BMT Survival Kit

[Picanto]

IT'S sold at a Safra store as the "BMT Bundle".

 

But is it really something a young recruit would need for Basic Military Training (BMT)? Perhaps not, it seems.

BMT Bundle

Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: TNP)

 

 

At least some of the items in the bundle - including black electrical tape, tights, gloves, fork and spoon, and candles - are provided free upon enlistment. However, the LifestyleMart at Safra Mount Faber is selling all of these items in a bundle priced at $80.

 

But is it necessary? Safra declined to comment and directed The New Paper (TNP) to ST Logistics, the vendor of the packages.

 

ST Logistics also declined to comment, but TNP understands that the bundle is not officially sanctioned by the Ministry of Defence (Mindef).

 

Whatever the situation, the sale has drawn some flak. According to a post on SG Forums, netizens are charging that the Lifestyle- Mart is trying to milk pre-enlistees for cash.

 

Mindef said that six months before enlistment, each enlistee is issued the Recruit's Handbook, which states the list of items to be brought on enlistment day. There is also a list of items issued upon enlistment, which are given free of charge.

 

For those who have misplaced their handbook, a digital edition can also be downloaded from the NS Portal website.

 

'Convenience'

 

National servicemen, however, do spend money on such packages, mainly for convenience, they said. Usually, these items can be bought at the "army market", or Golden Mile FoodCentre at Beach Road.

 

Clayton Chew, 20, who completed his mandatory two-year NS stint last November, said he spent about $60 at the market on equipment before reporting for duty. However, his money was spent on extra physical training attire, for example.

 

The army only provides three sets of the attire to recruits. These items are not found in the bundle sold at Safra Mount Faber.

 

Two years ago, Phua Shi Hao, 20, spent about $50 preparing for BMT on some of the smaller items at the army market.

 

"I think I was over-prepared. For example, I bought over ten rolls of black tape. The shop owner had assured me that it would come in useful. In the end, I used less than three rolls," he said.

 

What made it worse was that the tape was included in the kit pack provided by the SAF for free. When The New Paper visited Safra Mount Faber again on Tuesday, we found that the BMT Bundle is now sold under a new name: The BMT Survival Kit.

 

We also learnt that some camps are also selling the kit at their eMarts. At Golden Mile, however, pre-enlistees can get these items for much less.

 

Pre-enlistees usually fork out between $50 and $60 for equipment based on shop owners' recommendations.

[VellfireS]

IT'S sold at a Safra store as the "BMT Bundle".

 

But is it really something a young recruit would need for Basic Military Training (BMT)? Perhaps not, it seems.

BMT Bundle

Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: TNP)

 

 

At least some of the items in the bundle - including black electrical tape, tights, gloves, fork and spoon, and candles - are provided free upon enlistment. However, the LifestyleMart at Safra Mount Faber is selling all of these items in a bundle priced at $80.

 

But is it necessary? Safra declined to comment and directed The New Paper (TNP) to ST Logistics, the vendor of the packages.

 

ST Logistics also declined to comment, but TNP understands that the bundle is not officially sanctioned by the Ministry of Defence (Mindef).

 

Whatever the situation, the sale has drawn some flak. According to a post on SG Forums, netizens are charging that the Lifestyle- Mart is trying to milk pre-enlistees for cash.

 

Mindef said that six months before enlistment, each enlistee is issued the Recruit's Handbook, which states the list of items to be brought on enlistment day. There is also a list of items issued upon enlistment, which are given free of charge.

 

For those who have misplaced their handbook, a digital edition can also be downloaded from the NS Portal website.

 

'Convenience'

 

National servicemen, however, do spend money on such packages, mainly for convenience, they said. Usually, these items can be bought at the "army market", or Golden Mile FoodCentre at Beach Road.

 

Clayton Chew, 20, who completed his mandatory two-year NS stint last November, said he spent about $60 at the market on equipment before reporting for duty. However, his money was spent on extra physical training attire, for example.

 

The army only provides three sets of the attire to recruits. These items are not found in the bundle sold at Safra Mount Faber.

 

Two years ago, Phua Shi Hao, 20, spent about $50 preparing for BMT on some of the smaller items at the army market.

