[cyberdog]

There are lots of crap local shows on TV. Surprisingly, one of the more interesting new shows is a local "reality" series found on SPH's RazorTV and not by Mediacorp!

The SCDF has a gruelling selection test for every batch of new DART officers. For the one carried out in June 2009, SCDF worked with SPH to film the selection test into a reality TV series called The Elite Challenge. There are 10 episodes in all, but each episode has been split into smaller parts released on RazorTV every week. I think they just finished airing Episode 6.

Source: 'The Elite Challenge' on RazorTV

I dunno how to embed the video here but Episode 1-3 gives a good overview of the challenge:
RAZORTV - Lucky number 8? (The Elite Challenge Ep 1.3)
hahhahaa my childhood ambition was to be a fireman but kaoz Test 2 seems quite siong dah... it's like doing SOC with two full packs! hahahahhaa the Instructor here damn bad sia... sounds like my OCS mentor last time... "AY! lemme give you some tips lah... YOU GOTTA RUN!!!"

Any DART officers in VR?

[Crazy]

hmm not bad sia.. well dart is really good i have to say.. seen them training once..

[cyberdog]

Uhhh... Ep 2-1... each one whack one water bottle immediately before 7km run? won't kena stitch meh?!?

[blackghost]

Singapore Civil Defence Force Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team..

woot woot.. hehehe

[cyberdog]

but the production quality quite low... many minutes no music or commentary at all. hahahaa they take the reality part very seriously it seems... real life no music or commentary

and the host quite poor thing.. i think they got no money for script writer also, so he left to his own devices to make up comments as he goes along. end up got funny (i.e. lame) commentary like "Now this is the second round of the circuit and these guys are actually looking LESS fresh than before." Like... Duh?

[cyberazi]

i find the instructor not harsh at all.. my provost instructor more abusive.. all the @@$@%@$ comes out .. mental abuse included

[caps_lock]

Originally Posted by cyberazi

i find the instructor not harsh at all.. my provost instructor more abusive.. all the @@$@%@$ comes out .. mental abuse included

cannot lah. taking video. cannot &^%$@&#^$. later all the mamas will complain about their boys being verbally abused.

[glidingqy]

Had nothing to do so I watched all. Quite nice to watch

[blackghost]

Originally Posted by cyberazi

i find the instructor not harsh at all.. my provost instructor more abusive.. all the @@$@%@$ comes out .. mental abuse included

they are not only not harsh. but even encourage them.. and drop hints on how to do certain tasks..

i think the tasks already quite mentally challenging..

[wyetuck88]

wah...really tough training they have to undergo...salute them.

[blackghost]

this is just the selection test..

the DART training comes after.. i think 7 weeks..

[etegration]

engine ladder battalion!

[glidingqy]

Originally Posted by blackghost

this is just the selection test..

the DART training comes after.. i think 7 weeks..

Yeah. 7 weeks training after selection

[cyberdog]

Originally Posted by blackghost

they are not only not harsh. but even encourage them.. and drop hints on how to do certain tasks..

i think the tasks already quite mentally challenging..

Ya I suspect DART officers really have to be mentally damn strong, not just physical. Can u imagine they are sent to a landslide and have to spends days pulling out bodies and working furiously while exhausted and emotionally drained. So, to me the traditional method of scolding, using vulgarities, tekan etc not so relevant. It's not so much that you need the guy to be able to take orders, but you need him to develop his own resilience and strength of mind and will.

ocs mentors used to do the same thing to us lor... switch between f%$#ing u upside down, to being sarcastic (saying things like "shak give up lor. try so hard - for what? you just tell me u wanna drop out of the course, i will let you go back camp to rest. why put yourself through all this pain.") but, sometimes, when they see we are damn shak but yet still trying damn hard, that's when they will be "human" and drop hints, or secretly pass us a few cans of cold drinks, or just come over and put their hand on your shoulder and say "good". I think "kindness" in that sense also helps develop the trainee in a different way... u sort of learn a different set of values than when instructors are just screaming and yelling... (1) that no matter what, you need to try your best and push beyond your own limits first, only then should you hope for people to help u out (2) most times, knowing the right method or "trick" to doing something is worth much more than just sheer stubborn effort and refusing to do it someone else's way (3) very often, going solo is not necessarily the best solution and everybody needs help and support sometimes (4) always remember u once needed and received help, so in future no matter how high a station u reach, dun forget to reach out to help others when they are desperate too.

To me, those instructors who only know how to shout and scream vulgarities ALL the time are quite lame. Good trainers will know when to use stick and when to use carrot; how much to demoralise but when to encourage; when to let the trainee struggle and when to drop hints and give advice. Ultimately, you wanna train capable officers, not brainless robots who only know how to respond to being f%$#d

Anyway, this is just selection process.. i guess the main thing they wanna see really is just strength of will and suitability for the course. If i were them... see a candidate very determined, keep trying and refusing to give up, but going about the task all wrong and not succeeding, i will also give hint and see if he accept my help. if he does, means this is a good candidate lor... strong of will, but ready to accept suggestion and not too stupid to quickly learn and adapt hahahaa

[cyberazi]

yeah and i wonder i OOC my Provost training hahahahahaha