Command school means Specialist Cadet School (SCS) or Officer Cadet School (OCS), the two BMT pathways that train you to be a commander. SCS passes you out as a 3SG section commander. OCS passes you out as an officer (2LT).
This page is about getting selected during BMT. If you're already in, see the SCS hub.
New to BMT? Start at the BMT hub.
Should you aim for command school?
There's no single right answer. Weigh it for yourself.
Reasons people go for it:
- Leadership experience that looks good after NS.
- Higher rank means higher allowance.
- More responsibility and a more "meaningful" NS for some.
Reasons people don't:
- Longer, tougher course than going straight to a unit.
- Command appointments carry real stress and accountability.
- You may prefer a specific vocation over a command track.
If you don't want it, you don't have to chase it. During the SIT test, you can volunteer to be sentry instead of taking command roles.
What gets you selected
Selection is not one test. Commanders build a picture of you over the whole of BMT. The main inputs:
- IPPT pass, at minimum. Higher score helps.
- Marksman or a strong shoot at BTP.
- Good general performance: fieldcraft, drill, discipline, attitude.
- SIT test performance as an IC.
- Peer appraisal: your section mates rate each other near the end of BMT.
- Commander's nomination: your PC and sergeants can put your name forward.
You don't need to top every one. Consistency across them matters more than a single standout moment.
SIT test
The Situational Test (SIT) is the biggest single event for command school selection. It usually runs during or around field camp.
How it works:
- You and a buddy are made ICs of a group of 10 or more people, often from other sections.
- You get a mission with a time limit, usually around 15 minutes.
- Missions vary: carry an "injured" casualty, get the team through an obstacle, solve a problem under pressure.
- Assessors can add curveballs mid-task: a new "injury", a new "enemy", a change in the situation.
What assessors actually watch:
- You don't have to complete the mission. They watch how you lead, not whether you win.
- Lift the team's morale when things go wrong. Staying positive under pressure is the point.
- Be clear and decisive. Give simple, loud orders. A clear wrong call beats a mumbled right one.
- Don't over-plan. Spend a little time planning, then commit and execute. Time runs out fast.
- Track the clock and tell your team how long is left so they push.
Stay ready. You can be picked as IC at any time, so don't switch off when it isn't your turn.
Peer appraisal
Near the end of BMT, your section mates rank each other on things like leadership and resilience. The top names get a closer look for command school.
- You can't really fake it. Two to three months of high-pressure BMT shows who you actually are.
- Don't wayang or suck up. People notice, and it usually backfires.
- Just do the work. Volunteer, help others, carry your weight. Respect builds on its own.
- Be consistent. The way you act when nobody's assessing is what your mates remember.
Fitness and shooting
These are concrete scores you can move before and during BMT.
- IPPT: get a pass first, then push for a better score. Use SRT sessions to train consistently. Showing improvement over BMT counts.
- BTP: aim for marksman (26/32). Zero your weapon properly, find a steady firing position, settle your breathing, and check your equipment before each shoot.
Showing leadership day to day
Selection isn't only the big events. Your PC and sergeants watch how you behave across BMT.
- Volunteer for tasks and IC roles instead of hiding at the back.
- Help your buddies with admin, area cleaning, and packing.
- Keep your own standards up: turnout, timing, discipline.
- Stay calm when the section is tekan-ed or things go wrong.
See how to be a good Platoon IC and tips for shouting commands.
Indicating interest
Commanders will usually ask whether you want SCS or OCS. Say so clearly.
- If you want it, indicate interest and back it up with effort during the SIT test and IC roles.
- If you don't, you can say so, and you can volunteer for sentry during the SIT test.
SCS or OCS?
Both are command tracks. OCS is the officer route and is longer; SCS trains specialists (3SGs). Your education, IPPT, performance, and the SAF's needs all feed into which one you're offered.
- SCS hub: selection, the three terms, postings, and 3SG life.
- Specialist Cadet School: what SCS actually is.
- Tips for SCS: once you're in.
More
- BMT hub: start here for everything BMT.
- BMT guide: packing, field camp, BTP, route march, and POP.
- Ranks: where 3SG and officer ranks sit.
- NS vocations: how vocations and postings are decided.
- How I entered command school (Rarefyi): a first-hand account with more detail.