The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will progressively resume Basic Military Training (BMT) for about 6,300 recruits whose training was affected by the circuit breaker measures.

These recruits, who belong to two different batches, will be notified of their reporting dates, starting from May 26 to mid-June 2020.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will also progressively resume basic training for those servicemen whose training was suspended during the circuit breaker period.

Resuming BMT is necessary to select future commanders

BMT was previously suspended from April 7 to May 4, in line with the government's circuit breaker measures to stem the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The suspension was further extended till June 1, after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's announcement on April 21 that the circuit breaker period will be extended for four weeks.

According to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the resumption of BMT is necessary to generate operational units and select commanders for training at the Officer Cadet School (OCS) and Specialist Cadet School (SCS).

MINDEF said that strict health and safety measures will be implemented during BMT in order to prevent Covid-19 infection, and that the staggered reporting dates and venues will reduce congestion, allowing for the implementation of safe distancing measures.

All recruits and instructors will have to undergo a health screening upon reporting for BMT, and those who exhibit acute respiratory infection symptoms will immediately be separated and tested for Covid-19 infection.

Existing precautionary measures, such as cohorting arrangements, twice-daily temperature taking and enhanced hygiene practices will be enforced.

The BMT programme will also be modified for recruits to be trained in smaller groups.

Although BMT was suspended since April 7, 700 officer cadets continued to train during the circuit breaker, according to Pioneer. 

This was done with heightened Covid-19 measures in place, such as conducting training at a platoon size of no more than 40.

Recruits have been engaging in Home-Based Learning

Recruits whose training have been affected by the circuit breaker measures have been engaging in different forms of Home-Based Learning (HBL).

The HBL syllabus is determined by the stage of training recruits were in prior to the suspension of BMT.

Recruits who were enlisted in February 2020 would focus on theoretical aspects of basic soldering skills, such as weapon handling, outfield lessons and first aid lessons, as they have completed their respective physical training phase.

On the other hand, recruits who were enlisted into Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) in early April 2020, prior to the suspension of BMT, would begin with modules on regimentation and discipline, and physical fitness lessons to help them assimilate into the SAF.

According to MINDEF, participation and completion of the HBL syllabus is monitored by the respective BMTC Schools and HQ BMTC.

SPF and SCDF trainees will also resume training

MHA announced that training for two batches of full-time national servicemen (NSF) will resume, amounting to about 1,700 SPF and SCDF trainees in total.

These NSFs will be notified of their reporting dates, which are between May 26 and June 8, 2020.

The reporting dates are similarly staggered in order to facilitate the implementation of safe distancing measures.

According to MHA, the resumption of basic training is vital to ensure the continued development of commanders and NSFs for deployment to frontline units in the SPF and SCDF.

Precautionary measures will be taken, including staggered meal times, twice-daily temperature testing and frequent cleaning of equipment and common areas.

All trainees will also be required to put on masks at all times, except during meal times and strenuous activities, such as physical training.

All trainees and instructors will have to undergo health screening when reporting back to their respective training institutions, and those who exhibit respiratory infection symptoms will be separated at once and tested for Covid-19.

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Top image via Jason Fan.