Do you believe this BS: enlistees want to upgrade their PES status?

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Majority of NS pre-enlistees who appealed against their PES status sought an upgrade​

(From left) SAF Medical Corps chief Mark Tan, Special Constable Corporal Kieron Foo Kai-En and Sergeant (1) Md. Lucas Foo Kok Yi.

Published Apr 13, 2026

SINGAPORE – Three in four appeals by pre-enlistees to review their assigned Physical Employment Standard (PES) were requests to upgrade their PES status, said the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

The current medical classification system assigns pre-enlistees different grades based on their medical condition, and determines whether a full-time national serviceman (NSF) is fit or unfit for combat roles. An NSF’s PES status is therefore among the key factors that determines one’s vocation during national service.

On April 13, Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing said fewer than 1 per cent of pre-enlistees seek a PES status review, which showed that the current medical classification system (MCS) has been pretty robust.

An average of 21,300 NSFs enlisted annually across the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Home Team between 2021 and 2025.

That 75 per cent of appeals sought an upgrade to one’s PES status “speaks well of the fighting spirit of our people” and highlights their desire for a more demanding vocation, he added.

NSFs told The Straits Times how, under the current PES system, they had been classified as medically unfit for combat roles due to past injuries, and had to appeal to be upgraded in order to take on roles they felt capable of performing.

For Special Constable Corporal Kieron Foo Kai-En, a bicycle accident two years before his pre-enlistment medical check-up resulted in a PES of E1.

SC/Cpl Foo said he was devastated to learn of his PES status, as the tendon rupture to his left hand from the accident had healed, and the grade meant he was not eligible for a front-line operational vocation.

Having heard of his older brother’s experience as a police tactical trooper, he had a strong desire for a front-line role in the police force, and seven months after his enlistment in 2024, he went for a medical status review.

The review resulted in an upgrade to PES B1, and he is now an assistant trainer with the Special Operations Command.

SC/Cpl Foo said his improved medical status allowed him the ambition of signing on as a police regular, which he plans to do after furthering his studies.

“Being able to upgrade my medical status has really opened up more opportunities,” said the 22-year-old.

For Sergeant (1) Md. Lucas Foo Kok Yi, 25, an improved medical status let him make more meaningful use of his time in NS.

Having previously fractured his arm and suffered a detached retina while taking part in a combat sport in 2020, he was assigned PES E9, and an admin support role in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) headquarters following his enlistment in October 2024.

He then submitted a doctor’s memo to an SCDF medical officer, and later had his PES status upgraded to B1. This allowed him to complete both basic firefighter training and the Section Commander Course to become a section commander in SCDF’s Special Response Unit.

In November 2025, Sgt (1) Foo was among the 60 firefighters deployed to fight a large blaze that broke out in a Eunos industrial building.

The fire, which engulfed three workshop units, took SCDF over five hours to put out, with damping-down operations that continued through the night.

“The work I do might be small when seen on a grand scale, but I feel that if I can contribute just a little bit, it will be quite meaningful,” he said.

For Lance Corporal Noor Aizan Anwari, a burst appendix nearly derailed his plans for NS.

After his enlistment, he was on a holiday when he had appendicitis. Following surgery, he had his PES status downgraded from B1 to E9 and was given 84 days of light duty.

Determined to make the most of his NS, he applied for a medical review following his recovery. On reassessment of his medical condition, he was reinstated to PES B1 and became an armoured infantry trooper.

To overcome the drop in his physical fitness, LCP Aizan went for runs in his free time. “I have fully recovered now – 100 per cent,” he said.

SAF Medical Corps chief, Colonel (Dr) Mark Tan, said MINDEF’s announcement on April 13 of the refreshed MCS is aimed at being more precise about pre-enlistees’ medical fitness.

This precision is achieved by giving each servicemen specific medical exemptions instead of an aggregated PES status, he added.

“The larger picture here is that we wish for our servicemen to be more effectively and meaningfully deployed in SAF.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Refreshed NS medical classification system to take effect from October 2027​

Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing (right) observing a pre-enlistee undergoing a medical assessment at the regional health hub at CMPB on April 13.

