PART D 2010 PASSING OUT PARADE

Below is the transcript of the speech delivered by Mr Victor during the Part D Passing Out Parade on 9 April 2010 'A challenging passing out parade on a challenging day, for a challenging squad. Part D 2010 started with only 19 cadets - the smallest recruitment ever. And having just 19 members, bring up this group of recruits from Part A to Part D, was as challenging as bring up a prematurely-born child who, likewise, is small in size and ill in health. Like this child, the health of Part D 2010 then was also far from pink. We 'lost' several cadets - Fakrul, Zhou An, Valent and Yan Xiang - and dwindled to the present few. We also almost 'lost' Ryan, Pravin, Zaki, Roy and Bryan, but fortunately, better sense prevailed and they continued to stick around. And for those who had stick around with the squad though thick and thin, good times bad times, I have nothing but admiration for you because you have personified a key value of NCC - Commitment. For that you have already achieve what most healthy squad can only wish for. This is all the more commendable when we consider the circumstances you were in. Small you may be, Part D 2010, but the legacy you have left behind for your juniors is far from small. Under your leadership, we have expanded our PDS, Freestyle as well as Aeromodeling capabilities. The mare absence of our USM and ASM from this parade was a testament to this. MSG Leon Lim and MSG Kelvin Ko, along with MSG Heng Xun Zheng and CPL Gaines, has been honourably invited to showcase their RC talents at this year's Affirmation Ceremony. And Leon and Kelvin has been asked to return as Cadet Officers by Air Commandant herself no less. Last year's Part D left a huge void for you all to fill, and from what I see today, you have filled it well and much more. So, it's befitting that a squad as 'challenging' as you are should have a 'challenging' parade, on this 'challenging' day. And therefore, it is also no surprise that your juniors will have a challenging task ahead to fill in the shoes you have left after today. Your absence will be sorely missed. With this, I give you all, Part D 2010!' PS: It was a challenging parade because it was raining heavily that day and we have to move the parade several times - from parade square, to sports hall, to canteen and finally to the MPH.