Servicemen get to play to their strengths in new IPPT

SINGAPORE — From next April, national servicemen can play to their strengths when they take the new Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) — scoring well in certain stations can compensate for poorer performance in another.

With the new IPPT format to comprise three stations instead of five — a 2.4km run, sit-ups and push-ups — servicemen will earn points pegged to their performance at each station. The 2.4km run carries half the weightage with a maximum of 50 points, while the other two stations carry a maximum of 25 points each. Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) need to accumulate at least 51 points — out of 100 — in all to pass.

As in the past, servicemen will still need to meet a minimum standard to pass. Under the current format, the pass mark for a 25-year-old NSman in the sit-up station is 30 sit-ups.

Under the new format, NSmen must earn at least one point in each station to pass, which in the case of a 25-year-old means 13 sit-ups. He can then avoid failure by pushing harder in the other two stations to accumulate the required overall number of points.

These details were made public by the Ministry of Defence yesterday, following Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen’s announcement on Wednesday about the new IPPT format, which he described as “simpler and better”.

The new IPPT format will be implemented SAF-wide for regulars, full-time NSmen and NSmen, with active servicemen to be held to a higher passing standard. It will be piloted with at least 3,000 personnel — from September to November — to fine-tune the administration of the new test. This will involve around 10 to 12 active battalions and up to eight NS units who are going in for their In-Camp Training during those three months.

In an interview with the media on the changes, Chief of Army Perry Lim said: “We don’t plan to change the format, which is three stations, we don’t plan to change the scoring system, but based on the outcome of the pilot implementation, we are prepared to adjust the performance level to points matching on our scoring table.”

The changes to the IPPT are the first since 1982. Every year, about 116,000 SAF personnel take the test, which currently comprises standing broad jump, pull-ups, sit-ups, shuttle run and a 2.4km run.

Under the new format, NSmen hoping to attain a gold, silver or pass with incentive need to accumulate more than 80, 70 and 60 points, respectively, from the three stations. Commandos, divers and guardsmen need to clock at least 85 points for the gold award.

The age bands for the test will also be changed from five-year bands to three-year bands, to better match performance to age.

Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Colonel Ng Ying Thong, Assistant Chief of Staff (Training), said: “The whole scoring system is designed to really motivate our NSmen to excel in each of the stations ... the flexibility in the scoring system itself, the whole design and intent is to allow our servicemen to exercise greater ownership on how they want to train for their IPPT.”

NSmen whose birthdays fall from April 1 onwards next year will get to do the new IPPT test. Those who fail the test will be still liable for remedial training (RT). As for those who fail their IPPT this year, they will continue with the current format for their 20 RT sessions, in the last three months before their birthday.