Infantry is the largest fighting force in the Army, the troops who seize and hold ground. It's one of the main combat vocations, and one of the more demanding ones.
Expect stay-in unit life, regular outfields, route marches, combat PT, and a strong section and platoon culture. The upside is the brotherhood and the fitness you walk away with.
For the tougher, elite version of this, see Guards. For the version that rides into the fight, see Armour.
How do you know you're in infantry
Check your posting order after BMT. Infantry shows up as something like:
- Infantry Trooper (Trainee)
- Rifleman
Postings go by operational needs, PES and medical fitness, IPPT and BMT performance, and your attributes. Infantry takes a lot of PES A and B1 people.
A fair number also do a mono-intake: you enlist with your battalion's identity, do BMT on Tekong, then return to that unit. Mono-intake infantry is usually stricter than a normal islandwide intake.
Official links
The path
Since One-BMT (fully rolled out in late 2017), all combat recruits do the common 9-week BMT at BMTC on Pulau Tekong. Infantry mono-intake recruits carry their unit identity through BMT, then after POP and block leave return to their battalion for vocation training.
So unlike transport or logistics, there's usually no separate public-facing "infantry school" posting. You train in your unit.
Infantry Vocation Training (IVT)
After BMT, troopers go through IVT, which teaches the basics of operating as an infantry section. NSFs describe it as a more infantry-focused "BMT 2.0".
- Section-level drills, fieldcraft, urban operations
- PT and combat circuits
- Live-firing requirements
Length varies by battalion and batch. It might be around 4 to 5 weeks, or a longer VFT/IVT-style block closer to 13 weeks with several outfields, depending on your unit. Don't treat any single number as official, confirm with your own batch.
After IVT, training scales up: from section to platoon, company, and battalion-level exercises.
The battalions (SIR)
Infantry runs several active Singapore Infantry Regiment battalions. The camps below are from public sources and can change, so always follow your official posting order.
| Battalion | Notes |
|---|---|
| 1 SIR | Publicly associated with Mandai Hill Camp |
| 2 SIR | The first Motorised Infantry Battalion (Terrex), operationalised 2011 |
| 3 SIR | Publicly tied to Selarang Camp |
| 5 SIR | Commonly associated with Kranji Camp III |
| 6 SIR | Publicly tied to Maju Camp |
| 8 SIR | Island Defence security trooper unit, established 2010 |
| 9 SIR | Island Defence, protects key installations, established 2010 |
Treat this as a rough guide, not a live posting list.
Stay-in or nights out
Infantry is generally stay-in. Nights out are not guaranteed and depend on battalion tempo, training phase, and commanders.
- Year 1 tends to be stricter and more packed
- Year 2 often loosens up, with more welfare and the odd weekly night out
So expect to stay in, and treat nights out as a bonus rather than a fixed schedule.
How hard is it really
Harder than the average NS vocation. The grind is mostly outfields, load, route marches, combat PT, and sleep debt, on top of heat and rain while still chasing timings.
- The first year is usually the siong part
- Carrying a SAR 21, field pack, and a section weapon (MATADOR, SAW, or M203) adds up fast
- The dreaded calls: "Everything On!" and "Camo On"
The tempo is uneven. Some weeks are packed back-to-back; lull periods can be much quieter.
Outfields
Frequency is inconsistent and batch-dependent. It could be roughly weekly, or as little as once every month or two, often clustered around exercises.
- IVT outfields are often 2D1N
- These scale up to 3D2N, then 4D3N company training
Downtime and admin time
Don't expect infantry to be lepak from the start. Early unit life is busy: the battalion is clearing IVT, live-firing, exercises, duties, and evaluations.
Real admin time exists, mostly in lull periods and later in service, but it's not guaranteed week to week. When you do get it, don't waste the free time:
- Study or take free online courses
- Clear your IPPT early to bank the award money
- Read, learn a skill, or save money
- Keep shows downloaded offline before you book in
The Combat Skills Badge (CSB)
The CSB is the prestige infanteer badge, but not every NSF will attempt or earn it. Whether you do depends on unit, batch, eligibility, injuries, and command emphasis.
Broadly, the test has included a multi-day navigation exercise, a long overnight route march with weapon-handling tests, a water crossing, and live firing. Requirements have changed over time, so don't treat any checklist as current without confirming in your unit.
Motorised infantry (Terrex)
2 SIR is the motorised battalion, fighting from the Terrex ICV. Motorised does not mean slack.
- You still dismount and fight as infantry: load, outfields, infantry exercises
- It adds platform drills, vehicle movement, and maintenance on top
- The battalion trains for protected mobility and higher tempo, not an easier life
Tips if you're posted to infantry
- Build aerobic fitness before posting: a running base, leg strength, core, and mobility help far more than last-minute chionging
- Take foot care seriously: season your boots, carry spare socks, dry your feet when you can, treat hotspots early
- Pack simple but reliable: ziplock the important stuff, bring enough admin essentials, don't overpack until you know your unit's style
- Learn to recover: eat properly, sleep when you can, hydrate, and report real injuries early
- Mindset: focus on the next activity, not the whole two years. Infantry is much easier when your section works together
Is it worth anything after ORD
Not in the direct job-credential sense, unless you're headed for uniformed work, outdoor work, emergency services, or leadership-heavy roles.
The real value is soft:
- Fitness, resilience, and discipline
- Teamwork and a high tolerance for discomfort
- Small-team leadership if you become a commander via SCS
For most people the biggest payoff is the shared experience and perspective after ORD. Combat vocations also pay a higher vocation allowance.
Sources
- Infantry vocation - CMPB: the official overview
- Infantry formation - Singapore Army: role, weapons, and capabilities
- One-BMT fact sheet - MINDEF: the common BMT change
- First Motorised Infantry Battalion - MINDEF: 2 SIR and the Terrex