[Timepieces]
The Luminox Jungle Survival Course is a programme that helps participants to overcome physical constraints and mental pressure as well. It aims to bring the Navy SEAL mantra of ‘The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday’ to participants and help them understand how each day’s challenges can make one stronger. Held recently at The Canopi, Bintan Indonesia, it was a gathering of 26 participants from Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore (I didn’t attend although I was invited as I thought that it probably wouldn’t have survived the course, however MHB’s official photographer Andy Kho went to shoot the event).
On 15 August 2018, participants were given a top secret message that revealed their mission. Each participant was spilt into 5 different groups, namely SEAL Team 6, ICE-SAR, Sea Wolves, Undersea Voyager Project and Spartan, with each team consisting of 4 members. The names were selected based on the various spokespersons, organizations or obstacle races that were associated with Luminox.
Commanding officer of Luminox Jungle Survival Course and retired Navy SEAL, Rob Roy, subsequently enforced the importance of team work, trust and leadership in each team by asking questions about each team mate, reinforcing an unspoken rule that in a Navy SEAL team, your team is your family and you have to trust your lives with each other. Every participant was also passed a Luminox watch to experience the toughness of the timepiece. They learnt how to time hack or to synchronize their time down to the seconds and used the rotating bezel of their Luminox watches for count down purposes. At each stage of the mission, a fixed time duration was given to complete the task, simulating an environment of a military mission where time can be a matter of life and death.
As a retired Navy SEAL, Rob Roy appreciated the simplicity of a traditional watch as it meant that it was easy to use on missions and reduced any risk of errors that can jeopardize the job. Participants were also given physical activities such as push ups and sprints to push their physical limits.
Navy SEALs not only need to be physically strong, but they also need to use their intelligence on missions. The Luminox Jungle Survival Course incorporated this aspect by providing participants with a blind map and compass that would help them navigate through the jungle and mangrove swamp. They were also given a puzzle to solve before they began on their mission to kayak through the mangrove swamp. The kayaking experience emphasized the need for team work as one will need to coordinate with their partner in order to successfully complete their mission. After which, teams were also expected to move not more than 6 feet apart from each member through the jungle back to the finish line.
The ability to adapt to an environment and make use of the surroundings is what separates a Navy SEAL from the ordinary. Each team was expected to build a shelter using some ropes, wood and leaves that could fit all team mates. This again pushed participants to think outside the box on how they would build their shelter and every member had to contribute in order to complete the task on time. At the end of the day, each team was allocated points where the winning team was given a certificate to commemorate their participation for the Luminox Jungle Survival Course.
During the event, Luminox also presented three (3) new collections launched in 2018 – Navy SEAL 3580 Chronograph The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday, ICE-SAR 1000 series and Deep Dive Carbonox 1550. Having Rob Roy as commanding officer for the Luminox Jungle Survival Course was apt because when he was a Navy SEAL, he could relate to the mantra of ‘The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday’. In addition, Rob Roy was also heavily involved in Search and Rescue missions and was proficient in diving.
Rob Roy also spent some time sharing his experiences with participants about what it takes to become a Navy SEAL and how he had used that knowledge to develop leadership and training programmes. He was also able to share his involvement with Luminox and how the timepiece has become a part of his Essential Gear. The sharing experience helped participants to understand the mantra of ‘The Only Easy Day was Yesterday’ as well as understand how Luminox timepieces are useful on military mission and are built for the Navy SEALs.
Luminox watches are available at leading department stores (Parkson @ KLCC & Pavilion, KL; Isetan @ KLCC, KL & 1 Utama, Selangor; SOGO, KL) and authorised watch retailers.
Alternatively, you may also purchase the watches online at https://www.luminox.com.sg/
For further information and the list of authorised retailers, call Crystal Time (M) Sdn Bhd at +6 03 3000 8688 or head over to http://www.crystaltime.com.my or https://www.facebook.com/LuminoxMalaysiaBrunei/
For more info on Luminox, head over to luminox.com
Photo credits: Andy Kho Photography (www.andykho.com) for Crystal Time.
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