My CCA - The Boys' Brigade

This is the last post for my English assignment. And I shall end it off with something that happens very regularly in my daily life. My CCA – The Boys’ Brigade (BB).

The BB emblem

“Why did you join the BB?” some of my friends would ask me,” What is the use of joining a uniformed group?” Well, I have a few reasons. First, BB helps me train up for the National Service (NS), Second, I was attracted by all the different fun and interesting activities BB offers. Third, I am a Christian and BB is a Christian Organisation. Fourth, BB can help me attain at least an ‘A’ grade in the LEAPS CCA point grading system and this can help me cut-off 2 points when I go into the Junior College of my choice. Lastly, BB is the FIRST uniformed group in history and I feel quite honoured joining it.

Now, I will go into a bit of history – how The Boys’ Brigade was founded.

Sir W.A.Smith

BB was founded in 1883 by Sir William Alexander Smith (Sir W.A.Smith) in the Free College Mission Hall at North Woodside Road, Glasgow. He was a Sunday school teacher and he had a hard time controlling a group of unruly Boys after Sunday school. So, he thought of making an organisation for Boys as a part of the church. It proved very popular and 50 boys in the church joined. Many different activities were added to make it fun for the Boys. That also marked the start of camping for the young. This also led to the formation of other uniformed groups such as Scouts and Girl Guides.

In Singapore, BB has been around for over 70 years. We have over 6700 officers and boys and over 100 companies (or units). BB was first founded in Singapore in 1930. The company in VS is founded in 1931, which also means that it is the second company in Singapore.

The BB Programme in Singapore is divided in to three groups:

1) The Juniors: Primary School.
2) The Seniors: Secondary school.
3) The Primers: Post Secondary.

The Primers are mainly those who are old boys and they have come back to help serve their company as Cadet –Lieutenants (CLT).

There are many different ranks in BB and they all come with responsibility.

For Boys (Seniors):
1) Recruit (REC)
2) Private (PTE)
3) Lance Corporal (LCP)
4) Corporal(CPL)
5) Sergeant(SGT)
6) Staff Sergeant(SSG)
7) Warrant Officer(WO)

For Officers:

Uniform for:
Cadet - Lieutanents (CLT)

Uniform For:
2) Officer Cadets (OCT)

Uniform for:
3) 2nd Lieutenants (2LT)
4) Lieutenant (LTA)

For now, all the Sec 2s are just PTEs. But soon we will be LCPs. But the maximum rank a boy can attain in Sec2 is CPL.

There are 5 main attires for BB.

REC/PTE/LCP/CPL/SGT SSG/WO

1) Day Dress (Full Uniform)
This attire is for normal day to day activities

REC/PTE/LCP/CPL/SGT

SSG/WO

2) Ceremonial Dress
This attire is for grand occasions.

3) Musketry Kit (Half Uniform)
This attire is for less formal occasions

4) Fatigue Dress

5) PT Kit
These two attires a worn when more physical activities are performed

Every Saturday is when BB parades (trainings) are held. The parades normally last for about 5 hours, from 8am to 1pm.

First, we will start off with Muster Parade (fall in). This is when every one will fall in their squads and the squad leader will report to the Company Sergeant Major (CSM) of their squad strength. Then the CSM will attend to the late comers and they will have to explain why they are late. If the reason is invalid, you will have to ‘Knock it down’ (do push-ups). Then the Officers will check your cleanliness and ‘shininess’ of you uniforms. It is like taking attendance, except that you get punished it you are late and if you uniform does not look good. Sometimes there are a lot of late people or there is a lot of people moving during the parade, then they will have to ‘Knock it down’, and this will cause the parade to lengthen and result the rest of us in leg cramps. A normal Muster Parade lasts for about 45 min - 1 hour. Sometimes it might even drag on for 2 hours!

After that we will go on with our badge work for about 2 hours. This is when we learn all the skills and prepare for the theroy and practical test to attain the badge.

Next is Physical Training (PT). PT lasts for about ½ - 1 hour. For me, I am the lazy type and I will always slack off. Until the PTI comes chasing after the slackers, I will pretend that I am doing my best. But in the end I will get caught and results in doing more push ups. Sigh.

After PT, it will be games and this is the time where squads go at knuckleheads with each other and try to win the games for squad points. The Games IC will plan the games and scores and he will determine the winner for the game.

Finally, it will be fall out and announcements. But before every fall out, we will sing a prayer called the BB Vesper to thank God for giving us the opportunity to get together and learn, and this is an oppurtunity to remember Him.

After this, I hope that my readers would understand more about BB and the importance of Uniform Groups like us.

A photo of our company taken last year.

Besides all these, BB also cares for the society. One of our most well known programmes is the Sharity Gift Box. Here is a video of other companys doing the Sharity Gift Box