EQUIPPED AND READY
STORY // Benita Teo
PHOTO // Chai Sian Liang & Shaun Ng
Top gear
Good personal equipment can enhance a soldier's effectiveness and improve morale. Thus the SAF provides differentiated gear to match the needs of different units and missions, as well as enhancements that can improve performance.
"We strive to enable our soldiers to sustain longer in harsh conditions and increase their performance through comfort in ergonomics. The key objective is to enhance combat effectiveness and physical performance," said Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Elizabeth Soh, Head of System Development Branch at Headquarters Supply.
In addition, the SAF looks for economic pricing through off-the-shelf items that can be used directly or customised to its requirements.
Always staying ahead
While there is no fixed timeline for replacing personal equipment, the SAF carries out reviews regularly to assess the condition of existing gear.
The latest slew of personal equipment upgrades began in October 2013. The upgrades included the configurable rack system on the field pack, the new iLBV with features such as adjusted Velcro positions at the neckguard and better breathability, as well as new lightweight physical training singlets and shorts with reflective strips.
Two new types of physical training shoes were introduced recently. The adidas Duramo, rolled out on 30 Oct 2016, suits neutral to high-arch foot types and is a facelift of the previous adidas model.
The New Balance NB 565, made for neutral to low-arch foot types, is a military off-the-shelf item. This means that enhancements were made by the commercial supplier to suit the SAF's requirements.
It features a synthetic mesh body and performance inserts for added comfort. The NB 565 was rolled out on 16 Dec 2016 and replaces the existing Zoot model.
Upgrades are carried out for various reasons. One is to keep up with technological advancements. The SAF, through market surveys and technology scanning, keeps a keen eye out for advancements that may be beneficial to soldiers or improve performance.
Another reason is to respond to feedback from the most important people of all - the servicemen and women themselves. "When we bring in new items, we regularly solicit soldier feedback to see the positive and not-so-positive feedback," LTC Soh explained.
"From there, we enhance, improve and adapt accordingly."
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Two new physical training shoes were introduced last year. The adidas Duramo is suited for neutral to high-arch foot types and was rolled out on 30 Oct 2016. The New Balance NB 565 is suited for neutral to low-arch foot types and was rolled out on 16 Dec 2016. It replaces the existing Zoot model.
Getting a foot up On 27 Dec 2016, the SAF announced its newest personal equipment upgrade. Three new combat boots were introduced two variants of the Army Combat Boots (ACB) for the majority of Regulars and national servicemen, and the Enhanced Combat Boots (ECB) for soldiers in selected manoeuvre units. The boots are used by the United States (US) and British armies, and were selected based on their positive track record among users. Made by US company Altama and South American company Wellco Peruana, the two ACBs are designed for use in jungle terrain. Both utilise direct-moulded soles, which enhance the durability of the boots, and Panama thread patterns that improve traction for movement in jungle terrain. The ECB is produced by US company Magnum and is suited for both jungle and urban terrains. Its durability is also enhanced by a fully-stitched cupsole, while the Vibram jungle outsole allows for good traction. These boots were issued to soldiers from the infantry, commandos, guards and armoured infantry from January. They replace the current Frontier boots, which have been in use in the SAF since 2012. Said LTC Soh: "We learn from experience. Over the past few years, we gathered feedback and realised that the injection moulding and polyurethane (used to fuse the sole to the boot) do not last long. We've now gone for direct-moulded soles." Performance review Full-time national serviceman 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Tan Hean Shuen, an Officer Cadet School (OCS) Platoon Instructor, tried all three boots for about two months and during an overseas training stint in late November last year. He found that both the Altama and Wellco Peruana boots provided good lower shin cushioning, which improved comfort for long-distance walking. As for fellow OCS Platoon Instructor Lieutenant (LTA) Sharan Thangavel, he liked that the Magnum boots were lightweight and had good traction, making them ideal for navigating urban environments. Both agreed that the new boots were an improvement over their existing boots. "I could feel the difference between the leather boots (that were issued to me back in the National Cadet Corps), the Frontier boots I was issued in Basic Military Training (BMT), and these three new boots," said 2LT Tan. "I can see the progression, and it's definitely for the better." |
If the boot fits If you're enlisting sometime in the middle of this year, listen up! From May, new recruits will each be issued with a pair of Altama and Wellco Peruana boots on enlistment day. They will be able to try out both during training and, if they have a preferred brand, they can purchase the boots using their eMart credits when it is time to replace them. LTA Sharan has some advice for soldiers with broad feet like his: "The Altama's sole is wider, which suits users with broad feet. Also, when you're moving long distances (of 10km or longer), comfort and the weight of the boots are very important." |
Where you can get the boots
The Altama and Wellco Peruana boots can be purchased with eMart credits from the following eMart outlets:
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- Clementi Camp |
- Gombak Camp |
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- Khatib Camp |
- Kranji Camp III |
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- Pasir Laba Camp |
- SAFRA Mount Faber |
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- The Chevrons |
- Sungei Gedong Camp |
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- Nee Soon Camp |
- Jurong Camp II (Infantry Training Institute) |
The Magnum boots are cash items and are currently only available at SAFRA Mount Faber and The Chevrons eMart outlets.
Physical Training (PT) Attire |
Combat Attire |
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PT Singlet [Oct 2013] - Lightweight, ripstop fabric for performance and durability PT Shorts [May 2015] - Lightweight and stretchable for enhanced performance PT Socks [May 2016] - Seamless stretch design for comfort |
Field Pack [Mar 2015] - Configurable rack systems for different load requirements Water Bladder [Oct 2014] - Radio frequency welded seams that provide burst and puncture resistance Integrated Load Bearing Vest (iLBV) [Mar 2015] - Side buckles allow tactical loosening of iLBV during operations Combat Socks [May 2016] - Seamless stretch design for comfort Combat Boots [Dec 2016] - Enhanced durability |
