Last updated 30 April 2024


Your son or ward will start his journey as a full-time National Serviceman (NSF) with basic training. The length and type of basic training he receives will depend on:

  • whether he’s enlisted to Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) or Singapore Police Force (SPF)
  • his Physical Employment Standard (PES) grade
  • his pre-enlistee Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) results (if applicable)

Stay-in training

During the initial phase of basic training, your son or ward must stay in camp throughout. This can be between 10 days to 19 days, depending on which service your son is enlisted to.

Booking out

After that, he will be able to return home (book out) during weekends and public holidays if he does not have any training scheduled on those days.

Basic training in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)

  • If your son or ward enlisted in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), he will go through basic military training.
  • His camp might be at the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) in Pulau Tekong, Kranji Camp 2, Naval Diving Unit, Commando Training Institute, or other SAF units.
  • He must stay in for the first 2 weekends, and will be able to book out and return home after 15 to 19 days, depending on his training school.

PES A or B1

(61 points or more for IPPT)

Duration of Basic Military Training (BMT)

9 weeks

Type of training
  • Basic soldiering skills

  • Fitness tests such as IPPT

Enlistment locations
  • BMTC in Pulau Tekong

  • Other SAF units

PES A or B1

(less than 61 points for IPPT)

Duration of Basic Military Training (BMT)

17 weeks (8 weeks of Physical Training Phase + 9 weeks BMT)

Type of training
  • Basic soldiering skills

  • Training to improve physical fitness

  • Fitness tests such as IPPT

Enlistment locations
  • BMTC in Pulau Tekong

  • Other SAF units

PES B2

Duration of Basic Military Training (BMT)

9 weeks

Type of training
  • Basic soldiering skills

  • Training for IPPT, but can be excused up to two static stations

Enlistment location
  • BMTC in Pulau Tekong

PES B3 or B4

Duration of Basic Military Training (BMT)

9 weeks

Type of training
  • Training for IPPT, but can be excused up to two static stations

Enlistment location
  • BMTC in Pulau Tekong

PES BP

Duration of Basic Military Training (BMT)

19 weeks

Type of training
  • Training to improve physical fitness

  • Basic soldiering skills

  • Fitness tests such as IPPT

Enlistment location
  • BMTC in Pulau Tekong

PES C

Duration of Basic Military Training (BMT)

9 weeks

Type of training
  • Basic soldiering skills

  • Preparation for vocational training

Enlistment location
  • BMTC School V in Kranji Camp 2

PES E

Duration of Basic Military Training (BMT)

9 weeks

Type of training
  • Basic soldiering skills

  • Preparation for vocational training

Enlistment location
  • BMTC School V in Kranji Camp 2

Basic training in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)

  • If your son or ward enlisted in Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), he will go through Basic Rescue Training (BRT).
  • All training will be held at National Service Training Centre, Civil Defence Academy.

  • He must stay in the National Service Training Centre for his first weekend, and will be able to book out and return home the following Friday.

PES A or B1

(61 points or more for IPPT)

Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)

4 weeks

Type of training
  • Basic skills of a Civil Defence Rescuer

  • Fitness tests such as IPPT

PES A or B1

(less than 61 points for IPPT)

Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)

12 weeks (8 weeks of Physical Training Phase + 4 weeks BRT)

Type of training
  • Training to improve physical fitness

  • Basic skills of a Civil Defence Rescuer

  • Fitness tests such as IPPT

PES B2

Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)

4 weeks

Type of training
  • Basic skills of a Civil Defence Rescuer

  • Training for IPPT, but can be excused up to two static stations

PES B3 or B4

Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)

4 weeks

Type of training
  • Basic skills of a Civil Defence Rescuer

PES BP

Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)

12 weeks (8 weeks of Physical Training Phase + 4 weeks PES A or B1 BRT)

Type of training
  • Training to improve physical fitness

  • Basic skills of a Civil Defence Rescuer

PES C

Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)

4 weeks

Type of training
  • Basic skills of a Civil Defence Rescuer

PES E

Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)

5 days

Type of training
  • Civil Defence Systems

  • SCDF Core Values

  • National Education

  • Regimentation and Discipline

Basic training in the Singapore Police Force (SPF)

  • If your son or ward enlisted in Singapore Police Force (SPF), he will go through the Police Officers Basic Course.
  • All training will be held at Home Team Academy.

  • He must stay in the Home Team Academy for his first weekend, and will be able to book out and return home the following Friday.

PES A or B1

(61 points or more for IPPT)

Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)

14 weeks

Type of training
  • Basic Policing knowledge and skills

  • Fitness tests such as IPPT

PES A or B1

(less than 61 points for IPPT)

Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)

22 weeks (8 weeks of Physical Training Phase + 14 weeks POBC)

Type of training
  • Training to improve physical fitness

  • Basic Policing knowledge and skills

  • Fitness tests such as IPPT

PES B2

Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)

14 weeks

Type of training
  • Basic Policing knowledge and skills

  • Training for IPPT, but can be excused from up to two static stations

PES B3 or B4

Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)

8 weeks

Type of training
  • Basic Policing knowledge and skills

PES BP

Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)

22 weeks (8 weeks of Physical Training Phase + 14 weeks POBC)

Type of training
  • Training to improve physical fitness

  • Basic Policing knowledge and skills

PES C

Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)

8 weeks

Type of training
  • Basic Policing knowledge and skills

PES E

Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)

10 days

Type of training
  • SG Secure

  • SPF Core Values

  • Regimentation and Discipline

Items given

Your son or ward will be given a list of items upon his enlistment. This includes his uniform, clothes, shoes, and other training necessities. The full list of items given can be viewed under the respective service:

Living arrangements

Your son or ward will live in a common bunk together with enlistees from different walks of life, race and religion. Together, they are responsible for the cleanliness of their living quarters.

Meals provided

Your son or ward will be provided with 3 meals a day. If there is night training, a night snack will be given. All meals are carefully planned to provide proper nutrition for training and recovery. If your son or ward has dietary restrictions or food allergies, he should inform his officers upon enlistment.

After basic training

After basic training is completed, your son or ward:

  • will be posted to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) or Singapore Police Force (SPF) unit to complete the rest of his training and to serve the rest of his full-time National Service (NS).
  • may need to undergo vocation training.
  • may be selected for a leadership course and undergo leadership training before he's assigned a vocation.

Visit the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) website to learn more about life in NS in the SAF, SCDF, and SPF.

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