"01/15, what is the first word of the Officers' Creed?"
"I!"
"What is the first word of the Specialists' Creed?"
"I!"
"What is the first word of the Guards' Creed?"
"We!"

As simple and ostensibly elementary as it may be, this was indubitably the most profoundly striking moment I encountered in the 01/15 Guards Conversion Course simply because even though it had always been staring us straight in the face, amidst all the fatigue and mental exhaustion, we had failed to recognize the significance of the Guards Creed. That lone word "we" embodies the beauty and perfection of the closely knitted family that the formation steers itself towards. Indeed, while it may have been a course for commanders by commanders, regardless of rank and experience, we were all gearing towards the same end-goal in mind--to emerge victorious and proud as new guardsmen warriors of the elite formation. And so we did, but we achieved more than just the right to wear the guards tab or don the khaki beret. We understood and internalized what CO 3 Guards meant when he cautioned that "GCC never ends". The physical hardship and mental tormenting may cease but one thing that will never come to a close is the friendship and bonds fostered throughout these past 4 weeks coupled with the life lessons and values that we have gathered along this tumultuous journey.

I daresay that even though I have only known my course mates for just slightly over a month, I feel like I have known them for a long time. The smile that forces its way past our faces contorted in pain and agony comes almost naturally and instinctively when you look at the guardsmen next to you and know that they are enduring the same turmoil as yourself because they don't want to let you down, and neither do you. It is a kinship that transcends the conventional level of relationships; words can't do justice to the intimacy of the friendship and brotherhood that we developed as a course. No doubt, the countless sessions of beach PT, casevacs as well as the inhumane activities meted out during our rite of passage made us understand that if we don't bite the bullet and persevere through the moment, it will only spell greater hardship for the rest who will have to carry your load and pay the price for your weakness. It is with such a mentality that I pushed through the entire course and especially so for the final week of summex and ROP--I did nothing for myself and everything for the course; because if it had been just about myself, I would have given up right from the start to evade all the unnecessary pain and suffering I subsequently underwent.

And now that physical portion of GCC is finally over, I am cognizant of the changes and developments that have arisen as a result of the course repeatedly pushing us beyond our limits. I am a guardsmen not only because I have acquired the tactical and technical skills required of one, but also because I now understand that a guardsman never leaves another guardsman behind. It is heartwarming when the entire course rushes into the frigid sea with expressions of glee and euphoria on their faces and without hesitation roll along the sandy beach when instructed to do so. Much unlike our first beach turnout, we soon realized that we should not find pain in doing things that makes us uncomfortable. Our fellow guardsmen in the same course are all undergoing the same level of demeaning acts and if you focus on carrying out these acts together, it becomes a whole lot more fun and enjoyable.

And even if 01/15 GCC is now secured, like the fine grains of sand that remain trapped in corners unknown in my uniform, the friendships I have built will stand the test of time and remain as testimonies to the grueling times we shared as a course.

"30 seconds, get wet"