 

"I think I was over-prepared. For example, I bought over ten rolls of black tape. The shop owner had assured me that it would come in useful. In the end, I used less than three rolls," he said.

 

What made it worse was that the tape was included in the kit pack provided by the SAF for free. When The New Paper visited Safra Mount Faber again on Tuesday, we found that the BMT Bundle is now sold under a new name: The BMT Survival Kit.

 

We also learnt that some camps are also selling the kit at their eMarts. At Golden Mile, however, pre-enlistees can get these items for much less.

 

Pre-enlistees usually fork out between $50 and $60 for equipment based on shop owners' recommendations.

 

So Moral of the story.. Dont buy the BMT Kit?

 

[Picanto]

So Moral of the story.. Dont buy the BMT Kit?

 

 

yes.

[Safetyfirst]

caveat emptor

[Safetyfirst]

everybody will make their own choice to buy or not to buy

[Safetyfirst]

u can be as kiasu as you want . . . . . . .

[Ahtong]

Instead of forking out $80 for some barang how about investing $800 to find a specialist willing to document your physical debilities?

[Kangadrool]

Why so kancheong? Can go in then if don't have/not enough, buy from army camp stores too. As if 1st day, cheong suah liao.

 

Must cut botak first right? Then wait and wait and wait and wait and wait and wait........

Edited March 28, 2011 by Kangadrool

[Moredhel]

My pre-enlist BMT Kit.

 

1) 3-pack Bars of Snickers x 2

2) 8 packs of Cigarettes, 6 Well Hidden

3) Extra Lighter

4) Handphone Charger and extra Battery

5) Extra Underwear

6) M&Ms x 3 packs good for outfield/section movement

7) Vicks Inhaler x 2

8) Radio and spare batteries

 

Rest of the stuff can be gotten at SAF Mart. Bring cash. Coins for night sneaks to vending machines.

[Parkingidiot]

i think the checklist missed out the most important survival item of the SAF 3G soldier's BMT kit:

 

a MAID

[questionedfish]

forking out extra $$$ from your pocket, regardless of anyitems, is the most d*mbest thing ever.

[Adrianli]

During my time was not to bring anything. Then when reach there, just tell sgt dont have. Then can book out to purchase!!! Woo hooooooo!!!

 

That was then lah. My time no E-Mart. Now I dont think can liao.

[Watwheels]

I think those who were interviewed are probably the siao on ones. Try asking the boh chaps, they probably won't know the kit exists.

[Tarzan666]

i last time remember in NS, almost every weekend got to go beach road buy supplies 1..

 

mess tin spoil la, water bottle break la, comms cord nt enuf la, then the stupid aluminium stick to shell scrape that 1

...my NS allowance 1/4 go to such supplies..

 

later on bcum good friend with CQ then i go beach road less often..

[Ender]

$80 cheap liao... Some recruits even has maid in the list.

[Darthkk]

My pre-enlist BMT Kit.

 

1) 3-pack Bars of Snickers x 2

2) 8 packs of Cigarettes, 6 Well Hidden

3) Extra Lighter

4) Handphone Charger and extra Battery

5) Extra Underwear

6) M&Ms x 3 packs good for outfield/section movement

7) Vicks Inhaler x 2

8) Radio and spare batteries

 

Rest of the stuff can be gotten at SAF Mart. Bring cash. Coins for night sneaks to vending machines.

 

My time no. 1 survival kit is 10 cents coin

 

To make phone call back on the public phone, and the queue is like..........

[Ngck]

everything should be provided by the state...

 

why call ppl up for NS and still need ppl to buy stupid stuff?

 

Only comfort items that u need then u pay out of your own pocket

[Blackmore]

everything should be provided by the state...

 

why call ppl up for NS and still need ppl to buy stupid stuff?

 

Only comfort items that u need then u pay out of your own pocket

 

Tell that to mindeaf; why bother to give miserable allowance and only to be force to spent on expandable items needed for course or excercises.

 

For example for engineer on training, the amount of items each individual must buy is crazy. black tape, pliers, gloves, and whatever nonsense they can come up with. mess subscription whether we like it or not. course photo whether we bother or not. bus concession stamp every month.

 

 

Not everyone were affluent at that age, and the amount was barely sufficent for the average joes. So much for serving the nation and paying thru your noses.