MUHAMMAD ADIB BAZLI BIN SYARIFUDDIN

This year has been a really fun year, and funny. Why? It is a simple question and only requires a simple answer. I am the vice-president of JKM KTDI and my seat is- my chair at home since everyone does that. This covid year has since seen the incremental number of work from home, and I wonder if this, in future will be considered something normal? Right now, in 2020-2021 it is a normal thing, but I wonder how about in the next 5 years, 10 years? Well, at least, there is something that can I can tell someone about my experience as the vice-president of JKM KTDI.

The job and the task itself are easy, but it is a very time-consuming task. Sometimes, you will think, there are too many meetings in place, but remember you still a student. You don't simply complete the whole job in a single night, because in JKM, you organizing a lot of programs that will cover the whole year, 2 semesters, or 1 year's worth of the program. It also requires intensive planning since we deal with a lot of people, outside of UTM included. We carry the face of UTM, as well as KTDI. It is a no simple matter. However, it is fun because of the program that we are running, we choose and plan the program. From A-Z we design the whole flow of the program course. Naturally, we took the fellow advice and the program must be approved by HEP but the autonomy that we are given is exhilarating. That is exactly the reason if our participants enjoy or not enjoying the program it is up to us. At the time of writing, I am only still serving the JKM for 6 months, but it is a very educational experience, in fact, I'm sure that a lot of my skills gathered here can be used in the working environment. Additionally, I don't think it is limited to the working environment as I am sure that it is also can be used in daily life. The only question that matters is if we can do adapt the ability to the best use.

This is one of the most interesting projects that I have worked on because unlike another project that I have joined, I usually end up as a participant where I don't usually have any power to decide the flow. That is one matter, but this time, it is different since we made a program where we decide the flow, and somehow we invite upcoming world-renown entrepreneurs. This entrepreneur that I'm mentioning here is not your typical entrepreneur but instead someone that has been featured on Forbes Asia 30 under 30, which is a big deal. What that actually means really? Well you see, Forbes is a media business company and they publish a magazine. This magazine we speak of is similar to Michelin Guide but instead of giving ratings to food, Forbes rate a lot of this, this is including entrepreneur. For example, if your name appears on the world's billionaire list means you are a billionaire. It is that simple, and this 30 under 30 Asia category means you an outstanding individual aged below 30 years old. Our panel that we collaborate with is someone that was listed there, which is Mr. Arif Tukirman. Basically, this program is a collaborative program which someone of high caliber.

1) Mini Report: What does it take to be a part of an organized armed force unit, as a future Platoon Commander. This training programme held on Friday and Saturday every three weeks. Guided by the Malaysian Army Doctrine and trained by a qualified trainer, this training course is not your average training programme. It pushed one individual to his limit, hones their skills, disciplines their thoughts and everything it took to turn no one into a future proud commissioned officer. Teamwork and leadership skill is indispensable as your gun since all it took to be a part of an organized unit is just magnificent teamwork. Participant also has a better oversight of their own capabilities and perhaps a chance to improve which is usually to be ignored in other cases. A lot of soft skill with a significant quality can be applied to our daily life which also the very reason that this programme collaboration was established with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Defence.

2) Self Reflection: I always thought in the military, it is all just about how good is your gun and maybe a little bit of discipline. Turn out I was wrong; it is all about cooperation, good teamwork, how to work together as a platoon but with a single head. How you'd play your role, how you understand each other, how much you know each other, what does he like, what is his parent name. It is all about moving together and but with excellent teamwork. I always heard that it is crucial to work as a team, but this training makes it clear as a day to me. I also can see my own capabilities, such as how I good I can react in a panic decision, how much stamina that I have, for better or for the worse, my own good and just how much do I am shaking in front of a crowd for public speaking. For an instance, I always thought that I have enough confidence to do just a simple thought, and it turned out, my mind went completely blank when I took up the stage. Therefore, I know that I need to overcome it. I will.

