Though many have known that some operations in 1st K.L. differs with most of the B.B. companies in Malaysia, my experience in the recent Pesta has made the picture even clearer.
Take the road-march event as example. I wonder if we are the only company where the three Staff Sergeants were covering the squad or the band from the rear while the Sergeants made the lead.
Or during the band competition, have you seen any blue slash(s) in the 1st K.L. band? It goes the same for the singing and dancing competition.
Don’t get it? Allow me to explain.
In 1st K.L., the highest ranking in Senior section is the Sergeant, who also chairs the N.C.O. (Non-Commissioned Officers) council. This rank-and-file structure is slightly different as compared to many local companies where the Staff Sergeants are the spotlights in that section.
I suppose this culture begin in 1st K.L. ever since I was 15, when I first promoted to be Lance Corporal. I saw my Staff Sergeants being appointed to the Junior section as helpers, leaving the Senior section to the Sergeant and his team.
To be specific, the Staff Sergeants in 1st K.L. nowadays are simply probationary Officers. They no longer step foot into the N.C.O. council nor any major functioning of the Senior section. This is why you don’t see a band major, or drill squad commander to be a Staff Sergeant.
In the absence of a Sergeant, like what happened in 2007 and 2009, the Corporals took the leadership position. Staff Sergeants were never allowed to interfere with the decision making process with the Seniors. However, they were allowed to sit at the advisory seat.
Being a Staff Sergeant myself, together with two of my best buddies, Kar Hoe and Sai Hong, we saw this as a turning point. It feels odd when we no longer could participate in the national level competitions, though our ages were still under qualification.
So whenever it comes to “only-Senior-section-activities” like National B.B. Pesta or State drill competition, the three of us could only be shouting our lungs out from the audience seat. Yet, I find that the three stooges kept finding ways to sneak in, at least to be part of the team.
Taking Pesta as an example again, the 1st K.L. Staff Sergeants volunteered to prepare the Boys for the competitions. To be more definite we were the managers of the team.
Sai Hong helped with the band, while Kar Hoe and I were there all the time for the singing team. Even during the actual competitions, we were the one helping to check the Boys’ uniform, making sure their instruments are there, bringing them water, running up and down to do the AV & lighting, staging, etc. Above all, we were the spiritual pillars for the Boys.
I find that when we help with these, we feel more belonged. I do admit that it is envious to see other companies where the Staff Sergeants could be the drill commanders executing the squads, lead singers soaring in the singing competitions, or the band majors directing the bands.
Nonetheless, we are proud to be there FOR the Boys instead of ourselves.
This week is going to be critical. We won’t know what is going to end up upon the three stooges. As our company’s Enrolment Service is to be held this Sunday, it marks our official age limit as Boys. Either we turn white, or (Insya Allah!) to remain in our blues, no one knows yet. All I know is that I have a passion to be an Officer but I have to leave for the States again in 7 weeks.
Through these 1.5 years of Staff Sergeant-hood, I’ve really learnt a lot. I learn to yell less and cheer more; I learn to punish less and motivate more; I learn to do less and pray more; I learn to sit back, and let the younger ones to take the lead.
This one more stripe on my right chevron did not set me apart from the Senior section but a stripe that raised the bar for higher service.
Dear Kar Hoe and Sai Hong, you guys have made my BB career colorful. I couldn’t imagine how much fun (and suffering, I am sure) I have missed from the nine months of B.B.-less when I was in the State. Thank you, for your support. This brotherhood will not be complete without any of us contributing to each others' life.
Here’s to the three stooges, and the memories we’ll cherish for generations to come.
