Response to TODAY Forum Letter on "Conduct More Checks on Trees"

Trees in training areas are checked regularly

We thank Mr Jeremiah Oon for his feedback in the letter dated 12 Oct 2012 titled "Conduct more checks on trees".

As part of our efforts to ensure safety within our training areas, regular checks are conducted by facilities maintenance agencies contracted by the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) Training Resource Management Centre. Inspections are conducted twice a month to identify hazards such as potholes and ageing or sick trees along movement tracks and around training sheds. In addition, a thorough examination of trees in SAF training areas are conducted by certified arborists every six months. When necessary, rectification work and tree trimming are carried out immediately.

MINDEF and the SAF take the safety and well-being of our servicemen very seriously and will continue to ensure that training areas are safe.

Colonel Wong Yu Han
Assistant Chief of General Staff (Training)

MINDEF's reply was published as "Trees in training areas checked regularly", TODAY Voices, 16 Oct 12