1) Mini Report:

This activity is one of the most challenging exercises in the UTM Reserve Officer Training Unit. As a matter of fact, most of the other activity which is solely decided and managed by the Malaysian Army Unit. This training activity is, however, was organized under the collaboration between the Malaysian Navy and the Malaysian Army since this training requires the participant to jump off from 5, 7, and 10 Meter diving platform located at UTM Swimming Pool. The content of the lesson itself is to jump from the diving platform at each respective height. Therefore, there is no real need to know how-to or having a swimming skill. However, the Malaysian education system is not known to teach their students how to swim, which is an essential skill to survive. This activity undoubtedly will develop a light aquaphobia among cadets who do not know how to float on water, let alone swimming. The task to jump from such height is also not a small feat. In fact, a study found that acrophobia is affecting as many as 1 in 20 individuals. The inability to swim and jump from an unusual height will undoubtedly challenge one concise and emphasize the trauma.

It should be noted that there is a fleet of certified lifeguards and expert below the platform preparing in a case when things went downhill. Even if that the case, the accumulated fear from both water and height is slowly draining one trust and confidence. Although the task is as simple as ‘jump,’ the real challenge is to trust and relax. At that moment, the UTM swimming pool must have seen a multiple series of distrust and failure.

2) Self Reflection:

In the early day of ROTU recruitment, UTM has given me two choices: Navy or Infantry. I choose the latter since I have a terrible history with water. There is a saying, “What is a life, without the spices,” which hit me real hard, something that I never expected from this training doctrine program. I tried to run from something that I afraid of. Now here it is looking for me. My life lesson does not end here as when I enter the grand stage, it overwhelmed me. The sight of blue water, the reflection of the sunlight, and the smell of chlorine starting to consume me, leaving me with a cold shiver. I was given two choices, tuck my tail and run away or overcome myself and my fear. Living in society is nothing but full of deception, and it is not uncommon for your boss to request something unreasonable. It dawns upon to me that, if I run from myself now, will I, when I really need it, able to face myself later? I was afraid, but I know that I had to do it. The instruction is unambiguous, report, jumps, and get into safety. I believe that I have learned a life-long lesson in this activity. It is the importance of trust, the ability to stay composed in a distress situation, and the quirk to adapt to any change. You might want to ask just how jumping into the water from such height made you learn all of it; it does not make any sense. The key lies in fear of death. You simply lost your reasoning, distrust everyone. There, I know how inefficient it is when you start to panic and act beyond reason, and perhaps I should prepare myself.

1) Mini Report: A part of the training doctrine requiring Officer Cadets to complete three 14-day courses of yearly camping. Comparing this camping event, another training activity is pale in comparison since a lot of ATM official involved in the training, including a few guests from Malaysian elite units, Grup Gerak Khas (GGK). It is a harsh training that challenges one physical and mental capabilities. Lack of sleep, shivering in the cold at night, sleeping in the rain, shrinking feet and endless march comes with it as a combo set. It is known to reshape someone character, completely change someone into a new person. This training is also intended to boost the cadet relationship with their comrade since they had to help each other whether it is during it is easy-time or hard-time. It is then they know what is that means to support each other and all of this experience and relation is surely useful in latter time in life.

2) Self Reflection: In a platoon, there will be a platoon commander and a platoon sergeant. I was the latter, which mean I was responsible for everyone under me. It also means that I had to take punishment from them, which is critical thinking skill is essential. I had kept everyone in order while in tired, shrunk feet, please our superior, which is why thinking skill is critical. Furthermore, to avoid punishment is by not giving them a reason, and to achieve that, I need a severe thinking skill. What will happen next, when something is going to happen, how to avoid it from happening again, a real deal. We also act as a pillar for each other, it is said that "United firmly, divided we fall". I am sure that the brothership born amidst this hard-time will help us grow further as a respectable human being and whats are more much useful in working adult society, where everyone is being a fake.