Life in NS
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Last updated 14 April 2026
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 medical fitness status
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.
If your son or ward has enlisted to 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, BMTC School V in Kranji Camp 2 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.
For pre-enlistees medically graded under PES (Enlisting before Oct 2027)
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
For pre-enlistees medically graded under MCS (Enlisting from Oct 2027 onwards)
BMT Programme 1 (Direct Basic Training) (Eligible pre-enlistees who attain 61 points or more for IPPT)
Duration of Basic Military Training (BMT)
9 weeks
Types of training
Those with no training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through training activities such as the IPPT, Standard Obstacle Course, route marches, and field training
Eligible for all vocations
Enlistment locations
BMTC in Pulau Tekong
Other SAF units
BMT Programme 1 (Physical Training Phase) (Eligible pre-enlistees who attain less than 61 points for IPPT)
Duration of Basic Military Training (BMT)
17 weeks (8 weeks of Physical Training Phase + 9 weeks BMT)
Types of training
Training to improve physical fitness
Those with no training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through training activities such as the IPPT, Standard Obstacle Course, route marches, and field training
Eligible for all vocations
Enlistment locations
BMTC in Pulau Tekong
Other SAF units
BMT Programme 1 (Obese)
Duration of Basic Military Training (BMT)
19 weeks
Types of training
Training to improve physical fitness
Those with no training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through training activities such as the IPPT, Standard Obstacle Course, route marches, and field training
Eligible for all vocations
Enlistment locations
BMTC in Pulau Tekong
BMT Programme 2
Duration of Basic Military Training (BMT)
9 weeks
Types of training
Those with one or more training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through calibrated physical training and adjusted field activities
Eligible for Combat Support, Combat Service Support and some Combat vocations
Enlistment locations
BMTC in Pulau Tekong
BMT Programme 3
Duration of Basic Military Training (BMT)
9 weeks
Types of training
Those with multiple or significant training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through training on basic soldiering fundamentals
Eligible for Combat Service Support and some Combat Support Vocations
Enlistment locations
BMTC School V in Kranji Camp 2
If your son or ward has enlisted to 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.
For pre-enlistees medically graded under PES (Enlisting before Oct 2027)
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
For pre-enlistees medically graded under the refreshed MCS (Enlisting from Oct 2027 onwards))
BRT Programme 1 (Basic Rescue Training) (Eligible pre-enlistees who attain 61 points or more for IPPT)
Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)
4 weeks
Types of training
Those with no training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through training activities such as the IPPT, training to develop fundamental Civil Defence Rescuer skills
Eligible for all vocations
BRT Programme 1 (Physical Training Phase) (Eligible pre-enlistees who attain less than 61 points for IPPT)
Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)
12 weeks (8 weeks of Physical Training Phase + 4 weeks BRT)
Types of training
Training to improve physical fitness
Those with no training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through training activities such as the IPPT, training to develop fundamental Civil Defence Rescuer skills
Eligible for all vocations
BRT Programme 1 (Physical Training Phase) - for pre-enlistees graded Medically Fit for Service (Obese)
Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)
12 weeks (8 weeks of Physical Training Phase + 4 weeks BRT)
Types of training
Training to improve physical fitness
Those with no training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through training activities such as the IPPT, training to develop fundamental Civil Defence Rescuer skills
Eligible for all vocations
BRT Programme 2
Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)
4 weeks
Types of training
Those with one or more training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through calibrated physical training as well as training to develop fundamental Civil Defence Rescuer skills
Eligible for Service Support, Frontline (Support) and some Frontline (Operational) vocations
BRT Programme 3
Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)
5 days
Types of training
Those with multiple or significant training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through training on Civil Defence systems, SCDF core values, regimentation and discipline
Eligible for Service Support and some Frontline (Support) vocations
If your son or ward has enlisted to 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.
For pre-enlistees medically graded under PES (Enlisting before Oct 2027)
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
For pre-enlistees medically graded under the refreshed MCS (Enlisting from Oct 2027 onwards)
POBC Programme 1 (Direct Basic Training) (Eligible pre-enlistees who attain 61 points or more for IPPT)
Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)
14 weeks
Types of training
Those with no training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through training activities such as the IPPT, training to develop basic policing knowledge and skills for POBC
Eligible for all vocations
POBC Programme 1 (Physical Training Phase) (Eligible pre-enlistees who attain less than 61 points for IPPT)
Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)
22 weeks (8 weeks of Physical Training Phase + 14 weeks POBC)
Types of training
Training to improve physical fitness
Those with no training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through training activities such as the IPPT, training to develop basic policing knowledge and skills for POBC
Eligible for all vocations
POBC Programme 1 (Physical Training Phase) - for pre-enlistees graded Medically Fit for Service (Obese)
Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)
22 weeks (8 weeks of Physical Training Phase + 14 weeks POBC)
Types of training
Training to improve physical fitness
Those with no training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through training activities such as the IPPT, training to develop basic policing knowledge and skills for POBC
Eligible for all vocations
POBC Programme 2
Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)
8 weeks
Types of training
Those with one or more training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through calibrated physical training as well as training to develop basic policing knowledge and skills
Eligible for Service Support, Frontline (Support) and some Frontline (Operational) vocations
POBC Programme 3
Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)
10 days
Types of training
Those with multiple or significant training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through training on SGSecure, SPF core values, regimentation and discipline
Eligible for Service Support and some Frontline (Support) vocations
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:
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.
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 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.