Every Singaporean Son
Every Singaporean Son is the first stop for an interesting, useful, morale-boosting official stance on what goes on in BMT. Make this your priority!
MINDEF: About BMT
Basic Military Training (BMT)
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Basic Military Training (BMT) marks the beginning of military life for all Singaporean males at the age of 18. It is the transition from fresh-faced teenager to combat-ready fit soldier.
They learn basic soldiering skills, which include weapon handling, individual field craft, bayonet fighting, etc to ensure their survivability in the battlefield.
Besides the training in basic military skills, Physical Training (PT) lessons are also conducted to build up the soldiers' physique and stamina, to instill a firm sense of discipline and teamwork amongst the soldiers.
In 1995, MINDEF approved a revision in the BMT to ensure that the best are selected to become officers and specialists, through a better-structured and more focused training programme.
With the revised BMT system, the new Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) was set up as a central institution responsible for most basic military training. The institute was inaugurated on 26 November 1996 and officially opened as SAF BMTC by DPM and Defence Minister Dr Tony Tan on 17 Aug 1999).
This improved programme not only ensures that the right personnel are assigned to the command and combat vocations but also provides for the training to address the different fitness levels of the recruits.
It ensures that the recruit who completes his basic military training at BMTC is suitable for his subsequent deployment and training for the remaining period of his full-time national service.
The centralised training for recruits at BMTC in Pulau Tekong also ensures a more efficient and effective management of basic military training and sharing of common resources. Time spent travelling from camp to the training grounds has been reduced as all training is done within the island itself.
They learn basic soldiering skills, which include weapon handling, individual field craft, bayonet fighting, etc to ensure their survivability in the battlefield.
Besides the training in basic military skills, Physical Training (PT) lessons are also conducted to build up the soldiers' physique and stamina, to instill a firm sense of discipline and teamwork amongst the soldiers.
In 1995, MINDEF approved a revision in the BMT to ensure that the best are selected to become officers and specialists, through a better-structured and more focused training programme.
With the revised BMT system, the new Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) was set up as a central institution responsible for most basic military training. The institute was inaugurated on 26 November 1996 and officially opened as SAF BMTC by DPM and Defence Minister Dr Tony Tan on 17 Aug 1999).
This improved programme not only ensures that the right personnel are assigned to the command and combat vocations but also provides for the training to address the different fitness levels of the recruits.
It ensures that the recruit who completes his basic military training at BMTC is suitable for his subsequent deployment and training for the remaining period of his full-time national service.
The centralised training for recruits at BMTC in Pulau Tekong also ensures a more efficient and effective management of basic military training and sharing of common resources. Time spent travelling from camp to the training grounds has been reduced as all training is done within the island itself.
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The new SAF BMTC boasts a comprehensive range of training and general facilities for recruits. These include well-equipped lecture rooms, training sheds, rifle and grenade ranges, a sophisticated Marksmanship Trainer, and Obstacle and Battle Inoculation Courses.
It also has a sports complex with standard 400m running track, tennis and squash courts. It also has a big parade square with a 2,400-seating capacity, a well-equipped medical centre and an auditorium.
There is also a SAF E-Mart on the island where recruits can use their 'credits' to purchase their clothings and other military-related essentials.
It also has a sports complex with standard 400m running track, tennis and squash courts. It also has a big parade square with a 2,400-seating capacity, a well-equipped medical centre and an auditorium.
There is also a SAF E-Mart on the island where recruits can use their 'credits' to purchase their clothings and other military-related essentials.
MINDEF: Fact Sheet: Changes to BMT Programmes (i.e. What you will be going through)
Basic Military Training (BMT) equips recruits with the basic military skills to become combat-ready soldiers. It also aims to give them a sense of purpose and a positive experience in their National Service. To better engage and train recruits, the SAF undertakes periodic reviews to strengthen the BMT system.
