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Finding their bearings amid choppy seas

08 Jan 2025 | COMMUNITY

FIRST ENLISTEES OF 2025

Welcome to BMT: Join the new year’s first batch of enlistees as they begin their NS journey at Pulau Tekong!

//STORY BY DONAHUE FOO /PHOTOS BY LOH YU ZE

The moment a recruit steps onto Pulau Tekong marks the beginning of his National Service (NS) journey.

It’s a day filled with anticipation and anxiety, as he meets his buddy for the next nine weeks, takes the Oath of Allegiance, and receives his first instructions as a member of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

We follow the 01/2025 cohort on this pivotal day as they embark on their Basic Military Training (BMT).

The SAF Ferry Terminal serves as the gateway to this transformative journey, where recruits board the boat that takes them to Pulau Tekong.

0830H: Arrival of enlistees & families

Enlistees arriving at the Pulau Tekong Ferry Terminal. They then separate from their families to get registered, and are given their first command: to tuck in their shirts. This simple act introduces them to the regimentation that will become a hallmark of their training.

Upon entering BMTC, enlistees receive their SAF 11Bs – military identification cards – and a registration paper. A few moments later, they practise the Oath of Allegiance and the National Anthem, ending with their first enthusiastic response of “Yes, Encik!”

0930H: Family tours

While recruits continue their in-processing, their families embark on a guided tour of BMTC to gain insight into the lives their sons will lead over the next nine weeks. They are pictured above visiting a company line, where they learn about the SAF uniform and field equipment that recruits will use.

An instructor briefing parents about the bunks where their sons will live, sharing insights about the regimentation and discipline instilled in recruits during their stay.

1030H: Oath of Allegiance ceremony

1130H: Farewell lunch

Recruit (REC) Eugene Ang (left), 18, said: "It is a rite of passage for Singaporean males…I would like to get through it and go with the flow." His mother, Ms Lim Bee Lan (right, next to Mr Ang Kok Kiat), 50, added: “I felt quite sad yesterday and had worries, but after the briefing by the Commanding Officer, I felt more secure that my son is in good hands."

1300H: Equipment check

At the central store, recruits collect and verify the equipment in their field packs and duffel bags under their instructors’ supervision. This process ensures that they receive the correct gear and allows for any discrepancies to be addressed immediately.

1500H: A fresh cut

With their freshly shaved heads and uniforms in hand, recruits embark on the next chapter of their NS journey.

The coming weeks will see them undergo physical training, handle their rifles and learn fundamental soldiering skills – laying the foundation for their roles as defenders of the nation.

Happy, sad or all fired up? These newly enlisted NSFs tell us how they feel on their first day at BMTC…through emojis!

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OVERCOMING LOSS TO SERVE STRONG

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