SAF'S FIRST OF ITS KIND INDOOR SHOOTING RANGE HONES MARKSMANSHIP SKILLS

Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers can now look forward to honing their marksmanship skills even more effectively at the newly-launched indoor firing range complex.

The three-storey Multi-Mission Range Complex (MMRC) houses seven ranges which can simulate day and night conditions. Soldiers can complete their day and night shoots within a day. The indoor ranges also mean that shooting practices can go on in rainy weather.

Soldiers also do not have to handle administrative and logistic matters which are now taken care of by civilian contractors at the MMRC.

Up to 900 soldiers can complete their shoots at the MMRC in one day. This would have taken two to three days in an outdoor range.

The MMRC started operating six months ago. Since then, more than 22,000 servicemen, including Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) and Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen), have trained at the complex.

2nd Sergeant (NS) Christopher Wong said the efficiency of the MMRC allows NSmen to get the most out of their annual In-Camp Training (ICT).

"We want to get everything done within a short time frame. As NSmen, we just want to refresh our basic shooting... (without having to perform) administrative tasks, we can actually focus on core skills of shooting."

The MMRC is also the first of its kind in the world to house four different types of ranges in a single complex, providing marksmanship training in both conventional and urban settings.

Speaking at the launch of the MMRC, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen said: "This complex represents a significant step up that will raise the level of fundamental soldiering skills for our SAF men and women, in particular, their shooting and marksmanship."

The four different types of ranges at the MMRC allow the SAF to train soldiers in both basic and advanced shooting.

At the standard 100-metre range, soldiers practise their basic and combat shoots. At the urban operations range, they get to hone their close-quarters shooting skills, while manoeuvring through a series of rooms.

They also get a feel of what it is like to operate in a multi-storey building at the multi-tier range. Comprising two levels of targets, the range enables soldiers to train in engaging stationary and moving targets at different heights.

At the Video Targetry System (VTS) range, soldiers are put through scenarios to hone their ability to discern between enemy targets and civilians. Weapons loaded with live bullets are used for added realism.

Colonel Chiang Hock Woon, Commander 9th Division and Chief Infantry Officer, said the MMRC offers realistic urban training for SAF soldiers which cannot be replicated at outdoor ranges.

"When we send our soldiers for operations we want them to survive. And today's operating environment is very complex; our soldiers have to be capable in conventional terrain and also in urban terrain. The MMRC is one such facility that allows our soldiers to train effectively in urban terrain."

He added that the indoor shoots will complement outfield training. Soldiers can strengthen their shooting fundamentals in a controlled environment before they go for live firing in the field.

The MMRC also helps the SAF to overcome the problem of land scarcity in Singapore. It sits on a single 100m range, but provides seven ranges across three stories in the same building.

Said Dr Ng: "This complex now allows us to do much more in training and to test our soldiers' shooting proficiency, but yet utilises much less space, compared to before."