To Lead, To Excel, To Overcome.

Face the setting sun, wave goodbye to the old, and welcome the new. Tomorrow's a new day. Goodbye.

To say that the day was the run of the mill, so very alright-normal-average would be the very understatement of the year, to each fresh faced private barely out of the sunny island of Tekong. And personally, the honor goes to the lovely mixture of trepidation, excitement, apprehension, fear, exhilaration that made the day, whilst the troubled heart attempted to reason and piece coherent thoughts together, to map the route ahead, unfortunately to no avail. For with the elation follows the anxiety, the excitement, worry, though not overly incessant.

Yet for every clap on the back, every word of congratulation; it was yet another form of acknowledgment that one would have to live up to, another milestone to achieve. Many have done it, traversed the beaten track, lived the precipitous climb, lived to see the next day. So will we. So will I.

To lead, to excel, to overcome. I can do it.

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"For the simple fact that everything you will go through will test your mettle, in every area. And if you are not up to it, you will suffer. It's as simple as that. And it's even tougher after you pass out from OCS, that's when your responsibilities really begin. Being an officer is not about wearing that rank; the two pieces of cloth you wear on the shoulder will NOT automatically earn you the enduring respect of the men who will depend on you to take care of them. You will be constantly under scrutiny, from your superiors and the men you are leading. You must have the right attitude and disposition, and the ability. They augment each other, but they must add up to make you worthy of holding command. Enjoy the process, make friends, help each other. Be yourself."