Awal 2000-an, padang kawad Universiti Sains Malaysia bergema dengan hentakan but, laungan arahan, dan semangat waja para kadet yang sedang ditempa. Di tengah-tengah medan latihan itu berdiri seorang insan bernama Kapten Rizan Muhammad Aris — seorang pemimpin yang tidak hanya membentuk askar, tetapi juga membentuk manusia yang tahan uji.
1. Menjadi Teladan (Model the Way)
Kapten Rizan tidak pernah meminta anak didiknya melakukan sesuatu yang beliau sendiri enggan lakukan. Jika beliau mahu kecemerlangan fizikal, beliau turut berlari bersama. Jika beliau menuntut disiplin, uniformnya sentiasa kemas, waktunya tepat. Perbuatannya menjadi cermin kepimpinan — membuktikan bahawa integriti dan konsistensi ialah asas seorang pemimpin1.
2. Mengilhamkan Visi Bersama (Inspire a Shared Vision)
Beliau mengingatkan kami bahawa kami bukan sekadar kadet, tetapi bakal pegawai dan perwira tanah air. Katanya yang masih terngiang, “Keamanan ini mesti dijaga, dan ia mesti diisi sebaik mungkin.” Kisah pengalamannya sebagai tentera pengaman di Bosnia memberi gambaran jelas betapa sengsaranya hidup tanpa kebebasan, dan mengapa keamanan Malaysia harus dipertahankan dengan jiwa dan raga2.
3. Mencabar Proses (Challenge the Process)
Latihannya jarang biasa-biasa. Ada kalanya kami dipaksa berlari hingga kaki hampir rebah. Ada masanya diuji dalam lumpur, lintah dan pacat melekat di kaki, atau bermalam di ladang kelapa sawit dan kebun getah. Ramai mengeluh, namun beliau tahu — ketahanan diri lahir daripada cabaran yang menyakitkan. Beliau mengajar bahawa hanya dengan berani mencabar batas, kekuatan sejati akan terbentuk3.
4. Memberdayakan Orang Lain (Enable Others to Act)
Walau keras, beliau membina rasa kebersamaan antara 130 kadet. Usai hukuman fizikal, beliau akan menghimpunkan kami lalu meniupkan kata semangat. Beliau memberi kepercayaan kepada ketua-ketua kadet untuk memimpin, dan menekankan bahawa seorang pegawai sejati bukan hanya berdiri sendiri, tetapi mengangkat orang lain bersama. Dalam latihannya, kerjasama bukan pilihan — ia adalah soal hidup dan mati4.
5. Menggalakkan Hati (Encourage the Heart)
Apabila kami berada di titik rapuh, beliau hadir meniupkan tujuan perjuangan. Beliau meraikan kejayaan kecil — menamatkan route march, melepasi halangan, atau sekadar bangkit semula selepas jatuh. Pujian daripadanya jarang, tetapi apabila ia hadir, ia membekas lebih dalam daripada segala kepenatan. Sehingga hari ini, ramai kadet lebih mengingati sinar bangga di wajahnya daripada sakit di tubuh mereka5.
Pada hari pertaulihan 2002, ketika Gunturian berdiri megah bersama kadet dari seluruh IPTA di Malaysia, kami bukan sahaja membawa insignia pegawai, tetapi juga legasi seorang jurulatih yang membakar jiwa.
Kepimpinan Kapten Rizan melebihi kawad, latihan dan disiplin. Ia hidup dalam diri setiap Gunturian yang melangkah ke dunia dengan keberanian, keteguhan, dan kecintaan pada tanah air.
Kisah ini mengingatkan kita semua: pemimpin sejati bukan sekadar memerintah — mereka membentuk jiwa, menyalakan visi, dan meninggalkan semangat yang terus hidup setelah mereka tiada.
Footnotes
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Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2017). The Leadership Challenge. Wiley. – “Model the Way” menekankan bahawa pemimpin mesti jelas dengan nilai mereka dan memimpin melalui teladan.
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Ibid. – “Inspire a Shared Vision” menuntut pemimpin membayangkan masa depan dan mengajak orang lain berkongsi tujuan yang sama.
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Ibid. – “Challenge the Process” menekankan keberanian mencuba, mengambil risiko dan belajar daripada pengalaman.
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Ibid. – “Enable Others to Act” memberi fokus pada kolaborasi, membina kepercayaan dan memberdayakan orang lain.
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Ibid. – “Encourage the Heart” menegaskan pentingnya pengiktirafan dan meraikan pencapaian.
In the early 2000s, the fields of Universiti Sains Malaysia echoed with the sound of boots striking the ground, the shouts of orders, and the unyielding spirit of cadets in training. At the heart of this transformation stood Captain Rizan Muhammad Aris, a leader whose impact shaped not just soldiers, but resilient human beings.
1. Model the Way
Captain Rizan never asked his cadets to do something he would not endure himself. When he demanded physical excellence, he joined the morning runs. When he spoke of discipline, his uniform was immaculate, his timing precise. His actions set the standard—cadets learned quickly that leadership begins with personal integrity and consistency1.
2. Inspire a Shared Vision
He reminded the Gunturian batch that they were not just cadets; they were future leaders, defenders of Malaysia’s peace. In his words, “Keamanan ini mesti dijaga, dan ia mesti diisi sebaik mungkin.” Through stories from his peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, he painted a vivid picture of what it meant to live without freedom—and why preserving Malaysia’s peace was worth every sacrifice2.
3. Challenge the Process
Training under him was never routine. One day, cadets found themselves running until their legs shook. Another day, they were tested in the mud, leeches clinging to their skin, or tasked with surviving overnight in palm estates and rubber plantations. Some thought it too harsh—but Captain Rizan believed growth was forged in discomfort. He showed that by pushing boundaries, resilience and courage would emerge3.
4. Enable Others to Act
Though tough, he built camaraderie among the 130 cadets. After punishing drills, he would gather them together and speak words that reignited their spirit. He trusted his cadet leaders, gave them responsibility, and reminded them that a true officer lifts others, not just himself. In his training, collaboration wasn’t optional—it was survival4.
5. Encourage the Heart
When cadets reached their breaking point, Captain Rizan was there to remind them of their purpose. He celebrated small victories—finishing a grueling march, completing an obstacle course, or simply standing back up after a fall. His praise was rare, but when given, it burned deeply in the hearts of his men. Many cadets still remember the pride in his eyes more vividly than the pain in their muscles5.
On the day of commissioning in 2002, when the Gunturian stood tall among cadets from across Malaysia, they carried not only the insignia of officers but the legacy of a leader who had transformed their character.
Captain Rizan’s leadership lived beyond the drills, beyond the kawad, beyond the mud and sweat. It lived in every Gunturian who stepped into the world with courage, discipline, and love for the nation.
His story reminds us all: great leaders do not just command—they shape lives, ignite visions, and leave behind a spirit that outlives them.
Footnotes
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Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (2017). The Leadership Challenge. Wiley. – “Model the Way” emphasizes leaders must be clear about their values and lead by example.
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Ibid. – “Inspire a Shared Vision” requires leaders to envision the future and enlist others in a common purpose.
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Ibid. – “Challenge the Process” highlights innovation, risk-taking, and resilience in overcoming obstacles.
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Ibid. – “Enable Others to Act” focuses on fostering collaboration and building trust.
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Ibid. – “Encourage the Heart” underlines the importance of recognizing contributions and celebrating values and victories.
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