Published Apr 13, 2026

SINGAPORE - Full-time national servicemen (NSFs) will soon be able to take on a wider range of vocations than they would have been eligible for in the past following changes to the medical classification system (MCS).

A refreshed MCS means those enlisting from October 2027 will no longer be given a Physical Employment Standard (PES) status after their medical screening. Instead, they will be told of specific medical exemptions, if any, based on their medical conditions and in line with their functional abilities.

Alongside the change, the basic military training (BMT) regime will also be updated, with recruits funnelled into three different programmes depending on their medical exemptions.

Announcing the changes on April 13, Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing said the refreshed MCS aims to let servicemen best fulfil their potential, while ensuring that the safety of NSFs and operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen) is never compromised.

He noted that the nature of warfare has changed, and as a result previous terms such as combat- and non-combat fit, as well as frontline and back, have been superseded by new technology and warfighting concepts.

“Today, actually, there are many forms of what we call combat fitness – it’s not just the usual muscular activities that you can do in the past that matter,” he said.

“Technology has enabled many of our people to do more and to do better, so (these changes) allow our people to fulfil their potential and to do what they are most suited for.”

The refreshed system will enable about 1,200 servicemen to be deployed annually to vocations and roles they would have previously been ineligible for, said the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a joint statement.

Existing NSFs and NSmen will retain their PES status, unless they have any changes in their medical conditions. The current PES system remains robust and safe, said the ministries.


The refresh is the most consequential update to the MCS since 2009, when the SAF introduced new BMT programmes for PES B2, PES C, and obese enlistees.

The PES, which has been used by the SAF and Home Team since the 1970s, was further finetuned with more tiers in subsequent years, though the system remained broadly about whether one was fit or unfit for combat roles.

Under the refreshed MCS, pre-enlistees will continue to undergo a medical screening. They will then receive specific medical exemptions based on their medical condition, instead of an aggregated PES status.

They will also be told at this point whether they are eligible for an eight-week reduction in their full-time NS duration, which is granted if they attain 61 points or more in their Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT).

Enlistees without training or activity-related medical exemptions will be routed to BMT Programme 1, which includes physical training, IPPT, standard obstacle course (SOC) and route marches.

They will be eligible for combat roles – such as infantry and guards – combat support and combat service support vocations.

Those enlisting with one or more medical exemptions will go through Programme 2, which will have calibrated physical training and adjusted field activities.

They will be eligible for combat support roles that focus on supporting combat troops directly in operations, and combat service support vocations. Some will be eligible for selected combat vocations.

An enlistee who has recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), for instance, would be eligible for combat vocations such as commandos and naval divers under the refreshed MCS. Currently, he would have been assigned PES B2 and would be ineligible for SOC training.

Meanwhile, those with multiple or significant training or activity-related medical exemptions will go through Programme 3, which is further scaled down and focused on basic soldiering fundamentals.

NSFs enlisted under this programme will be eligible for combat service support roles and for some combat support vocations, such as signal operators and medics.

The Home Team, including the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the police, will adopt a similar three-programme basic training structure under the refreshed MCS.

The first cohort to come under the refreshed MCS will undergo their pre-enlistment medical screening from end-June 2026. It will apply to all regulars – both existing and future – from 2028.

Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing (right) meeting a pre-enlistee undergoing a medical examination at the Medical Classification Centre at CMPB on April 13.

Changes to training​

MINDEF and MHA said training will be guided by a standardised list of medical exemptions, and commanders and trainers will have clear training guidelines on activities that servicemen can and cannot perform.

Safety has and will remain a key priority for all training and deployment, said the ministries.

BMT Centre Head of Training and Learning Development, Major Dean Amir Singh, said training in BMT under the refreshed MCS will remain largely the same, with calibrations so that recruits with certain exemptions do a modified version.

For example, those with a lower limb injury could today be omitted completely from physical circuit training. With the updated MCS, they will do exercises not involving their injured areas.

“We want to try to reduce the pool of people who do not participate at all,” MAJ Singh said.

BMT Centre Head of Training and Learning Development, Major Dean Amir Singh, said training in BMT under the refreshed MCS will remain largely the same.

ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Ahead of the refresh, the SAF conducted trials in 2023 and 2024 in BMT, as well as in other units, to evaluate whether training and administrative activities across the organisation can be conducted effectively without relying on PES grades.

