GPC-DFA, ACCORD VISIT BASIC MILITARY TRAINING CENTRE

While most Singaporean males would have been acquainted with Pulau Tekong during their National Service (NS) days, much has changed in how the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) turns civilian boys into fighting soldiers.

That was something which members of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs (GPC-DFA), its Resource Panel, and the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) discovered after a visit to Headquarters Basic Military Training Centre (HQ BMTC) on 15 Mar. The visit was hosted by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National Development Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman.

During the visit, they saw how recruits trained and lived on the island, as well as how BMTC has evolved over the years. Their first stop at the BMTC concept room named "Tekong - A BMT Journey" gave the visitors insight into how the SAF trains new entrants.

"BMTC is their first touch point in becoming a soldier, so it's important to get this right because it sets the tone for their entire NS experience," said Colonel (COL) Simon Lim, Commander BMTC, during a briefing to the visitors.

The visitors also stopped by BMTC School 2, where they saw how recruits lived on the island, and some of the items issued to all recruits to help them cope with the training they would receive in the coming weeks. Some of these items include running shoes, uniforms and other gear that accompany each soldier as they progress through NS.

"Training facilities and infrastructure have improved, which injects more realism into the training," said Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Chairperson GPC-DFA, in reference to the Battle Inoculation Course (BIC) which puts recruits through a simulated battlefield with live rounds flying overhead.

After viewing how recruits tackled the BIC, the visitors took the opportunity to speak to some of the trainees. Dr Maliki encouraged the recruits for a job well done, and asked for their views on how to improve the NS experience for future batches.

The visitors also saw recruits going through the Situational Test (SITEST) in the jungles of Pulau Tekong. Comprising a series of obstacles which recruits have to overcome as a team, the SITEST identifies recruits with leadership potential for the various SAF command schools, such as Officer Cadet School and Specialist Cadet School.

"There's a big dramatic change in the way BMT is conducted. There is a good balance of hardware and software with good policies in place to make sure that recruits have a positive experience," said Mr Benny Pua, a member of the GPC-DFA Resource Panel.

"Today's generation is different and I think the SAF has taken a lot effort to improve its training methods. That is the biggest change I have seen, I am very impressed and I think the SAF will continue to do well."