to help me blend into SRF. 

I'm grateful of being posted here as I guess the system here is much like the ideal system I would want. I believed that the new world leadership is whereby leaders say what they want to achieve and men work things out for them, and together they have good welfare, understanding one another, understanding as matured human beings with trust and responsibility.

*for all laojiao, commanders n troopers*

So here in SRF I thank each of you to cooperate, and slowly, hand in hand, to slowly achieve this vision I have. Not many conflicts and not too many politics here. Commanders have our welfare in mind and always fight for our rights and benefits. I thank you all for giving me the chance to realise this. (This applies only to plt3 commanders.)

You may have many opinions on me. I apologise if there were certain social interaction flaws I have, that I might have offended you in one way or another, be assured I bear no grudges and probably I don't even realise them. Some of u have sponge a lot of old man wisdom, some I just gave up, sry about that no time for everyone, I can only influence so much, up to u all to absorb.

Sorry that many times I do things way more than I'm expected to, because I feel that it's always the extra 1% that I can only grow, because 1.01^365 is 37.7 but 1% less effort means 0.03. There are days where I cut corners ofcoz, but as long as it's not too much of my effort I strive my very best, I hope for your futures out of SAF to be like this too! 

*for all laojiao troopers*

I especially thank those that really did the extra mile for our platoon, those who had to come back on 90ntm to cover, to postpone appointments because we are lacking of men, and even small things like helping to carry ilbv and helping out on Monday stores. 

During training, I am heartened to see you guys taking the initiatives on how to fight missions, to switch roles so that certain positions are not too taxing. The level of chemistry, pls keep it up! Esp section 2! 

These are things I find makes our platoon who we are. We look out for each other, help each other, and work together. *I see teamwork in Mission I see communications in decisions*, thank you all so much. 

*for all commanders*

As for the commanders, thanks for entrusting me with many responsibilities, to put up with my muddle-headed-ness, rebellious attitude, casual talkings and straightforward-ness. I sincerely think all of you are great people! You are *receptive to rebuttals, coherent in commands and sincere in service*. 

*for all laojiao mounting ppl*

Thanks for the many mountings I have, for how many $120 and tomahawks we ate, all the food outings, overseas and cohesions we have, all the jokes the accents and legendary moments we have, the changi airports the muffin maggie the sean chan the naruto the harlerm shake in toilet and all the many many others funny unforgettable stories. I come from those Tanglin days and shifting of bunks, those were the great days, n up till these days, we still have the "never to bojio boshare bobrother" commitment. These made up to what we are, our identity. 

*for all laojiao troopers*

I thank my fellow friends who surprises me at 12 midnight on my birthdays, and for supporting the KTV cohesion. I thank too for all the bday cakes I bought, along with the pranks and surprises planned. 

*for new troopers*

I believe life will be a better place, if people achieve understanding and harmony, by empowering people to in turn empower ourselves, by focusing on nurturing assets, by accepting differences, by taking ownership of own life, own well being, own trainings, own management. 

Well for the new troopers, the journey head won't be easy, there's a whole load of information n skills waiting for u to sponge, no matter how much u don't like whoever, you gotta adapt, you gotta take sometime to uncover the many stories behind every character, you gotta have patience, have understanding, you gotta compromise, you gotta find a common ground to work things out, because u fight as a section, each of unique roles, and u gotta perform well! With chemistry, if not at least SOP.

Approach senior troopers when in doubt, esp ppl like Julian or Feng Long, and when they ask u do things pls help, I don't like hearing people say "no don't want" it's damn rude and disrespectful, shows how shallow your character! Help each other in stores and other stuffs to help out platoon function better! Think before u act don't sabo ur platoon mates! 

Pls do your roles well. Gotta work smart, work hard, work together, cannot man mode cannot half fk. Because ure in here by chance, but how you benefit or contribute is by choice, you gotta take ownership of it!* 

Oh and I think u all should come out with a *SRF fund*, to buy things like air refresher for the bunks, and mounting utensils like pans and woks or other cooking equipments. Mounting ingredients is mounting section settle for every mount not in the fund. Pls help each other for example is pepper n salt finish don't be stingy, the upcoming mounting section help replenish. Things like oil eggs no need replenish cuz every mount confirm buy new. 

*for all senior troopers still in SRF*

As for senior troopers, u gotta step up to teach to guide to inspire to groom, because what u are dealing with are new from the scratch troopers. Don't forget we all been there done that, u can do a better job passing down the info. *You are to teach who are given to you, not who you like to teach, to work with the people of right now, not the people you used to have, it's an extremely tough job, but you're given this life, landing in this position, because you are strong enough to live it!* Jyjy!

*for Megat, Feng Long, Julian, Yong Wei*

You have to be drilled to sect comd lvl, think specs lvl, what to be done, what to achieve. 

Eg:

- Every night briefly say the next day plan is what, who do what who help what

- in Mission think what is sect comd responsibility can help for example in PRV conduct overturn drill, force prep, or ask for reinforcement, linking process, etc. Take over admin matters like IPPT results, offs, leaves, (with date used and date gained) etc 2IC collate and keep updating every week

- driver IC (Julian) to collate Drivers mileage, class 4 mileage, accumulated and monthly

*for all current SRF troopers*

*Don't be too calculative.* Try not to expect benefits everytime you make the extra effort, think more on the bigger picture, the section the platoon the company, if you can help, please help, even if it seems unfair. As you don't do things to impress, that doesn't mean people don't see your works. 