“The trials found that commanders and trainers were confident in using medical exemptions to guide training participation and conduct training safely,” said MINDEF.

Commander of the Army Training and Doctrine Command, Brigadier-General Pang Lead Shuan, said the SAF is rolling out initiatives to assist trainers, including town hall sessions and ‘train-the-trainer’ programmes.

“Safety continues to be a top priority when it comes to training our servicemen,” he said.

Change anchored in operational needs​

The decision for the MCS refresh was anchored in operational needs, with many current roles no longer reliant on traditional notions of physical or operational fitness, said a MINDEF spokesman.

The establishment of the Digital and Intelligence Service in the SAF, for instance, has added new roles such as cyberoperators.

The Home Team has also introduced new roles such as cybercrime operators, with many of them filled by NSFs.

In 2013, Mindef said 27 per cent of soldiers were PES A, 58 per cent were PES B, 8 per cent were PES C and 7 per cent PES E, with 2.5 per cent assigned to clerical or administrative roles.

Since 2021, the SAF has redesigned 2,000 roles across 25 vocations – including combat medics, infantry platform operators and army technicians – enabling more than 1,800 NSFs to be deployed in a wider range of operational roles than they were previously eligible for.

In a parliamentary reply on Feb 12, Mr Chan said an average of 21,300 NSFs were enlisted annually across the SAF and Home Team between 2021 and 2025. This was a drop from the annual average of 23,400 enlistees in the preceding five years.

About 10 per cent of each cohort of NSFs in the past five years were enlisted into the police force, 8 per cent to the SCDF, and the rest to the SAF.

On April 13, Mr Chan said the MCS review was not carried out to meet the SAF’s current or future manpower needs, but to allow servicemen to best fulfil their potential.

This is because the SAF knows the number of people who will enlist 18 years ahead of time, and designs its operational concepts and fighting units with this in mind, he added.

“That is why it is not about addressing the here-and-now manpower needs,” he said. “It is actually about planning forward, and how we best deploy our people.”

 

[laksaboy]

The propaganda in shithole island is truly approaching China or North Korean levels.

Expect this to intensify as the economy goes tits up. It's an opiate for the low IQ Sinkies.

 

[Sustanon]

Majority? lol.... majority Ji Ki Lan Ok Ji Ki Lan..... maybe in your propaganda fantasy world lor... NS is nothing more than a fucking waste of my 2.5 years (excl. reservice) which would be much better spent BBQ at the beach, smoking and drinking and socializing with new people.

 

[rocket]

Become easier to keng or harder?

 

[Sustanon]

Majority of NS pre-enlistees who appealed against their PES status sought an upgrade​

(From left) SAF Medical Corps chief Mark Tan, Special Constable Corporal Kieron Foo Kai-En and Sergeant (1) Md. Lucas Foo Kok Yi.

Published Apr 13, 2026

SINGAPORE – Three in four appeals by pre-enlistees to review their assigned Physical Employment Standard (PES) were requests to upgrade their PES status, said the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

The current medical classification system assigns pre-enlistees different grades based on their medical condition, and determines whether a full-time national serviceman (NSF) is fit or unfit for combat roles. An NSF’s PES status is therefore among the key factors that determines one’s vocation during national service.

On April 13, Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing said fewer than 1 per cent of pre-enlistees seek a PES status review, which showed that the current medical classification system (MCS) has been pretty robust.

An average of 21,300 NSFs enlisted annually across the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Home Team between 2021 and 2025.

That 75 per cent of appeals sought an upgrade to one’s PES status “speaks well of the fighting spirit of our people” and highlights their desire for a more demanding vocation, he added.

NSFs told The Straits Times how, under the current PES system, they had been classified as medically unfit for combat roles due to past injuries, and had to appeal to be upgraded in order to take on roles they felt capable of performing.

For Special Constable Corporal Kieron Foo Kai-En, a bicycle accident two years before his pre-enlistment medical check-up resulted in a PES of E1.

SC/Cpl Foo said he was devastated to learn of his PES status, as the tendon rupture to his left hand from the accident had healed, and the grade meant he was not eligible for a front-line operational vocation.

