Only a select few make it to elite tactical unit for prisons

Selection process for Spear puts candidates through rigorous physical and mental tests

- Andrew Wong

After nearly eight hours of grueling physical endurance and cognitive tasks, only one out of five candidates remained at the Singapore Prisons Emergency Action Response (Spear) selection test.

Officers from the elite tactical unit of the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) are trained to quell prison riots, relocate violent inmates, and escort high-risk inmates to places such as hospitals for medical treatment, and to the courts.

Caning of inmates is also carried out by specially trained Spear officers. There are currently about 70 Spear officers in Singapore.

To ensure they can handle the pressure that Spear officers are expected to face, candidates are put through a rigorous selection process that tests their physical and mental prowess.

They have to navigate a 500m standard obstacle course that includes monkey bars and a high wall; run 2km while wearing a weighted vest and a respirator mask; sprint 400m, then climb seven flights of stairs while carrying a total of 15kg of weights in both hands.

After each physical task, the candidates' cognitive abilities are tested. These include memory challenges and psychometric tests to determine their habits, perceptions and situational awareness.

They are then tested on their teamwork, carrying a dummy meant to simulate an injured prisoner through an obstacle course, and marching over 3km with weighted backpacks.