*Contribute generously*, in terms of help and participation. Your rewards maybe intangible, the respect, the friendship, the trust, and who knows when there comes the time when you needed help.... 

*Accept changes*, like the ying yang 8 trigrams, its curved divisor suggests movement, means that equilibrium or zero sum is only achieved with time in consideration, in 3 dimensional picture. Nothing stays bad or good all the time, but there are traces of bad in good and good in bad. I hope that you will embrace changes, to have the courage to change the things you can, and serenity to embrace the things you can't. 

Don't deem things to be useless or futile too fast, you may think some experiences are waste of time, *but life is precisely so, like a tree*. It's made out of branches of various shapes and sizes. Some are useful, with many leaves, some blooms, but some whither, some are barren. But these experiences made up the entire tree. 

*One mountain is always shorter than another*. There are always mountain lower that you out there. Don't feel too bad for yourselves, have pride! Whilst not forgetting there are taller mountains, then aim! So never think you are incapable, you are not! You are awesome! You are good hands! You are talents! Thinking individuals! 

There are some things I wished to improve still:

- *communications*, we all have whatsapp, communicate if the actions you do involves others, let commanders know too, for accountability purposes. 

- *gratitude* when u receive something, THANK! when someone help u do something, THANK! Pls show ur ICs and commanders some gratitude! When ur ICs and commanders gives instructions, follow! ROGER!!  No need all but at least someone!!! People write bday wishes well wishes respond!!!! Ppl ask question reply!!!!! If donno ask others who might know!!!! Ask until u get the answer to answer back!!!! Initiatives!!!!!!! 

- *clarification*, if unclear, ask, if donno, ask, if know, apply, if understand, help those tht don't. Eg: 

Person A say go point X

Person B say go point Y

clarify with person B saying person A say go point C, then tell person A that person B say go point Y, they will discuss and get back to u, *NO MATTER WHAT RANK*

- *cohesiveness* within our platoon, train hard together, so as to finish training fast and sweet, no need for unhappiness or lousy AARs after that, either way we do have a lot of admin times. Help other platoons too, unconditionally, after all we are all one SRF. 

- *laziness* it's in our nature, but if you don't do, eventually someone else must do, so pls do! Some things have a larger consequences if not done properly, don't cut corners! You can be lazy but not irresponsible, that's what in trying to say.

- *discern* the weaker ones, help them, cover them, do something to cover everyone's weakness, while doing so slowly try to improve them

- *character* , I believe in character upbringing. Simple things like always leaves a place better than, or at least as good as, the state when you came. Easy, stand by area. It's really not about army discipline, is about character, respect to the place, and to the people before that who maintained the place. These are auto, if u see dirty help clean if u see untidy help keep. If u are a guest at someone else place help maintain and area cleaning because character, they are NOT obliged to help. 

- *mounting* it's like chalet, don't keep lying on your bed doing your own stuffs, do things together! Even if it doesn't interest you still do! So there will be bond, so there will be more understanding of each other. Take some time to accommodate to everyone's interest! I really wish I could have made everyone learn cooking and stuffs I apologise for not doing so. Pick up guitar, pick up games, virtual, sports or board, watch movies, sing songs, altogether! 

- *accept* everyone's differences and give and take, sound off of unhappy, accept criticism, work out a common ground whilst not compromising Cohesion or Mission. 

Ok talked too much, oh well hope I make changes to all of you, till we meet again!! 

Oh yes among all these the plt rules! Pls do not forget to Mandi (bathe)

I envision a platoon where people are willing to help each other (commanders or men) whenever they can, everyone to remember to care for the *Mission AND Men*, a balance is achievable, the greatest test of leadership is to have 2 different sides but yet able to function in unity, the most important word among the 3 is "AND"

My last days in SRF quite mentally shagged I was not in the best state of mind and behaviour to be a role model so take the meat throw the bones (learn the good part throw the bad), apologise for that, may be quite bahlonglong at times, but please don't learn that, learn more to be humble and respectful to each other. 

Left the platoon in a mess cuz I failed, in terms of I should have done a better job grooming others than grooming me, because in SRF it's ultimately not about one person can do everything but one person can inspire everyone to do everything together, because *we are only as strong as our weakest link*. Pls do a better job on this than me! 

It is how you function without a leader that actually determines how good is the leader. 

Pls help ur commanders and PC! 

Probably won't see me in SRF anymore unless visiting (or so I hope) 

Ok, sayonara!! 

Oh ya pls take care of your health and safety! Can't afford to status cuz one persons welfare may one another's suffering. If selarang fall down i have fastem gel to anti swell, if swell use hot water rub if sprain then blood clot then use ice, if dry cough drink honey eat medicine at fridge if wet cough got the coconut brand cough syrup too, if diarrhoea eat norit x 3 and snectra x 3, 5 hours one time, 4 times, should be fine by then. Okay? 

Rights ciao.