Having heard of his older brother’s experience as a police tactical trooper, he had a strong desire for a front-line role in the police force, and seven months after his enlistment in 2024, he went for a medical status review.

The review resulted in an upgrade to PES B1, and he is now an assistant trainer with the Special Operations Command.

SC/Cpl Foo said his improved medical status allowed him the ambition of signing on as a police regular, which he plans to do after furthering his studies.

“Being able to upgrade my medical status has really opened up more opportunities,” said the 22-year-old.

For Sergeant (1) Md. Lucas Foo Kok Yi, 25, an improved medical status let him make more meaningful use of his time in NS.

Having previously fractured his arm and suffered a detached retina while taking part in a combat sport in 2020, he was assigned PES E9, and an admin support role in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) headquarters following his enlistment in October 2024.

He then submitted a doctor’s memo to an SCDF medical officer, and later had his PES status upgraded to B1. This allowed him to complete both basic firefighter training and the Section Commander Course to become a section commander in SCDF’s Special Response Unit.

In November 2025, Sgt (1) Foo was among the 60 firefighters deployed to fight a large blaze that broke out in a Eunos industrial building.

The fire, which engulfed three workshop units, took SCDF over five hours to put out, with damping-down operations that continued through the night.

“The work I do might be small when seen on a grand scale, but I feel that if I can contribute just a little bit, it will be quite meaningful,” he said.

For Lance Corporal Noor Aizan Anwari, a burst appendix nearly derailed his plans for NS.

After his enlistment, he was on a holiday when he had appendicitis. Following surgery, he had his PES status downgraded from B1 to E9 and was given 84 days of light duty.

Determined to make the most of his NS, he applied for a medical review following his recovery. On reassessment of his medical condition, he was reinstated to PES B1 and became an armoured infantry trooper.

To overcome the drop in his physical fitness, LCP Aizan went for runs in his free time. “I have fully recovered now – 100 per cent,” he said.

SAF Medical Corps chief, Colonel (Dr) Mark Tan, said MINDEF’s announcement on April 13 of the refreshed MCS is aimed at being more precise about pre-enlistees’ medical fitness.

This precision is achieved by giving each servicemen specific medical exemptions instead of an aggregated PES status, he added.

“The larger picture here is that we wish for our servicemen to be more effectively and meaningfully deployed in SAF.”

Out of these 3 individuals, I personally find the 1st one army guy (have crabs one) having the most goo doo and kum gong kia look.... I am willing to bet this kum gong kia probably belong to the lowest IQ group and highly likely went for almost every booster shots voluntarily and singing praises along with his immediate family members (if he has any that is)....

 

[rocket]

Out of these 3 individuals, I personally find the 1st one army guy (have crabs one) having the most goo doo and kum gong kia look.... I am willing to bet this kum gong kia probably belong to the lowest IQ group and highly likely went for almost every booster shots voluntarily and singing praises along with his immediate family members (if he has any that is)....

He is a MO Dr Mark Tan

 

[Sustanon]

He is a MO Dr Mark Tan

Doesn't matter he could still be very well a low IQ individual like that Jessica Ee.

 

[Balls2U]

I'm glad that my NS liability is long over and that I don't have to go through all these wayang shit.

 

[Si1verwolf]

Not enough combat-fit soldiers so now need to move the goal post to force those previously non-combat fit soldiers into the combat fit category, then rebrand "combat fit" with all the new terms within this new medical classification system.

Then at the same time in order to protect the "foreign talent hub" honorary title, exempt new citizens from NS, otherwise no more foreigners will come.
But if a foreigner comes to Singapore and becomes a citizen as a mature adult, typically in his 30s or 40s, we exempt him from NS
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/news-and-events/latest-releases/02aug22_ps/

*LOL*

Majority of NS pre-enlistees who appealed against their PES status sought an upgrade

(From left) SAF Medical Corps chief Mark Tan, Special Constable Corporal Kieron Foo Kai-En and Sergeant (1) Md. Lucas Foo Kok Yi.

Published Apr 13, 2026

SINGAPORE – Three in four appeals by pre-enlistees to review their assigned Physical Employment Standard (PES) were requests to upgrade their PES status, said the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

The current medical classification system assigns pre-enlistees different grades based on their medical condition, and determines whether a full-time national serviceman (NSF) is fit or unfit for combat roles. An NSF’s PES status is therefore among the key factors that determines one’s vocation during national service.

