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)
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.
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 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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)
4 weeks
Type of training
Basic skills of a Civil Defence Rescuer
Fitness tests such as 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
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
Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)
4 weeks
Type of training
Basic skills of a Civil Defence Rescuer
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
Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)
4 weeks
Type of training
Basic skills of a Civil Defence Rescuer
Duration of Basic Rescue Training (BRT)
5 days
Type of training
Civil Defence Systems
SCDF Core Values
National Education
Regimentation and Discipline
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.
Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)
14 weeks
Type of training
Basic Policing knowledge and skills
Fitness tests such as 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
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
Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)
8 weeks
Type of training
Basic Policing knowledge and skills
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
Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)
8 weeks
Type of training
Basic Policing knowledge and skills
Duration of Police Officers Basic Course (POBC)
10 days
Type of training
SG Secure
SPF Core Values
Regimentation and Discipline
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.