so that malingerer priest and his father basically threw his CO
under a bus as reward for his kindness. so much for their
morals 
CO5 was kind, but didn't necessarily show sound command. Here's
my take on why. I think he did NOT make a sound sound decision
giving in to the malingerer.
its 100% untrue that when a commander helps his man, it's
because he's afraid for his career (if he's a regular) or afraid to
get into trouble (if NSF). In fact, the opposite is
true. The easier way to cruise and be fucked up leader is
to Throw The Book. It's very simple. Even Spiderman said, with
power comes responsibilities.
The burden of leadership is one thing only: responsibility. The
easiest way to dodge this responsibility is the path of least
resistance. And let me assure all of you a commander's path of
least resistance is to throw the book and cruise, thereby washing
hands off real command and the need for respect.
In other words, the easiest way to spot a fucked up leader is
the one who perpetually throws the book without EVER standing up
for his men or thinking for them for a sec. This type we see in
abundance don't we? Make no mistake, don't think this 'unbending'
leader is good and not scared of breaking rice bowl. Don't be
silly. The bookthrowing unbending 'leader' is the kind scared so
shitless he's clutching his ricebowl with his dick.
Yet, the mark of sound leadership means standing up for your
men, but only in a judicious and sound manner. It means you don't
let them monkey you and take you for a fool.
In this case, CO5 showed that he was kind and not the wayang
fuck type who just throw-the-book to save his ass, but he also
showed lapse in sound leadership in his decision.
In his eager beaverness to be a good leader to the wayang, he
didn't realise the following: Wayang claimed he could only eat
special food that had to be sanctified by his lim peh's temple and
thus asked to book out 2/3 times a week. This involved a
permanently (for as long as he's in BMT) different and special
routine from the rest of the guys in BMT. He claimed he had to keep
a ponytail. This means a marked different appearance from everyone
else. The booking out already smacks of kenging desires. What
recruits wouldn't give to stay out every night!
It was wise of CO of driving school and subsequently the
generals up there to put wayang in his place and tell him to shut
up and sit down. Army means you conform to army needs above
religious. The sihlks' turban was a legacy passed down from the
British army that SAF decided to honour. Not the same. If like
that, any ah kow, ah meow next time can say he's priest, pastor or
medium and need to book out 4 times a week to bathe in talisman
water. CO5 was kind and put himself on the line (in vain), but
didn't show sound leadership.
An example of sound leadership and command decision I witnessed?
One of the men of a coy asked for two days off in the middle of
ATEC prep to attend a outward bound course mandatory for the new
job he's been offered. This job requires employee to go through the
course and the course only takes place twice a year. If the man who
will ORD a month after ATEC misses the course, he has to wait for
half a year to take again.
He asked his OC. OC assessed, my man needs to take two days off
although it clashes with ATEC training. If I don't let him go off,
he has to waste 6 months of his life after he ORDs just because I
didn't let him go. He needs the job for his livelihood, and he's
serving his NS, FOR THE COUNTRY, under my command. The 2 days off
is a one-off. Not a repeated occurence of unfairness. So the OC
assessed and let that man go for 2 days.
My OC, who's a scholar no less, was well aware that if shit hit
the fan, let's say the guy meets with a motorbike accident when
he's out & investigations show that this NSF 'illegally' let
off by his OC to go out when he's supposed to be in camp, he
(my OC) will GET IT! The OC himself explained to his PC his thought
processes and said well, if he gets into trouble while outside,
it's my cross to bear. He's serving the country and fights for me
and has been a good soldier. Two days off for his future job. It's
only right I 'fight' for him too.
Thats what a good leader does. He stands up for his man. He
knows his men fight for him on the field. When he can, he will
'fight' back for them and stand up for them.
Contrast to another OC in the same unit, who's well known to
indiscriminately charge people over any little thing and never ever
looking out or helping them, because all he cares about is his ass.
Going By The Book is the easiest way for fucked up commanders who
don't give a damn about leadership or the organisation or his men
and cares only about his ricebowl. This sort of insecurity usually
comes from a self awareness that the ricebowl is very small and
full of cracks.