Hovah Yii

May 21, 2023

My ROTU Navy Journey: Overcoming Challenges and Achieving PKK

I remember when I first joined UMP, I was going through a phase of heartbreak and confusion in life. Perhaps it was because of my fascination with Navy SEALs that I stumbled upon the recruitment for UMP ROTU (Reserved Officer Training Unit) Navy. I was seeking a breakthrough, and at that time, joining the navy seemed like a new turning point for me. With a "give it a try" mindset, I decided to sign up.

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To join the navy, one of the requirements was to have a BMI below 26. At that time, I weighed 110 kilograms, clearly not meeting the standard. In order to pass the test, I started preparing a month in advance, running and focusing on losing weight every day. In the week leading up to the physical fitness test, I even cut out all sugary drinks just to shed a few more kilograms.

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I have always believed in what Jordan Peterson said, "If you can't figure out what you should do, then pick something that you can hit hard and concentrate on. You don't have to be perfect at it. You don't even have to get it right. But pick something rather than nothing." I still remember when I first started training, I couldn't even perform a single sit-up. Through deliberate practice and unwavering effort, embracing mistakes and continuously striving for improvement, I gradually made progress. While some may find it embarrassing, I prioritize the value of learning over saving face. Perhaps it is due to this mindset that I managed to advance through Phase 3 and attain the position of PKK, standing alongside numerous exceptional cadets, even as many of the highly skilled individuals quitted. I firmly believe that persistence outweighs all else.

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As a total newbie in the world of naval training, I dove headfirst into this adventure, ready to learn and grow. Along the way, I made my fair share of mistakes, causing trouble for my squad members. However, I am immensely grateful to my squad members from Palapes Laut UMP, intake 11, for their patience and understanding. Despite the challenges I posed, they remained supportive and showed remarkable kindness. Their camaraderie became a source of inspiration and motivation for me.

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I want to express my gratitude to all my comrades from Palapes Laut UMP Intake 11:

CO - NOR IRFAN SYAMIL BIN NOR AZMI, THANA - AHMAD FAUZAN BIN FAZAL, ZAIN - ADAM FAHMI BIN RAMZAIDI, PMC - MUHAMMAD SYAHIR BIN AHMAD, NUR SARIHAH BINTI MOHD DARUS, PHAN ZHI LOONG, MOHAMAD ALIFF BIN ZAINAL, SITI HAJAR BINTI AHMAD, NURULL HIDAYAH BINTI JASMAN, FAKHRIA MUSDALIFAH BINTI SAIFULLAH, WAN MOHAMAD ALIF AIMAN BIN WAN YUSOF, MUHAMMAD AMMAR SYAABAN BIN ZAIN AZMAN, SITI NUR HIDAYAH BINTI MOHD NOOR, MUHAMMAD DANIAL BIN BURKHANUDDIN, MUHAMMAD NAQIEB BIN MANSOR, MOHAMAD SYAHMI ISKANDAR BIN SAHRAN, MUHAMAD IQBAL BIN RAHMAN, MUHAMMAD HASBUL IRFAAN BIN HASBULLAH, MUHAMMAD RIZALUL FAZLI BIN SULAIMAN, MUHAMMAD FAKRULLAH BIN ZAWAWI, NUR ADIRA FARISYA BINTI AZIZANe.

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Thank you all for your patience and support. I am aware that I made many mistakes, and I am grateful for your guidance.

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A special thanks to all the senior manshipment, Jurulatih-Jurulatih:

Ma'am PKOR: Amirah Ayuni binti Zainuddin, CRS: Wan Ali bin Muhamad Yusop, GI: Mohd Adil bin Jamil, Leading: Mohd Harry bin Mohd Esa, CC: Mohamad Asman bin Rosli, PTI: Faizul Azam bin Fadzullah Suhaimi

Thank you for your understanding and teachings. I deeply understand that my achievement today is all thanks to your tolerance. Thank you all.

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Throughout this journey, I held onto the wise words of Bruce Lee, who once said, "Like everyone else, you want to learn the way to win, but never to accept the way to lose, to accept defeat, to learn to die is to be liberated from it. So when tomorrow comes, you must free your ambitious mind and learn the art of dying." These words became my mantra, reminding me to never give up and to embrace resilience in the face of challenges.

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