SAF Looking at Building Range Complex to Boost NSmen Weapons Training

Facility Could Also Allow More to Experience a Slice of National Service: Defence Minister

- Ng Wei Kai

The Singapore Army is exploring building another multi-mission range complex that will allow national servicemen to do practice shoots on a more regular basis.

The idea is for more people to be able to maintain the currency of their weapon skills, just as they do for fitness conditioning now, said Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing.

This new facility could also provide a "chance for us to allow more people to experience a slice of national service", he added.

There is currently one multi-mission range complex, located at Pasir Laba Camp in Jurong.

The three-storey indoor range complex, commissioned in 2013, allows soldiers to simulate day and night conditions, as well as different range lengths - making live-firing exercises more efficient.

Such buildings, which combine conventional training methods with new technologies, can help the Singapore Armed Forces optimise its local training areas and intensify their usage, Mr Chan said.

There will also be more opportunities for women and people who have not served national service to contribute to the SAF Volunteer Corps, he said in an interview with local media on June 25.

The corps, founded in 2014, allows Singaporean women, first-generation permanent residents and new citizens between 18 and 45 years old to take up supporting roles in the SAF.

There are now eight applicants for every one person selected for the corps, he said.