BMT is Basic Military Training, the first major phase for most Singaporean sons entering National Service. It is where you learn the SAF basics: military routine, fieldcraft, fitness, discipline, ranks, commands, and what life as an NSF roughly feels like.
This page is for pre-enlistees who want to prepare before enlistment, parents and friends trying to understand what is coming, and NSFs who need quick links during BMT.
Use it as a starting point for enlistment prep, packing, haircut rules, IPPT and BMI, ranks, army lingo, field camp, route march, POP, PES status, money, and what can happen after BMT.
Quick BMT preparation checklist
- Check your enlistment notice and reporting details.
- Get a proper haircut before enlistment, or bring $2 if you plan to cut inside.
- Prepare dark-coloured spectacles and a spare pair if you need glasses.
- Pack the basics: toiletries, underwear, hangers, clips, ziplock bags, detergent, wet wipes, black tape, stationery, and documents.
- Charge your phone and bring enough power bank capacity for confinement.
- Know your IPPT and BMI status, since it can affect your BMT path and training duration.
- Make sure your bank account is ready for NSF allowance.
- Save emergency contacts, including family, CMPB, NS hotline, and camp contacts once given.
- Plan your transport to the reporting point early.
- Learn the basic ranks and common army lingo so the first week is less blur.
Start here
- Complete BMT guide for Singapore NS: packing, enlistment tips, admin time, field camp, route march, BTP, POP, and BMT survival notes.
- Before enlistment checklist: quick haircut, packing, phone battery, fitness, and first-day prep.
- Frequently asked questions: haircut, packing list, field camp, IPPT, PES, vocation, and common pre-enlistment questions.
- Enlistment dates and public holidays: upcoming dates and public holidays to plan around.
- Useful links: external guides, Reddit threads, official resources, and broader NS links.
First-week essentials
- Hair requirement: what haircut to get before enlistment, a guide on the haircut style, and what to avoid.
- Glasses requirement: what spectacles are allowed and what to prepare.
- IPPT calculator: estimate your IPPT score before enlistment or during training.
- ORD calculator and countdown: count the days, weekends, and working days left until you ORD.
- Useful apps: apps that make NS admin and daily life easier.
- Telegram bots: ORD counters and other useful NS bots.
Understand what people are saying
- Army lingo: common BMT words, phrases, and abbreviations.
- Army dictionary: quick meanings for terms like BMT, POP, ORD, PES, PTP, SCS, and OCS.
- Ranks: how to identify ranks and who to call sir, sergeant, or encik.
- Commands: common Malay drill and parade commands.
Training and milestones
- BMT guide: Field camp: field discipline, rifle security, body maintenance, MREs, shellscrape, and outfield tips.
- BMT guide: Route march: pacing, socks, and marching tips.
- BMT guide: Passing out of BMT: IPPT, BTP, field camp, and POP requirements.
- Songs: Infantry Song, BMT Roar, and other common NS songs.
- BMT Roar (POP) Song: direct BMT Roar lyrics page.
Medical, PES, and welfare
- PES status guide: what PES A, B, BP, C, D, E, and F mean and how they affect your vocation.
- Guide on up-PESing: what to consider if you want to up-PES.
- What does Attend C mean?: basic explanation of Attend C.
- Contact: CMPB, MINDEF, SAF counselling, NS hotline, and emergency contacts.
- Free time: things to do when you have admin time or downtime.
Money and daily life
- NSF pay and allowance: how much you earn each month by rank and vocation.
- Saving money: practical ways to budget your allowance and reduce spending while serving.
- eMarts and army shops: where to get army items.
- Best canteen dishes: food recommendations around camps.
After BMT
- Specialist Cadet School Hub: everything for SCS in one place: selection, terms, postings, tips, and links.
- Command school: what to know about SCS and OCS selection.
- NS vocations and how postings work: how your vocation is decided and the common vocations across the SAF.
- Transport vocation: what transport life can look like.
- Driving licence in NS: how transport operators convert a military licence to a civilian one.
- Storeman / supply assistant: a non-combat supply assistant experience.
- NSman guide: years later, what reservist life and ICT look like after you ORD.
Official links
- CMPB Before NS: official pre-enlistment process and preparation pages.
- CMPB enlistment dates: official enlistment date listings.
- CMPB enlistment notice: when the notice arrives and how basic training is assigned.
- CMPB enlistment day: official overview of enlistment day.
- CMPB Pre-Enlistee IPPT and BMI: how IPPT, BMI, and training duration relate.
- CMPB overseas pre-enlistees: for Singapore citizens and PRs residing or studying overseas.
- CMPB exit permit and bond: overseas travel and exit permit requirements.