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Temburong Stint

Friday, 01 December 2006

MINDEF SCHOLARS TRIUMPH OVER TEMBURONG STINT

Taking a break

Misty-eyed and blissfully unaware of what lay ahead, the recipients of the 2005 and 2006 Mindef scholarship meandered their way to the heart of Temburong in the early morn of Saturday 30th July to undergo a week-long course with Outward Bound Brunei Darussalam (OBBD) lasting till Saturday 5th August. The lull of the morning soothed the minds of this group of pampered soft-foots. The initial unease at severing ties with family and civilisation was appeased by the tranquility of river. What was in fact a mere ripple of change would result in waves that would distort the gentle, smooth-flowing streams of our daily lives. It was finally time for us to worm our way out of our dusty old mindsets and put everything into perspective.

Doing our part to save the rainforest

Above all else, the OBBD experience fosters ties between participants, enlightening them of the gravity of good teamwork. This was apparent from day one, where participants were continually dealt with a barrage of activities designed to do so, ranging from team-building exercises, abseiling to kayaking. Apart from the idle amusement derived and overpowering sense of accomplishment, one simple yet invaluable message was being relayed each time – independence was all well and good, but there are times where it fails and one will have no choice but to put one’s faith in others in order to proceed. Together, a team is capable of soaring greater heights than the lone wolf.

As a team, the program proceeded with a three-day land expedition consisting of jungle trekking and a marathon of kayaking. Considering the flimsiness of our muscle mass, it became immediately apparent that many of us were physically ill-equipped for such an ordeal. It did not help that by the third day, the rigours of the terrain and fatigue had switched off all major brain activity. However, we discovered that despite obvious physical limitations, we were able to complete the expedition – with no small measure of blistering and bruising. What truly mattered were determination, perseverance and the collective spirit of camaraderie. The cadence of the journey was one of optimism and of mutual trust and support. Without this, it is doubtful whether a sense of purpose and drive towards our goal would have been sustained as we waddled along in obscurity. In danger of sounding woefully inept, our jungle trek could unfortunately only be described as a twelve-hour waddle through brush and bramble.

A lesson in teamwork - 'Trust fall'

The drudgery and stresses of the expedition served to ultimately crumble away the veneer of the frail human shell that we all wear to reveal a trove of potential lurking within each individual. Each passing moment was accompanied by the discovery of strengths and weaknesses at both a personal level and within the group as a whole. As each participant saw their fellow participants’ defences dissipate and their inner strengths emerge, an air of respect and understanding took hold and continued to resonate till the final day.

Practical Abseiling

Completing the expedition became a source of pride and self-confidence, preparing us for upcoming challenges. Contrary to what we had anticipated, the end of the land expedition did not mark the end of our encounter with Mother Nature. Instead, we were required to spend the night solo camping. The mere thought of being alone in those pitchblack twilight moments in the jungle was enough to strike a twinge of fear into even the hearts of the more courageous of the lot. Recoiling at the thought of isolation, we frantically clawed at what little lessons we had learnt along the way – anything that would reassure us that we would survive the night unscathed. Unlike previous exercises which prioritised teamwork above all else, independence and self-confidence came under scrutiny. In order for a true team to be forged of respect and trust, each member must possess unwavering confidence in not only other members but also himself so that he can unfalteringly shoulder his share of the burden. Surprisingly, the night passed uneventfully, leaving everyone suitably pleased with themselves for enduring the isolation with naught but a few insect bites to show.

A little bit of fun by the river

Although physical fitness may be deemed as secondary to mental fitness, its role is just as pivotal. Without any level of physical prowess, the mind and body will find it difficult to work in tandem to perform the task at hand. Seeing the state of our sorry excuse for fitness, the instructors assigned us to a course of 7km, which was to be completed within an hour. To us feebly-built bookworms, it came close to a death sentence. In spite of that, willpower drove us forward and most battled the odds and triumphed, ultimately completing the course within an hour. Perhaps this pack of bookworms could wriggle their way to victory after all. Considering that many of us are aspiring military officers, the revelation was slightly disheartening and we saw there was much left to be desired. However, it was a useful gauge to assess our capabilities in order to plan how much further we had to better ourselves.

Hovering into the realm of the future, it is evident that the memory of this experience shall always be cherished. It not only represents more than a milestone achieved in realising our potentials, for with that discovery is the ability to work on something more substantial by nurturing strengths and eliminating shortcomings. In doing so, one’s potential may grow. This is what Mindef desires and expects - a growing pool of capable candidates who are able to construct a path to a common goal in unison, with unwavering focus and drive. This may serve to bridge the chasms separating any of the units within the ministry, smoothing out relations and plant the seeds for the future by nurturing also candidates who are capable of command and accepting command. The renewed appreciation for the simpler things in life will boost one along no matter where one goes.

OBBD Instructors with MINDEF/RBAF Scholars

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