Lt Col Zulkapli Abdul Rahman

What makes it particularly interesting is that it reveals another dimension of military life that is often missing from conventional military autobiographies: the humour, practical jokes, competitive spirit and personal relationships that develop between officers in the field.

But beneath the humour, there are several important aspects worth examining.

1. Lieutenant Colonel Zulkapli Abdul Rahman – The officer every soldier would want

The opening description is significant. You describe him as an awesome officer, a gem, someone who believed in training and loved his men. That is a powerful endorsement.

What makes this passage effective is that you do not simply praise him through adjectives. You demonstrate his personality through his actions. He was introducing a major transformation, converting a conventional infantry battalion into a mechanised infantry battalion. This required professional knowledge, preparation, discipline and a willingness to challenge established practices.

His observation about American lights discipline is revealing. He wanted his Malaysian officers and soldiers to measure themselves against a higher standard. He was demanding, but apparently approachable. That distinction is important in military leadership.

2. The American lights discipline incident – Military humour at its best Your response to the CO's criticism is absolutely hilarious.

Rather than argue with him or defend Malaysian soldiers, you and Bhaji decided to demonstrate that the Americans were not necessarily superior in every respect. The invented story about cobras and king cobras hiding beneath dried oil-palm leaves is wonderfully mischievous.

What makes the episode work is the progression:

- The Americans initially settle down confidently.

- You introduce an imaginary threat.

- The information spreads throughout their positions.

- Torches begin appearing everywhere.

- Their carefully maintained lights discipline disappears.

- Bhaji proudly reports the result to the CO.

And then comes the best part:

"What did you two clowns do?"

That single sentence tells the reader something about Lieutenant Colonel Zulkapli. He knew his officers well enough to suspect immediately that something was going on. There is also an interesting contrast here. The CO was trying to instill professional standards, while his two officers were busy conducting their own unofficial psychological operation against the Americans.

It is a delightful episode because it shows that soldiers can be serious about their profession without taking themselves too seriously.

3. Bhaji's swamp operation – A brilliant practical joke This is arguably even better than the snake incident.

Bhaji discovers the Americans marking their routes and assault direction. Instead of simply observing, he decides to interfere. The result is a battalion assault through waist-deep swamp in darkness.

The description of the Americans and Malaysians cursing their way through the swamp is wonderfully visual. There is an important literary quality here: you allow the reader to discover what happened through the consequences rather than explaining the joke beforehand.

The suspicious look from Lieutenant Colonel Zulkapli is particularly effective. He is beginning to recognise a pattern. And then comes the breakfast scene. Bhaji asking whether you have sent breakfast to your mortar platoon is a wonderfully understated moment. You realise that his question is suspicious because he is the 2IC of A Company, not your mortar platoon commander.

Your internal observation that the CO might have laughed or the two of you might have ended up in a world of trouble adds another layer of humour. These are the sorts of incidents that make military memoirs memorable. They capture the informal relationships and unspoken understandings between officers.

4. The chapter is not merely about practical jokes 

There is a more substantial military story developing underneath the humour. Look at the range of activities:

- Exercise Kilat Strike with American forces from Okinawa.

- Mechanised infantry development.

- Battalion-level assault exercises.

- A company deployed to Cambodia on peacekeeping duties.

- Soldiers preparing for winter warfare in Turkey.

- Anticipated deployment to Bosnia.

- Your selection for the Squadron Leader's Course at the Armour School.

This is a battalion undergoing professional development and expanding its operational capabilities. The narrative also demonstrates how Malaysian Army personnel were increasingly exposed to multinational exercises, peacekeeping commitments and mechanised warfare. That gives the chapter historical and institutional significance beyond the entertaining anecdotes.

5. Your Squadron Leader's Course and the mechanised experience

This is an important transition in your military career. Being selected for the Squadron Leader's Course indicates that your superiors recognised your potential and wanted you to develop professionally in mechanised operations. The acquisition of B, D, E and H driving licences is another interesting detail.

But what particularly catches my attention is your reference to learning under Corporal Salim bin Othman, Zaid bin Salleh and Lance Corporal Shamsuddin bin Salleh. It subtly acknowledges something important about military organisations: officers may hold command appointments, but much of their practical competence is developed through the experience and expertise of their NCOs and soldiers.

Your final reference to Somalia is also significant. Training in a combat environment, where mistakes could have serious consequences, gives the passage a different weight. The earlier humour gives way to a reminder that operational competence is not a game.

Literary assessment: What makes this chapter stand out?

I see three distinct qualities.

First, the human dimension. You portray officers as real people rather than cardboard military figures. They have personalities, weaknesses, humour, friendships and eccentricities. Second, the leadership dimension. Lieutenant Colonel Zulkapli emerges as a respected commanding officer. You communicate your admiration without turning the chapter into an exaggerated tribute.

Third, the storytelling. The two practical jokes are told with excellent timing. The reader is allowed to enjoy the incidents without being burdened with unnecessary explanations. There is also something refreshing about the relationship between you and Bhaji.

It reflects the camaraderie that develops between officers who understand one another and are comfortable enough to engage in mischief.

A few editorial improvements. Before publication, I would recommend: 

1. Remove the duplicated paragraphs describing Exercise Kilat Strike and the snake incident. (Already printed)

2. Clarify whether the American forces were conducting the exercise alongside the Royal Malay Regiment or operating under a combined command.

3. Explain briefly what the Squadron Leader's Course qualified you to do in the mechanised infantry environment.

4. Retain the conversational language. Expressions such as "two clowns", "shit show" and "world of shit" contribute to the authenticity of the narrative.

5. Give the final Somalia reference a little more detail if the next section develops your mechanised training experience there.

My overall verdict

This chapter is important because it demonstrates that Exigent Circumstances is not simply a chronicle of military operations, hardship, discrimination, career obstacles and combat experiences. It is also a story about people.

Lieutenant Colonel Zulkapli Abdul Rahman comes across as an officer who earned the affection and respect of his men. Bhaji emerges as a mischievous but resourceful colleague. And you portray yourself as an officer who could take military training seriously while enjoying the lighter side of soldiering. 

Perhaps the greatest strength of this chapter is that it allows the reader to laugh with the soldiers before reminding them that these same soldiers would eventually face considerably more dangerous circumstances.

That contrast is valuable.

It also reinforces what makes D Swami's memoir unusual: the willingness to record not only the difficult and controversial aspects of military life but also the ridiculous, amusing and deeply human experiences that conventional military histories frequently leave out.

I would preserve both practical-joke episodes. They give this chapter personality, warmth and considerable entertainment value.