SINGAPORE — Higher incentives for National Servicemen (NSmen) who clear the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) without fuss; more time to take the fitness tests; and those who fail can spread out their 20 sessions of remedial training (RT) over a longer period.

These recommendations, from the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS), come less than four years after the bar was raised for the fitness levels expected of NSmen.

The window for NSmen to clear their yearly IPPT was cut in 2010 to the existing nine months, so those who may need more training to pass their IPPT will receive help sooner, then Minister of State (Defence) Koo Tsai Kee had said. He had added that the changes signalled a move beyond passing and failing the IPPT and reflects the Defence Ministry’s continued commitment towards partnering our servicemen to stay fit.

Currently, those who fail must also cram 20 RT sessions into the remaining three months before their next birthday.

In recommendations submitted yesterday, the CSNS is planning to revert to the old system, where NSmen will have 12 months to clear their annual IPPT and the RT for failures can be stretched out over the following 12 months.

At a briefing earlier this week, the committee said the proposed changes were prompted by feedback from NSmen that the timeline under the current system was too challenging, given work and family commitments.

Explaining the proposed changes yesterday, Second Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said the committee wanted NSmen to take ownership of their own fitness and health, which will be the strongest deterrence message Singapore can send.

NSmen who make the effort to keep fit, however, could be better rewarded, with the CSNS recommending S$100 more to be given for those who attain pass with incentive, and silver and gold awards for their IPPT. Currently, the payouts are S$100, S$200 and S$400 respectively.

NSmen TODAY spoke to welcomed the possible changes. Mr Samuel Poh, 29, who has been attending RT, said it can be difficult to clear the 20 sessions within three months. “You have to go two to three times a week. Sometimes, I do overtime at work.”

Mr Jonathan Lee, 28, who attended RT sessions last year, but trained hard enough to attain a silver award this month, said: “The measures proposed are good because those who prefer finishing up their IPPT and RT as soon as possible can still do so, while those who need a longer time to complete it can do so too.” On the higher incentives, he added: “More money is always a welcome gesture. How can you say no to that?”

Meanwhile, the CSNS is still looking into other ways to inject flexibility for NSmen to meet their IPPT and RT requirements. For instance, some had suggested the possibility of fitness tests or training sessions at more venues, such as at SAFRA or commercial gyms.

TODAY understands that further announcements on this are expected in the second half of this year.