Covid-19: SAF suspends Basic Military Training, recruits to stay home

SINGAPORE — Basic Military Training (BMT) will be suspended from April 7 to May 4, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced on Monday (April 6) night, as Singapore steps up safe-distancing measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Mindef said that with the rise in locally transmitted cases, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had reviewed the impact of a suspension and concluded that there would be “little impact on operations as active units would be able to provide cover”.

On Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) also announced that it would be suspending the Police Officers Basic Course and Basic Rescue Training for all full-time national servicemen (NSFs) at the Home Team Academy and the National Service Training Institute respectively in the same period.

From April 7 until May 4, most workplaces in Singapore — except key economic sectors and those providing essential services, such as supermarkets and clinics — will have to shut as part of the Government’s stricter measures to minimise physical contact and keep the Covid-19 crisis in check.

Both ministries said that the suspension of these military training activities was in line with this national effort to stem the spread of the virus.

Mindef said that it has directed 3,400 recruits who are NSFs to strictly observe the Government’s guidelines while they remain at home, and to head out only for essential activities.

“The recruits will be provided with home-based instructional material on basic skills and fitness development,” it said.

The period of suspension will count towards the recruits’ full-time National Service, Mindef said, and their operationally ready date — which marks the end of their full-time service — will not be affected.

“The recruits will continue to be eligible for National Service allowance and medical benefits during the BMT suspension,” Mindef said.

Recruits will complete their BMT after Covid-19 has subsided.

Other SAF training schools that are needed to maintain the SAF’s operational readiness, such as the Officer Cadet School and the Specialist Cadet School, will continue operating with enhanced precautions.

Likewise, about 1,600 full-time NSF trainees from the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will be required to stay at home and remain contactable at all times during this period, MHA said.

It added that other training activities for NSFs, such as Officer Cadet Training for police and SCDF trainees, will continue with enhanced precautions because they are essential in enabling the Home Team to “continue its day-to-day responsibilities of keeping Singapore safe and secure”.

The police and SCDF will manage “any operational impact” arising from the suspension of basic training.

Last Friday, Mindef announced that it would defer all in-camp training and individual physical proficiency tests for operationally ready national servicemen until May 4.