Last updated 30 April 2024


You will start your journey as a full-time National Serviceman (NSF) with basic training. The length and type of basic training you receive will depend on:

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

Stay-in training

During the initial phase of basic training, you must stay in camp throughout. This can be between 10 to 19 days, depending on which service you are enlisted to.

Booking out

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

Basic training in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)

  • If you enlist in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), you will go through basic military training.
  • Your camp might be the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) in Pulau Tekong, Kranji Camp 2, Naval Diving Unit, Commando Training Institute, or other SAF units.
  • You must stay in for the first two weekends, and will be able to book out and return home after 15 to 19 days, depending on your 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, B3, B4

Duration of Basic Military Training (BMT)

9 weeks

Type of training
  • Basic soldiering skills [For PES B2 only]

  • 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 you enlist in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), you will go through Basic Rescue Training.
  • All training will be held at the National Service Training Centre, Civil Defence Academy.

  • You must stay in the National Service Training Centre for your 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, 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 you enlist in the Singapore Police Force (SPF), you will go through the Police Officers Basic Course.
  • All training will be held at Home Team Academy.

  • You must stay in the Home Team Academy for your 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, 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

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

Living arrangements

You will live in a common bunk together with enlistees from different walks of life, race, and religion. Together, you are responsible for the cleanliness of your living quarters.

Meals provided

You 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 you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, you should inform your officers upon enlistment.

After basic training

After basic training is completed, you:

  • 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 your training and to serve the rest of your full-time NS.
  • may need to undergo vocation training.
  • may be selected for a leadership course and undergo leadership training before you’re 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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