On April 13, Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing said fewer than 1 per cent of pre-enlistees seek a PES status review, which showed that the current medical classification system (MCS) has been pretty robust.

An average of 21,300 NSFs enlisted annually across the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Home Team between 2021 and 2025.

That 75 per cent of appeals sought an upgrade to one’s PES status “speaks well of the fighting spirit of our people” and highlights their desire for a more demanding vocation, he added.

NSFs told The Straits Times how, under the current PES system, they had been classified as medically unfit for combat roles due to past injuries, and had to appeal to be upgraded in order to take on roles they felt capable of performing.

For Special Constable Corporal Kieron Foo Kai-En, a bicycle accident two years before his pre-enlistment medical check-up resulted in a PES of E1.

SC/Cpl Foo said he was devastated to learn of his PES status, as the tendon rupture to his left hand from the accident had healed, and the grade meant he was not eligible for a front-line operational vocation.

Having heard of his older brother’s experience as a police tactical trooper, he had a strong desire for a front-line role in the police force, and seven months after his enlistment in 2024, he went for a medical status review.

The review resulted in an upgrade to PES B1, and he is now an assistant trainer with the Special Operations Command.

SC/Cpl Foo said his improved medical status allowed him the ambition of signing on as a police regular, which he plans to do after furthering his studies.

“Being able to upgrade my medical status has really opened up more opportunities,” said the 22-year-old.

For Sergeant (1) Md. Lucas Foo Kok Yi, 25, an improved medical status let him make more meaningful use of his time in NS.

Having previously fractured his arm and suffered a detached retina while taking part in a combat sport in 2020, he was assigned PES E9, and an admin support role in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) headquarters following his enlistment in October 2024.

He then submitted a doctor’s memo to an SCDF medical officer, and later had his PES status upgraded to B1. This allowed him to complete both basic firefighter training and the Section Commander Course to become a section commander in SCDF’s Special Response Unit.

In November 2025, Sgt (1) Foo was among the 60 firefighters deployed to fight a large blaze that broke out in a Eunos industrial building.

The fire, which engulfed three workshop units, took SCDF over five hours to put out, with damping-down operations that continued through the night.

“The work I do might be small when seen on a grand scale, but I feel that if I can contribute just a little bit, it will be quite meaningful,” he said.

For Lance Corporal Noor Aizan Anwari, a burst appendix nearly derailed his plans for NS.

After his enlistment, he was on a holiday when he had appendicitis. Following surgery, he had his PES status downgraded from B1 to E9 and was given 84 days of light duty.

Determined to make the most of his NS, he applied for a medical review following his recovery. On reassessment of his medical condition, he was reinstated to PES B1 and became an armoured infantry trooper.

To overcome the drop in his physical fitness, LCP Aizan went for runs in his free time. “I have fully recovered now – 100 per cent,” he said.

SAF Medical Corps chief, Colonel (Dr) Mark Tan, said MINDEF’s announcement on April 13 of the refreshed MCS is aimed at being more precise about pre-enlistees’ medical fitness.

This precision is achieved by giving each servicemen specific medical exemptions instead of an aggregated PES status, he added.

“The larger picture here is that we wish for our servicemen to be more effectively and meaningfully deployed in SAF.”

 

[creampie]

The colonel looks like he came out of a hippopotamus’ asshole

 

[laksaboy]

The colonel looks like he came out of a hippopotamus’ asshole

Desmond Lee is more handsome than him, and that's quite the achievement.

 

[nabeifuckpap]

Only low SES sinkies from HDB want to upgrade PES status, those from high SES family and high IQ but low income all downgrade PES to C and below

 

[mojito]

Time are bad. May be they want to sign on can not be cause pes e. Follow the money.

 

[birdie69]

Desmond Lee is more handsome than him, and that's quite the achievement.

I thought both are equally ugly!

 

[laksaboy]

I thought both are equally ugly!

Desmond Lee inherited some of yandao Lee Yock Suan's looks, the ugly part must be from his mother, unfortunately.

Still looks better than that colonel.