to tekan or not to tekan

this entry was inspired by benji and his entry on tekan-ing...

well...to set the course straight...most people might say that since i am in the white horse company...sure everything take it easy one...well...

in my J1 year...went through the YL that all my fellow 29th can relate to...was tekaned by 28th for the camp...some of the tekaning was senseless...pure meaningless if i might say...but i dug thru it and survived the camp...and i am proud of that...and i am sure all my fellow 29th are too...

then came J2...different role as an instructor now...the stance that i took to was that not to tekan...at least that was before OH...but after OH...seeing the attitude and lack of discipline from the participants...switched to the stance of tekan for discipline...during YL...we did tekan them a bit...but i did try to reign in the tekaning a bit...

then came army...i have seen specialists and officers tekaning the recruits for nothing...just brainless tekaning...but for my platoon...my ps and pc have a simple stance...do things right and on time...alls well...when things are not done properly and on time...or there is a lack of discipline...they will step in...they have done a lot of verbal reminders and encouragement for self-discipline...to sum it all...they push and pressure...but they dun tekan...

to me...i have never supported tekaning...for J1...can say that i was non-chalant about wad the 28th was doing to us...to me...wad i needed to do was simple...dug hard...pull through and try my best for everyone involved...cos everyone is trying their best...in this hardship that the 28th put us through...bonds were really formed...

ben is right that tekaning do not form bonds...but i must say that in times of hardship, ie thru tekaning, there exist a platform for everyone to support one another...and i feel that it is this support that will form bonds eventually...be it physical support...or just some verbal encouragement...to know that someone is suffering with you and helping you to pull thru...it is sth special and you will be able to relate to that person...so in a way or so...tekaning does form bonds...

wad we did to the 30th in YL last year...tho some may not agree...but i felt that it was justified...to me at least...to me...the trainees were a bunch of students who came to a camp expecting fun and everything to be ready for them...ie wrong mindset...then there was a lack of self-discpline and common bond amongst everyone...so we did step in...the tekan was to set the tone and pace right for the camp...like those in the army...timing is important...simple things like this is representative of oneself and the group as a whole...to quote from my pc...everything we do must have a purpose...and if whatever we do fulfils the purpose...we should just do it whatever the others might say or think...as long as we are accountable to ourselves at the end of the day that we tried to do sth good...to me...we tried our best to change the 30th for the better...even if it had to be tough methods...sure...there were moments during the camp that i felt that certain things were unnecessary...but i did not impose my will on others...just stepped by the side to make sure things dun go out of hand...

for the army...well...experiences differ...and i feel that the discipline that comes from tekan is of zero value compared to self-discipline that is instilled thru other methods...so for me...i dun like to be tekaned for no good reason...but i dun give it a heck and just make sure that i go thru it the best way i can...this is what i believe army life is about...learning and adapting...not going against and lamenting...

wa...long entry liaoz...think the thoughts might be a little messy...hehez