The current review was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the SAF looked at how recruits undergoing the 4-week Physical Training Phase (PTP) could be better prepared for BMT. This resulted in the introduction of an 8-week PTP which will raise PTP recruits' physical fitness to a level that is comparable to their direct-BMT peers'. The new PTP programme will begin in December 2009. The second phase of the review focused on customising the other BMT programmes to engage recruits and prepare them better for their subsequent combat, combat support and combat service support roles. The BMT system will now include a new 19-week BMT for obese recruits with effect from February 2010, a new 9-week BMT for PES B2 recruits from June 2010, a new 9-week BMT for PES C recruits from June 2010, and a new 4-week BMT for PES E recruits. There will be no change to the standard BMT for PES A/B recruits.
19-week BMT Programme for Obese Enlistees
The new 19-week BMT programme will be conducted for recruits whose Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeds 27. This BMT programme is designed to help obese recruits improve their physical fitness incrementally while equipping them with basic soldiering skills and knowledge. Over time, obese recruits have shown that they can achieve optimal fitness levels and weight loss in about 19 weeks, hence the 19-week BMT programme for this group of recruits.
9-week BMT Programme for PES B2 Enlistees
The new 9-week BMT programme will be conducted for recruits who are medically fit for deployment in selected combat and combat support vocations, such as signal operators, combat medics and naval system operators. These recruits will be given a new medical classification of PES B2, in place of the existing PES C1 classification. This is to ensure that the medical classification of our soldiers is consistent with their deployment. The new 9-week programme will include customised physical training, as well as basic combat training to prepare them for their combat and combat support roles.
9-week BMT Programme for PES C Enlistees
The new 9-week BMT programme will be conducted for PES C recruits. This programme will include light physical training and vocational training to prepare them for combat service support vocations, such as service medic, and those related to logistics and administration such as supply assistants.
4-week BMT Programme for PES E Enlistees
The new 4-week BMT programme will be conducted for PES E recruits. This programme will focus on National Education, SAF core values, regimentation and discipline, as well as vocational training to prepare recruits for combat service support vocations.
The current review was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the SAF looked at how recruits undergoing the 4-week Physical Training Phase (PTP) could be better prepared for BMT. This resulted in the introduction of an 8-week PTP which will raise PTP recruits' physical fitness to a level that is comparable to their direct-BMT peers'. The new PTP programme will begin in December 2009. The second phase of the review focused on customising the other BMT programmes to engage recruits and prepare them better for their subsequent combat, combat support and combat service support roles. The BMT system will now include a new 19-week BMT for obese recruits with effect from February 2010, a new 9-week BMT for PES B2 recruits from June 2010, a new 9-week BMT for PES C recruits from June 2010, and a new 4-week BMT for PES E recruits. There will be no change to the standard BMT for PES A/B recruits.
19-week BMT Programme for Obese Enlistees
The new 19-week BMT programme will be conducted for recruits whose Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeds 27. This BMT programme is designed to help obese recruits improve their physical fitness incrementally while equipping them with basic soldiering skills and knowledge. Over time, obese recruits have shown that they can achieve optimal fitness levels and weight loss in about 19 weeks, hence the 19-week BMT programme for this group of recruits.
9-week BMT Programme for PES B2 Enlistees
The new 9-week BMT programme will be conducted for recruits who are medically fit for deployment in selected combat and combat support vocations, such as signal operators, combat medics and naval system operators. These recruits will be given a new medical classification of PES B2, in place of the existing PES C1 classification. This is to ensure that the medical classification of our soldiers is consistent with their deployment. The new 9-week programme will include customised physical training, as well as basic combat training to prepare them for their combat and combat support roles.
9-week BMT Programme for PES C Enlistees
The new 9-week BMT programme will be conducted for PES C recruits. This programme will include light physical training and vocational training to prepare them for combat service support vocations, such as service medic, and those related to logistics and administration such as supply assistants.
4-week BMT Programme for PES E Enlistees
The new 4-week BMT programme will be conducted for PES E recruits. This programme will focus on National Education, SAF core values, regimentation and discipline, as well as vocational training to prepare recruits for combat service support vocations.
 Chart on Changes to BMT Programmes |