Problems less than a month ago

Okay, this goes out to my squad. Just 2 weeks ago, I was damn pissed with you guys (team taurus). When I told you guys to train, you guys lazed around. Some of you said that you needed more help since there was not enough manpower and pool of efficient com trainers to train the cadets. When I invited a bunch of Gemini ex-ncos to help, black-faces were thrown at me, saying that i did not seek the training nco's consent, when i actually did. Joel, i didn't mean to bypass you, really. I just felt that Gemini's want to improve sji-sjab was justified, even though they may have other ways different from us, the ways and methods which we detest. They thought they did a good job, but in our perspective, they did not, the previous batches did better. Likewise, we may be thinking that we are doing a great job, but who knows, in Scorpio's view, we suck! Gemini did a better job. If I put myself into their shoes, I'll be lost and confused, thinking: wad did we do wrong, why aren't we invited. Sjisjabbers, if you are reading this, whether you believed it or not, it was shawn chang( the last person i would hear from regarding the issue of Gemini) who indirectly and subconsciously stimulated this thinking in me. Nevertheless, AGI members don't worry, I'll still try my best to ensure that the superority of Taurus's reign would surpass that of Gemini.

Coming back to the topic, you guys(Taurus) seemed unenthusiastic and unbothered about the competition. When NCO helpers were called for, no one came, other than the one who was banned. Yong Shen, even though you wanted to compete, you weren't making the effort to come for com training, instead you went lan. Joel, when I asked you the other day if you guys would ever start preparing, both Zhi Yang and you rebuked by "like i care!" in Chinese. Even though we managed to sort things out eventually, this attitude cannot and should not carry on for nat.com. Matthias and Shawn, despite being reminded several times by me to put in your last bit of effort, you guys did not come for com training. I understand that we have our own busy schedules and social life, but can't we put in our best for our last year in SJI, and as Josephians. You guys mean a lot, and if you had come down to do your best, we would have achieved much greater results, and possibly a clean sweep for all 3 teams. A one-man show by myself can't do much, but if we actually combine our efforts, nothing is impossible. Thats why we are called a squad and not separate individuals. I hope that we can do our best as a united front at nat.com

I do not mean to look down on or insult anybody. From what Dr(I dunno his name), an ex-csm said, our standard is dropping. I just hope that we will be the squad that restores sji-sjab's past glory which had been lost through the years.

THE SJI-SJAB

To all those noobs out there, my one and only CCA is the SJI-SJAB. Less than one year ago, I assumed the leadership role of R&W1 (what a stupid name), since then things have not been working well due to previous.....

these years, sji-sjab could never achieve the "sji" standard

• we are often looked upon as nurses
• first aid isn't a highly respected thing among guys.
• Enrolment rate is very low
• discipline standard is dropping ever since the previous...

In fact, I personally feel that first aid skills are more important than lerning how to fire a bullet, tieing knots or doing baton drills. It is something that we can apply daily and will come in handy in times of a crisis.

In secondary 1, I had a "major" accident by falling off a bike into a canal. Even though I suffered minor bruises and abrasions, I was stunned at the speed in which the accident occurred and lay semi-conscious for a minute. Only later did I realise that my arms could not withstand the inertia of the fall, and my face had forcefully crashed into the concrete. Regaining consciousness, my entire shirt had been soaked in red gooey blood(mixture with saliva), within seconds, I was in a pool of blood. Fragments of broken teeth were floating around. My brother accompanying me was rooted to the gound too. A few passer-bys(maids) stopped to look, but NONE of them offered a helping hand, or at least a handphone. Finally, I took the initiative/the responsibility for my own life to get out of the canal. Trying to limp back to my house which was a long distance away,considering the state I was in, I left a trail of blood from my continuously bleeding mouth. Only one word rang in my head "doom".Unless a miracle occurred, I would die of haemorragic shock, the result of excessive bleeding. I did not care if i would ever look good again, all i wanted was to live.

It was then that a miracle did happened. My mum apparently drove out to find me, since it was time for dinner. Seeing help arriving restored confidence in my first aid skills. I actually went back to the canal to pick up the teeth fragments and PUT THEM BACK INTO MY MOUTH!! (can't believe i did that, yucks...thinking back...) Back home, i self administered first aid:

• Gauze paddings to reduce bleeding
• teeth fragments being put into a bag of milk
• cold compress to jaw to limit blood flow
• and leaving cold milk in my mouth all the way from home to hospital to prevent damage to tissues

Result: only 4 teeth damaged completely and no chance of repair

First aid is a life skill, learn it, don't lose it: my ex-first aid in-charge's saying. If any of you(sjab cadets) are reading this, that's the reason why i'm a first aid ic. and not footdrills or PT, even though i may take all roles at times.