New NS hub helps maximise training time rain or shine

The new Central Manpower Base (CMPB) in Hillview has a fitness conditioning centre with a sheltered rubber running track, so physical training and fitness tests can be conducted rain or shine.

- Samuel Devaraj Correspondent

It is one example of how the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) intends to maximise training time in the face of climate change and unpredictable weather, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Oct 14 at the official opening of the new site.

“With climate change, we are likely to lose more training time due to the inclement weather. But this is not going to slow down the pace at which the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) trains,” he said, explaining the building’s forward-looking design.

“That is why, not just here in CMPB, but across many camps and training facilities in the SAF, we will increasingly see designs that allow us to train day and night, across all types of conditions.”

This is being done to “maximise the amount of time that we have to purposefully use to train our NSmen”, he added.

CMPB’s Fitness Conditioning Centre is the first one in Singapore with a sheltered rubber running track.