A short FAQ for NS PTP

For people curious about NS PTP

Q: When do I first get to book out?

A: 14 days after you enlist. Does not matter if you are PTP or not. Commanders are also barred from inflicting informal punishments ( “knock it down” ) during this period. If your company is a mixed one which has both PTP and BMT-enhanced (people who got silver for NAPFA), then they will join later at the 8th or 9th week when the BMT phase starts. Upon their enlistment, they will have to undergo their 2 week confinement, but fortunately for you, you won’t need to repeat that.

After your first 14 day confinement, you will receive your weekly bookouts which can range anywhere from one as generous as Friday evening to Sunday night to one as miserable as a Saturday afternoon till Sunday afternoon, depending on your company culture.

Strict OCs (OC is the officer commanding, he is usually a commissioned officer with the rank of Captain and is in charge of a company) may tend to keep you back for RT (remedial training) if your IPPT performance falls short of expectations – this means you will only get to book out on late Saturday morning or Saturday afternoon after your RT. If you perform well in IPPT, and achieve a pass or silver minimum (depends on OC’s policy), you may not need to attend RT, and should be able to book out either Friday night or Saturday early morning.

Other things which may affect your bookouts include (and are not confined to) – punishments and guard duty. To put it briefly – you may get confined for making mistakes, which can last anywhere from a 24hr-delayed book out to a whole weekend burned. Guard duty means you will spend the whole day/night guarding the camp, and will have to book in early the night before your day of duty. Interesting trivia – as recruits in PTP phase you are not trained in firearms (SAR-21), and hence will be using wooden batons and rattan shields.

Q: Tell me more about PTP.

A: PTP is for recruits who did not manage to get Silver in NAPFA. It is a 8 or 9 week (cant remember) period before BMT where you spend all your time practising to pass your IPPT; there will be very little (close to none) stuff from actual BMT. The typical schedule for the day is as such

0530 – Reveille
0545 – Fall in for 5BX (5 Basic Exercises won’t take 3 minutes of your time) and water parade
0600 – Go for breakfast
After breakfast till 0730 approx – Area Cleaning (your sergeants will be doing random spot checks)
0800-1000 –  Usually a run, like AGR or Speed Training
1000-1200 – Static exercises, usually IST or Circuit training
1300 – 1500 – If you are lucky, AquaJog. Usually no strenuous activities like runs will be held here as its too hot
1500-1700 –  Strength Training
1800 – dinner
2000 – 2200 – If you are unlucky you will have sergeant-led PT. If you are lucky you could either have OTOT PT or no PT at all.

Here’s an explanation of the various exercises

AGR -

Ability group run. The company will be sorted out into 4 groups based on their running ability, then made to run at a moderate pace over a rather long time. Your first AGR will start off at approximately 15 minutes, and slowly be upgraded to 20, 25, and finally 30min (of continuous running)

Speed Training -

Sprint / jog in a 1:2 (if I recall correctly) ratio. Initially you will sprint for 30 sec, then jog/rest for 60 sec. But as you go along in PTP it will be increased to sprint 60/ jog 120, sprint 120/jog 240 etc.

IST -

IPPT Station Training – Static exercises, usually split into SBJ, Pullup and Shuttle Run stations. SBJ – usually jumping exercises, pullup is just do many pullups, be it assisted or not. Shuttle run – suicides (run back and forth).

Circuit training -

Static exercises in stations (pushups, jumping jacks, planks, flutterkicks, dips, you name it), do for a certain timing, be it 30 sec or 60 sec, then rotate.

Aquajog -

You tie this floatation device on your back, and start “running” in the water (your feet won’t touch the ground). Miraculously you start moving! (but really slowly) The most fun of PT, and is meant to be a ‘recovery’ session for your legs. You will do some swims at the pool too. Non-swimmers will have to wear their “commando” red cap and learn to swim, hah.

Strength training -

involves dumbbells, throwing/catching of medicine balls (basket-ball sized, but around 2? 3? 4? kg heavy) Attire will be “upgraded” from PT attire to Long 4 (long sleeved camouflage uniform) as you go along in PTP.

OTOT training -

Own Time Own Target training. Which means you choose what you want to train – it can be more intensive, or less so, as compared to PTP training, so as to fit your training needs. You can ask your sergeants to open the gym for you, or you could do static exercises / runs on the track (around your company line). But remember to sign out of the book if you are doing your OTOT training.

Q: Will you get reallocated to another unit when BMT phase starts?

A: No. Once you are allocated to that company you stay there, together with other PTP recruits. Your platoon/section SHOULD stay the same.

Q: I am pretty fit, but I got into NS because I forgot to take my NAPFA at Toa Payoh. What happens to me?

A: You may be given the chance to opt out of PTP (means you can go back home and slack 8 weeks before you rejoin your company when BMT phase starts) if you perform very well for your first IPPT. “Very well”, however, is subjective and is determined by your Commanders (people who run the company); you will probably be required to get a Silver, or even a Gold.

Q: How’s the food?

A: The meals are heavy but balanced. You only have a little over 15 minutes to finish your food (that is just for my company) which means you must eat fast. Ice cream on certain days of the week (for mine it was Tuesday) – sometimes you get Soyjoy too.

Q: How’s the water?

A: Tastes bad, and you have to water parade 500ml in 1 shot with it. Doesn’t feel good.

Q: Will I get vaccinated?

A: Yes, but it is nothing to worry about. For chickenpox and something else (tetanus? hepatitis? I can’t remember)

Q: What items are contraband?

A: Handphone chargers, and other things which are “duh” contraband. Things such as books etc may depend on the policy of your Company.

Q: When do I get to call my parents?

A: Admin time at night (after you are briefed on the schedule for tomorrow)

Q: What is admin time, then?

A: Free time, in general. Your sergeants can choose to use that time to fulfill their own agenda, like teaching you extra stuff or asking you to sign forms.

Q: What happens to my dirty clothes? Are there coin-operated washing machines?

A: No, you wash them yourself. Do bring along some laundry powder. Sunning your dirty clothes is also a good alternative – the power of the sun simply rids all repulsive odours and makes your uniform dry and crisp – to a nearly magical extent.

Q: Do I need to bring in anything? Any pro tips?

A: No. Everything you need is provided. If you don’t like doing your laundry often you can always buy extra shirts when you book out. You will be told where to buy it. Benzoyl Peroxide stains your shirts orange, so you may not want to wipe your fingers on your shirt after using that substance (It’s an ingredient in some pimple creams). You can also claim some money if you have purchased a pair of spectacles for NS purposes, so don’t throw away / please bring your receipt.

Please eat protein rich foods (I eat egg whites) on your weekends to facilitate and aid your muscle recovery and growth, if not you’ll be perpetually having muscle-ache.

Email me at cancerstick99@gmail.com if you have queries of any kind regarding – PTP / BMT / OCS Common Leadership Module / OCS Service Term / OCS Signals Officer Cadet Course – I will try my best to answer your questions – I was completely clueless when I enlisted, and know how it sucks to feel unprepared, yup.

Advertisement