Women's Boot Camp returns with a youth edition

Actions
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/wcm/connect/pioneer/e118ccf6-6ef1-4159-acd3-1817c92a8f06/13feb23_news2_photo1-thumbnail.jpg?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z18_1QK41482LG0G10Q8NM8IUA1051-e118ccf6-6ef1-4159-acd3-1817c92a8f06-opaRf9M /web/wcm/connect/pioneer/e118ccf6-6ef1-4159-acd3-1817c92a8f06/13feb23_news2_photo1-thumbnail.jpg?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z18_1QK41482LG0G10Q8NM8IUA1051-e118ccf6-6ef1-4159-acd3-1817c92a8f06-opaRf9M /web/portal/pioneer/article/regular-article-detail/community/2023-Q1/13feb23_news2
/web/portal/pioneer/article/regular-article-detail/community/2023-Q1/13feb23_news2
13feb23_news2
13 Feb 2023 | COMMUNITY

Women's Boot Camp returns with a youth edition

Story & videos by Thrina Tham

Photos by Chua Soon Lye & Kenneth Lin

English 华文

Over 30 young women got hands-on in a slice of the NS experience during this year's Women Boot Camp.

1-UP-B-caption

After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Women's Boot Camp (WBC) was back to give young women a glimpse of life in National Service (NS).

Over 30 young women took part in the camp held at Maju Camp over the weekend of 11 to 12 Feb.

This year's edition targeted female youths aged 18 to 35, many of whom had just graduated from junior college or polytechnic.

The camp was initiated by the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence and supported by the Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps.

Here's what the girls went through over the two days:

1-UP-B-caption

Participants learning to handle the Singapore Assault Rifle (SAR) 21 – the Army's staple weapon.

"It's harder than it looks, especially the unloading (drill)… The weapon is also heavy but the good thing is that the trainers taught us how to handle the weight," said actress Jae Liew, 32 (foreground).

1-UP-B-caption

Young women learning how to apply a tourniquet. They also practised administering First Aid Dressing during an introduction to Combat Buddy Aid.

Participants learning casualty evacuation techniques. They also tried out various lifts and drags without a stretcher.

Ashlyn Mohan (right), 19, said that the two-day experience showed her the team spirit aspect of national service. 

"Whenever there was a 'man-down' simulation (during the route march), everyone rushed to help; there was no hesitation. 

"It was comforting to see that no one gets left behind."

Participants going through the Stepping Stones station as part of an introduction to the Standard Obstacle Course (SOC).
 

1-UP-B-caption

Participants scaling the Low Rope station – the sixth obstacle in the SOC. 

1-UP-B-caption

The young women going through the Window obstacle in the SOC.

1-UP-B-caption

Participants using a mess tin filled with hot water to heat up field rations – their dinner for the day.

Watch as they get their first taste of field rations:

1-UP-B-caption

After an early morning reveille (a signal given to wake soldiers up) the next day, the participants apply camo paint on their faces and stretch to prepare for their route march.

1-UP-B-caption

Participants singing along to Army cadence songs on a 2km route march around the camp. The march included a 100m simulated casualty drill.

1-UP-B-caption

For the first time in WBC, the participants fired blanks as part of room clearing procedures with the SAR 21.

Said Ashlyn (not pictured): "I was quite scared at first because the whole experience of handling the rifle is very new to me. But my trainer was very nice and told me to take it step by step.

"We also did a few practice rounds, so when we came down to the drill, I knew exactly what to do."

1-UP-B-caption

Nur Khaliesah, 20, trying her hand at firing blanks with the SAR 21, as part of Instinctive Action Drills before taking on the room clearing mission.

"For soldiers to do this (urban operation training) day in day out is probably quite tiring because it takes a lot of coordination, a lot of energy and a lot of teamwork. So, I really respect that."

Catch the girls in action at the boot camp:

Suggested Reading
Fresh ideas from young ACCORD members
Fresh ideas from young ACCORD members
PEOPLE
27-Jul-22

Young ACCORD members Samantha Ng, a youth leader, and Fauzi Aziz, local influencer, aim to come up with new ideas to strengthen support for NS and defence.

Doing her part for the nation
Doing her part for the nation
PEOPLE
17-Oct-19

Would you reschedule your honeymoon to cover for a colleague while he went for In-Camp Training (ICT)? Ms Ulfah Khairiah Binte Aman did just that in December last year.

Women's Boot Camp participants test their knowledge of BMT
Cover story
Women's Boot Camp participants test their knowledge of BMT
COMMUNITY
10-Sep-19

Companies show continued support for NS
Companies show continued support for NS
MILESTONES
18-Jul-19

Whenever her husband goes for his In-Camp Training, Ms Kym Lee has to reschedule her time and make arrangements to pick her two children up from school, ferry them to various enrichment classes and even coach them on their homework.

ACCORD initiatives strengthen community support for NS
ACCORD initiatives strengthen community support for NS
COMMUNITY
18-Jun-19

Last September, 103 women "booked in" to Maju Camp to take part in the first Women's Boot Camp.

MINDEF adds two cyber expert schemes, cyber defence school
MINDEF adds two cyber expert schemes, cyber defence school
TECHNOLOGY
20-Feb-19

Cyberspace is the new fifth domain of warfare and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) is pulling all stops to boost its cyber defence capabilities.

MINDEF volunteers bring diverse expertise
MINDEF volunteers bring diverse expertise
COMMUNITY
24-Aug-18

Demystify National Service (NS).

ACCORD strengthens NS support, builds on past success
ACCORD strengthens NS support, builds on past success
MILESTONES
27-Jul-18

Each year, more than 30 students at Global Indian International School enlist for National Service (NS) after completing their high-school education.

Marshals of the sea safeguarding the S'pore Strait
Marshals of the sea safeguarding the S'pore Strait
OPS & TRAINING
19-Apr-18

Out on the Singapore Strait, an Accompanying Sea Security Team (ASSeT) from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) boards a merchant vessel to carry out a spot-check.