IN-CAMP TRAINING TO BE REDUCED TO 10 YEARS

Lance Corporal (LCP) (NS) Md Yousof had a pleasant surprise when he reported for his 10th In-Camp Training (ICT) on 10 Aug.

The Guardsman found out that this was to be his last ICT.

Summing up the feelings of many of his fellow Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (NSmen), the 31-year-old crane operator at Jurong Port said: "When my Commanding Officer told us about it, we were all very happy!"

Minister for Defence, Mr Teo Chee Hean, announced on 11 Aug that the National Service Training System for NSmen will be shortened.

Instead of the 13-year system which consists of 10 years of ICT and three years of two-day Basic Individual Training (BIT), NSmen need to serve only 10 years of ICT.

This applies to all NS units and will take effect from 1 Apr next year. NSmen doing their 10th ICT this work year (which ends on 31 Mar 06) will not be liable for ICT call-ups in the next work year (which begins on 1 Apr 06).

Mr Teo made this announcement after visiting NSmen from 582nd Battalion, Singapore Guards (582 Gds), who are currently on a three-day ICT at the Basic Combat Training Centre.

"This reduction has been enabled by the transformation of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) into a third-generation force, which is not just about equipment, but also about the training systems," said Mr Teo.

"We are also seeing a surge in NSmen for the next 10 years, which means we are able to conduct and complete the SAF's transformation over the next decade, while maintaining the operational capabilities of the SAF," added the minister.

Under this new system, required training tasks and standards to be achieved are clearly stipulated, and subsequent training sessions can be tailored to the standards previously achieved by the NSmen.

NS commanders are also given greater control in shaping the ICT. They can adjust training according to the outcome to be achieved.

NSmen and their units will be continually assessed over the first seven years of ICT. In their 7th ICT, the Army Training Evaluation Centre (ATEC) will conduct an external assessment to determine the unit's operational proficiency, readiness and cohesion.

As a bonus, if the NS unit performs well, its commander can even choose to further shorten his unit's training tempo in the 8th and 9th ICTs accordingly.

Commanding Officer of 582 Gds, Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Moey Weng Cheong (left), said his men welcomed this change.

"Most of them are in their early and mid-30s," he said. "With this reduction, they can now concentrate on building up their careers, which are really taking off at this point in their lives."

"At this age, many of them are also starting a family, so with the reduction in ICT, they will be able to spend more quality time with their spouses and children," added LTC Moey.

For LCP (NS) Md Yousof (left), this will be a bittersweet goodbye.

He explained: "With the reduction, there is less impact on my career, but the sad part is that ICT is like an annual gathering for my NS buddies and me."

"I have been training with these people since I was 18, so this is my last gathering with them. While ICT is very tiring, there are always moments of laughter every day, so I think I'm going to miss this too!"

Enhancing the National Service Training System