Forum Letter on SAF Training During Haze

The SAF Adjusts Outdoor Activities According to Haze Situation

We refer to the letter "Protecting SAF recruits from haze" by Ms June Hoo which was published on 24 October 2015. Since then, we have spoken to Ms Hoo to understand and address her concerns regarding the SAF's haze management measures.

The health and safety of our servicemen are of paramount importance to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The SAF monitors the air quality in Singapore closely, and has in place a set of activity guidelines according to the range of Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings. The guidelines are consistent with the Ministry of Health's advisories, which are premised on scientific studies on the health effects of exposure to Particulate Matter (PM). These have been formulated for the SAF population and take into account servicemen's medical fitness and the nature of their activities.

Basic Military Training is designed to be progressive to ease the transition of recruits into the SAF. During the haze period, training will be aligned to the PSI-Activity Guidelines to ensure that our recruits continue to train safely. When the 24-hour PSI reading exceeds 100 but remains under 300, the SAF will adjust physical and outdoor activities accordingly to limit servicemen's exposure to the haze. Examples of measures taken include having longer rest time, reducing the number of repetitions for physical training activities, and adjusting the duration of outdoor training. Additional measures are taken for servicemen with existing medical conditions that could be aggravated by the haze, including the issuance of N95 masks when the 24-hour PSI reading exceeds 200.

Regardless of the haze conditions, the SAF stands ready to safeguard Singapore's peace and security. SAF training will therefore proceed as much as possible, to ensure that our soldiers are well trained and ready for any eventuality.

Brigadier-General Desmond Tan
Director of Joint Operations,
Singapore Armed Forces