No idea if there is a risk of getting dooced for making such an entry considering military topics to be highly sensitive. Fingers crossed.
Work hasn’t pile up as yet (at least not for me).
It seems that the formation has a healthy supply for National Education related programs ready for consumption or always in the progress of making. It is however regrettable to learn that the demand is not reciprocated by the demands within the units. As much as I understand that operational requirements are paramount when compared to peace time programmes, it is a displeasure to learn from your own people that most of the countless man hours are spent invested to prepare what is regarded as time wasters or “fill the slots” activities.
On the other hand, we have problems internally about a creative decision which it is further questioned of its potential value. (Notice that I haven’t been giving many details, but just take it that we have a problem within our own).
We were revolving around the idea this afternoon of incorporating Total Defence Day messages into SAF’s most popular event – Life Runs. The whole objective is to reinforce Total Defence ideologies and we hope to gain a penetration rate of 80% (estimated). The penetration rate is a challenge because such events are mostly regarded as potential time wasters. The second challenge is to make it a memorable one – starting and ending it with a “bang” is an ideal outcome. We don’t want it to end up being yet another National Education programme.
So, in order to make sure more people turn up, a traditional Life Run led by commander will be held. Since commander is running, most people will tend to turn up magically. So, we somehow managed to solve the attendance problem. We didn’t want to make it a “normal” run, so we intend to add visual effects along the way. No fireworks or glamorous air shows, but we want to have people mimicking and bring across the five Total Defence messages.
The conflict arises at this very point. Kieth questions the potential value that can be taken away, arguing that anything that lacks eye candy will look absolutely ersatz and anything too glamorous is not worth the few seconds of glory, while Eugene and I think the plan is still a viable, low cost and yet effective path to venture.
It brings me to ponder about BG Bernard’s farewell parade. Seeing the parade outcome through Kieth’s eyes, I could have concluded the same. We wanted to give BG Bernard a memorable farewell, we have a fabulous parade with mobile columns and high quality confetti, sure enough of eye candy. But then again, it was only short moments of glory. Then again, was it justified for the amount of preparation, man hours alone?
Sure it was for a general. But in our context, the number of beneficiaries is easily covered and should be on par with that of a general’s farewell parade judging that our cause is of a better significance and purpose.
But I am definite all of us started with the right foot off a common ground, we wanted to provide the best and the most memorable experience. Like Mdm Tin would have said, “Minimum efforts, Maximum yields”.
The reason why I am confident in this idea is probably because it’s refreshing. No one has done it (yet). It surely is memorable. It’s fun. And we want to bring such ideas across without being overly formal and serious.
After all, we learn better when having fun, don’t we?