SINGAPORE - Singapore Armed Forces soldiers are now wearing new, cooler and faster-drying hybrid uniforms when training out in the field, reducing the risk of heat injuries.
The body of the uniform is made of a green T-shirt-like fabric that is a combination of flame-resistant synthetic material and aramid. The long sleeves are of the pixelised fabric used in the standard No. 4 uniform.
The new uniform is 40 per cent more permeable and dries 60 per cent faster than the standard No. 4 uniform, providing better air circulation and heat dissipation.
It was rolled out in January for soldiers in army combat units.
The uniform was unveiled to the media on Tuesday (June 19).
The hybrid uniform will be worn during outfield exercises and combat physical training and the No. 4 uniform will be worn for other routine activities such as parades.
All soldiers in the 3rd and 6th Battalions of the Singapore Infantry Regiment (3SIR and 6SIR) have been given two sets of the new uniforms. Other combat units will be fully equipped by end of the year.
Said Senior Lieutenant-Colonel Yee Kok Meng, head of the Centre of Excellence for Soldier Performance: "When soldiers wear the integrated load-bearing vests (on top of the hybrid uniform), they would feel more comfortable and endure longer in a combat environment."
The integrated load-bearing vest is a type of combat vest.
Like its name implies, the centre aims to maximise soldier performance by using sport science and customising fitness programmes.
There are no plans for operationally-ready national servicemen (NSmen) to wear the hybrid uniform.
It was conceptualised in 2011 for the army and has undergone extensive trials. The Defence Science and Technology Agency and ST Logistics were involved in crafting the technical specifications and ensuring its quality.
Private Kugan Senivasan, 18, a trooper in 4SIR, which recently started introducing the hybrid uniform, said: "The (long-sleeved) No. 4 uniform drags on your body a lot, but the hybrid is rather smooth and comfortable. So the fact that we get to use this for our training is very beneficial."
He wore the hybrid uniform for the first time on Tuesday while doing exercises with his field pack, such as lunges and lifts.
SLTC Yee also gave the media on Tuesday updates on the work the centre has done since it opened last December
It has implemented a programme that allows soldiers to do supervised recovery exercises at their own units, instead of being referred to a specialist, in seven units.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/army-combat-soldiers-get-new-hybrid-uniforms-that-cool-faster
