Route march adds significance to the Graduation Parade

We refer to Mr Chew Guan Sun's 17 Jan letter "Toughening up BMT recruits is fine but…."

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has been conducting the 24 km route march the night before their Basic Military Training (BMT) Graduation Parade since 2000. Completing the 24 km route march just before the Graduation Parade and witnessed by their family members reinforces the recruits' sense of achievement. The current 24 km route march takes place through Singapore and ends at the Marina Bay Floating Platform. The scenes of Singapore and its skyline in the background motivate the recruits and serve to remind them of what they are defending, adding significance to their route march and Graduation Parade.

Holding the Graduation Parade two to three hours after the recruits have completed their culminating BMT activity allows them to graduate from BMT at the earliest possibility. The SAF conducts progressive training to prepare the recruits for the 24 km route march and provides comprehensive safety and medical coverage throughout the route march until the end of the parade.

Colonel Desmond Tan
Director, Public Affairs
Ministry of Defence

 
MINDEF's reply was published as "Long march heightens recruits' sense of achievement", TODAY, 17 Jan 2011