Basic training for SAF, SPF and SCDF recruits to resume progressively from May 26

SINGAPORE — Basic training for about 8,000 full-time servicemen from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) will resume progressively from May 26, the authorities announced on Tuesday (May 19).

The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said that about 6,300 SAF recruits whose training was suspended during the circuit breaker would resume Basic Military Training (BMT) with staggered reporting dates and venues to reduce congestion. The training programme will also be modified so that recruits undergo activities in smaller groups.

Another 1,700 SPF and SCDF trainees will also resume training with similar precautions to protect their health and well-being, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said.

The servicemen will be notified of their reporting dates, which will fall sometime between May 26 and the middle of June for SAF recruits, and between May 26 and June 8 for SPF and SCDF trainees, the ministries said.

Mindef said the resumption of BMT was “necessary to generate operational units and select commanders for training at the Officer Cadet School and Specialist Cadet School”.  

BMT is the first step that most full-time servicemen in the SAF must undergo at the Basic Military Training Centre on Pulau Tekong, before they are posted to various roles. Those with leadership potential and good performance will be chosen to attend one of the two command schools.

Since the circuit breaker began on April 7 to stem the spread of the deadly coronavirus, the suspension of training has meant that thousands of SAF recruits have been staying at home and picking up basic fitness and soldiering skills via online lessons from the SAF. 

Noting that national servicemen form the SAF’s backbone, Mindef said: “We must continually train and maintain a steady flow of active national servicemen to keep the SAF operationally ready.” 

For SPF and SCDF trainees, MHA said the progressive resumption of training was necessary to ensure the continued development of commanders and full-time servicemen who will be deployed to front-line units.

The suspension of basic training will not affect the servicemen’s operationally ready dates, which mark the end of their full-time service. 

The pause on training was originally set to end on June 1 to coincide with the last day of the circuit breaker. TODAY has asked Mindef and MHA why the resumption of training has been brought forward. 

Aside from spreading out reporting dates, Mindef said safe distancing rules as well as strict health and safety measures to prevent infection would be in place during BMT. 

All recruits and instructors will undergo a health screening, and those who show symptoms of acute respiratory infection will be separated immediately from the rest and tested for Covid-19.

Existing precautions will continue, including twice-daily temperature checks and enhanced hygiene practices, Mindef said. 

Basic training at the SPF and SCDF will be subject to the same precautions. MHA said the trainees must also wear face masks, except during mealtimes and strenuous activities such as physical training.

Other measures such as the frequent cleaning of training equipment and common areas will continue, the ministry added. 

Besides suspending basic training to curb the spread of the virus, the authorities had also halted in-camp training and the Individual Physical Proficiency Test for operationally ready soldiers from the SAF, SPF and SCDF. 

The SAF has also suspended all large-scale overseas military exercises because of the pandemic. 

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