SINGAPORE — From Oct 1, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will progressively resume national service in-camp training (ICT) and will administer Covid-19 swab tests for operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen) returning for unit-level ICT. 

Individual Physical Proficiency Tests (IPPT) will also resume progressively from Oct 1 after having been suspended for six months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but these will be conducted at a reduced capacity. 

All SAF NSmen whose IPPT window closes on or before Feb 7 next year will be granted a one-time waiver. 

These updates were announced by the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) in a Facebook post on Thursday (Sept 3), which said that SAF “must continue to maintain operational readiness despite the challenges imposed by Covid-19, and will step up training tempo in the coming months”.

Mindef said that with the resumption of in-camp activities from next month, the SAF has put in place stringent safe management measures and health protocols, which includes the administration of Covid-19 swab tests for NSmen returning for unit-level ICT. 

NSmen undergoing unit-level ICT are called back as a unit for operations and training. It excludes smaller-scale activities such as course attendance. 

At the same time, SAF will also progressively reopen the Fitness Conditioning Centres (FCCs) for IPPT, six months after the closures took effect on March 31. 

The tests will be conducted at a reduced capacity and group size, and in accordance with safe management measures.

The one-time waiver for NSmen whose IPPT window closes on or before Feb 7 next year will be granted in view of the earlier FCC closures and gradual pace of reopening, and they will be informed individually by phone through SMS and a letter this month. 

Previously, the waiver was extended just to those whose IPPT window closed on or before Sept 30. 

“The SAF will continue to monitor the Covid-19 situation in Singapore and review the measures in place to keep our servicemen safe,” Mindef said. 

“We thank our NSmen for their continued contributions and commitment to keeping Singapore safe and secure during these challenging times.”