FOURTH FITNESS CENTRE FOR NSMEN OPENS IN KRANJI

With the opening of the Fitness Conditioning Centre (FCC) in Kranji Camp II, Operationally-ready National Servicemen (NSmen) living or working in the north-western part of Singapore can now train for and take their Individual Physical Proficiency Tests (IPPT) at a more convenient location.

Kranji FCC is the latest addition to the three existing FCCs located at Khatib Camp, Maju Camp and Bedok Camp, serving NSmen in the northern, central/south and eastern parts of Singapore respectively. These FCCs facilitate the conduct of IPPT Preparatory Training (IPT), Remedial Training (RT) and IPPT.

Situated near Kranji Expressway and within a five-minute walking distance from the Yew Tee MRT station, the fourth FCC caters to NSmen whose homes or work places are located in areas such as Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Tuas and Yew Tee.

At the official opening ceremony of Kranji FCC on 3 Nov, Minister of State for Defence and Education Lawrence Wong said the launch of this fitness centre marked the full implementation of one of the remaining four recommendations made by the fifth committee to Recognise the Contributions of Operationally Ready National Servicemen to Total Defence (RECORD V).

Noting that Kranji FCC was an initiative by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to help NSmen fulfil their National Service responsibilities, Mr Wong said: "This facility will provide our NSmen greater convenience to get themselves fit and ready for IPPT."

At Kranji FCC, Mr Wong was briefed on its facilities, which feature a gymnasium that accommodates up to a company size of NSmen, as well as both an indoor 2.4-kilometre running route and an outdoor 400-metre training track. This fitness centre is the first among the FCCs to be equipped with both indoor and outdoor running routes.

The gym houses new training equipment, including the Integrated Health Fitness Management System (IHFMS), kettlebells and resistance bands. These were introduced recently to help NSmen enhance training effectiveness. Since opening its doors to NSmen on 13 Jun this year, Kranji FCC has seen a steady increase of NSmen undergoing IPT or RT at the facility. On 15 Oct, the centre was made available for IPPT booking.

Corporal (NS) Mohamed Faizal Bin Abdul Rahiman, who works in Yishun, saves about 30 minutes when he goes to Kranji FCC for his IPT instead of Khatib FCC, where he previously trained. The 35-year-old NSman said: "Its close proximity to an MRT station saves me the time and hassle transferring on buses."

In 2009, the Government accepted 18 recommendations by RECORD V. To date, 15 recommendations, including the set up of Kranji FCC, have been put in place.

The remaining three RECORD V initiatives, "IPPT-in-your-community" refurbishment of business centres in SAF camps and construction of new clubhouses for NSmen are progressing well, said Mr Wong, as he gave an update on the implementation status.

For the "IPPT-in-your-community" programme - an initiative that helps NSmen better prepare for their annual IPPT at fitness corners near their homes - 96 training sites within the public housing estates have been enhanced as at early October this year. Up to 15 other sites are scheduled for upgrading works by next month. These amount to over 100 enhanced fitness corners in total, an increase from the original plan of 60.

In providing NSmen greater connectivity to their workplace during In-Camp Training, business centres in eight additional SAF camps, including Commando Training Institute, Changi Naval Base and Tengah Air Base, are being refurbished. This is in addition to the three existing business centres introduced earlier.

For NSmen's recreation, the redevelopment of the Toa Payoh SAFRA clubhouse will be completed in 2013, while the new SAFRA clubhouse in Punggol and HomeTeamNS satellite clubhouse in Tampines Town Hub are in the planning phase.

Moving on, Mr Wong said MINDEF would be embarking on a strategic review of SAFRA to provide better benefits and activities to meet the lifestyle needs of NSmen, as well as build stronger cohesion among them.