DHS-psyCOYlogy!

Hello (:

Today, we had pre-camp inspection in school. For pre camp inspection, we had to lay out all our patrol basics as well as other items such as our pei bei and styrofoam boxes. We would be judged based on our standadisation and arrangement of the items as well as for the items.

Overall, we had around 2 weeks to prepare ourselves for the inspection; to create all the patrol basics, including our flag, banner, identities, shorts as well as mealbags. Also, we were required to pack our styrofoam boxes, peibei as well as first aid kit.

We arrived early in the morning in school, with all the necessary items for inspection. After leaving our personal belongings in the respective classrooms, we then jihed back at the backstall. That marked the start of pre-camp inspection.

We were first of all, briefed on the respective classrooms which we would have to lay out our items in. This year, due to unforeseen weather circumstances, we had inspection in the classrooms, instead of in the field, as was customary. Therefore, we had to ammend some of the arrangements in our proposals, to fit the classroom setting.

We were then given 20 minutes to lay out our items and to get ready for the inspection. Actually, that would not have been a really difficult task; it was simply to lay out the items. It would not have required so much time, should we have been more prepared and should we have allocated the manpower more evenly, such that everyone in the patrol would be able to pitch in to help. We ended up having to ask for time extention. Perhaps we could have been more efficient, should we have just followed our proposals the way it was drawn in the first place. In the end, we changed a lot of things, which made everything seem extremely confusing and slowed us down immensely. However, we still managed to lay everything out in the end, ready for inspection.

Following up, our items were inspected by the councillors from various patrols. We had to stand in a straight line facing away from the classroom as the items were inspected. We were also called out one by one to be questioned on the meanings of our patrol basics designs as well as colour scheme. After the inspections by the various checkpoint leaders, our mistakes were pointed out to us. Mistaks included not standadising the arrangement out our items with the other patrols, not having the proper attire, not taking care of our items, as well as not labelling our items properly. Also, we were not very efficient, and lacked that sense of urgency.
As a result for all the various mistakes made, we were given consequences: a variety of physical activities, such as pumpings, sit-ups, star-jumps, jumping jacks, as well as jogging around the classroom blocks. "As the going gets tough, the tough gets going"; we still tried our best, to complete the various activities.

Though, perhaps there is one thing we could improve on; that would be our patrol spirit. Through the ATC, it is of importance to maintain a high morale and patrol spirit so as to encourge each other on and to push each other on, even when the going gets tough. It was said that our patrol spirit today during the pre-camp inspection was not very high. It could have been due to the fact that we were not allowed to cheer loudly. Nevertheless, that is one thing we can work towards, to improve our patrol spirit. We can all do better!

Overall, pre-camp inspection, though rather tough at times, was a enriching experience for us all. For the year ones, it could be considered as a new and refreshing experience, this being their very first inspection. For year twos, this pre-camp inspection gave us a chance to experience leading our patrols. It gave us the opportunities to lead our year ones. It made us question ourselves: Have we got what it takes to be an effective leader?

Pre-camp inspection gave us all a taste of what ATC will be like. Although we may have had certain short-comings or made certain mistakes, we still have ATC ahead of us.
Wishing everyone the best of luck and jiayou!

Love DHS guides :)