In response to The Straits Times on the Army's outsourcing of logistical support to civilian contractors, MINDEF issued the following reply:

The Army has over the years outsourced non-core peacetime administration and logistics functions to civilian contractors to allow optimum use and deployment of our manpower resources.

In line with this approach, the Motorised Infantry Training Institute is working towards outsourcing some of its basic peacetime logistics support functions, which include managing non-sensitive equipment on board the Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles. There are also plans to outsource non-sensitive logistics and administrative functions – such as the washing of and mounting and dismounting of equipment on board armour vehicles – to further enhance National Service (NS) training efficiency. These efforts allow for a faster turnover of vehicles required to support NS training.

Other functions that have been outsourced to civilian contractors include the operations of cookhouses in SAF camps, as well as management of stores in the Army Logistics Base, SAFTI Military Institute and 2nd People's Defence Force. The management of ammunition still remains with the Army. To ensure that security standards are not compromised, contractors are appointed only after they pass our security checks. Systems are also in place to ensure that the Army remains operationally ready, with outsourced functions regularly reviewed and audited to uphold consistency in standards.

COL Lam Sheau Kai
Commander Combat Service Support Command