SAF Tightens Measures and Remains Vigilant in the Fight against COVID-19

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will implement further tightened measures to safeguard the health and well-being of servicemen, and maintain our operational readiness to defend Singapore’s peace and security amidst the evolving COVID-19 outbreak.

The SAF will defer In-Camp Training (ICT), and only those that are essential for operations will continue. Fitness Conditioning Centres (FCCs) will be closed and the conduct of Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) and NS Fitness Improvement Training (FIT) at FCCs, SAFRA gyms and public locations suspended.^[1] Large-scale events will also be cancelled, deferred or reduced in size. These measures will take immediate effect and will be in place until 13 June 2021.

Activities critical for build-up of operational units will continue with stringent safe management measures (SMMs) in place.^[2] As with other essential personnel, the vaccination programme for SAF personnel is making steady progress, with the majority of active forces expected to be vaccinated by the middle of the year. As an added precaution, the SAF had also introduced swab tests for servicemen who enlist in May, as well as their trainers, to ensure that Basic Military Training (BMT) can be conducted safely. These measures will continue.

The SAF will continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation and review the measures in place to keep our servicemen safe.

^[1] NSmen whose IPPT window closure are within the suspension period will be granted a one-time waiver of their annual IPPT requirement.

^[2] Examples of these existing measures include safe distancing measures, strict cohorting rules, enhanced hygiene practices, and frequent disinfection of common areas. Servicemen have been split into smaller functional groups for all activities and meal times have been staggered to avoid cross-interaction between groups. NSmen are also required to take a swab test before they commence their unit-level in-camp training.