More National Servicemen (NSmen) are volunteering to enrol in the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) enhanced physical training programme.
The SAF has seen a two-fold -- or 182 per cent -- increase in participation rate since the Individual Physical Proficiency Test Preparatory Training (IPT) scheme was improved a year ago.
The scheme has helped more NSmen pass their annual fitness test, with the passing rate improving by 200 per cent.
One NSman who enrolled in the IPT scheme is 30-year-old teacher Adrian Yang.
Mr Yang had problems passing the standing broad jump station but after 10 training sessions, he has finally made the leap from a fail to a pass.
"Training on my own, there will be certain expertise and knowledge that we do not have but the physical instructors have. So, when we come for these sessions they actually train us and equip us with such knowledge and we have people that will push us to go beyond our physical limits," he said.
The IPT scheme was enhanced in April last year to help citizen soldiers better prepare for their annual IPPT.
It has 10 training sessions spread over nine months or less.
Previously, the sessions were packed into five weeks.
NSmen who volunteer for this scheme have to pass their IPPT or meet their personal performance targets at the IPPT stations -- chin-up, standing broad jump, 4x10m shuttle run, sit-up and the 2.4km run -- in which they are weak.
If they fail to meet their targets, they will be sent for eight extra physical training sessions over three months.
Army Fitness Centre commanding officer Chua Boon Chuan said: "This programme is focused. That means it actually focuses on the weak areas of the NSmen.
"For example, if the NSman is weak in chin-ups, our exercise regime will focus very much on chin-ups. The other thing is that it's flexible. The enhanced IPT programme allows the NSman to book his schedule according to [when] he wants [it]."
Fitness specialist Lim Xiuan Pin, who is a 3rd Sergeant, said: "We also make the training fun and definitely not boring so they won't be just going through motion."
With the enhanced IPT scheme, the Ministry of Defence said it hopes more can pass their annual fitness test.
Going forward, the scheme will be revised and changes made when necessary.
The SAF has seen a two-fold -- or 182 per cent -- increase in participation rate since the Individual Physical Proficiency Test Preparatory Training (IPT) scheme was improved a year ago.
The scheme has helped more NSmen pass their annual fitness test, with the passing rate improving by 200 per cent.
One NSman who enrolled in the IPT scheme is 30-year-old teacher Adrian Yang.
Mr Yang had problems passing the standing broad jump station but after 10 training sessions, he has finally made the leap from a fail to a pass.
"Training on my own, there will be certain expertise and knowledge that we do not have but the physical instructors have. So, when we come for these sessions they actually train us and equip us with such knowledge and we have people that will push us to go beyond our physical limits," he said.
The IPT scheme was enhanced in April last year to help citizen soldiers better prepare for their annual IPPT.
It has 10 training sessions spread over nine months or less.
Previously, the sessions were packed into five weeks.
NSmen who volunteer for this scheme have to pass their IPPT or meet their personal performance targets at the IPPT stations -- chin-up, standing broad jump, 4x10m shuttle run, sit-up and the 2.4km run -- in which they are weak.
If they fail to meet their targets, they will be sent for eight extra physical training sessions over three months.
Army Fitness Centre commanding officer Chua Boon Chuan said: "This programme is focused. That means it actually focuses on the weak areas of the NSmen.
"For example, if the NSman is weak in chin-ups, our exercise regime will focus very much on chin-ups. The other thing is that it's flexible. The enhanced IPT programme allows the NSman to book his schedule according to [when] he wants [it]."
Fitness specialist Lim Xiuan Pin, who is a 3rd Sergeant, said: "We also make the training fun and definitely not boring so they won't be just going through motion."
With the enhanced IPT scheme, the Ministry of Defence said it hopes more can pass their annual fitness test.
Going forward, the scheme will be revised and changes made when necessary.
