Revised 3-station IPPT kicks in April 1 next year

SINGAPORE - Servicemen in the Army, Navy and Air Force will undergo the revised Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) from April 1 next year. The new format will also apply to Home Team officers.

Under the new test, servicemen will have to clear only three stations: the 2.4km run, sit-up and push-up stations.

Army chief Perry Lim gave details of the new test on Wednesday, saying that the simpler format will allow servicemen to train "in his own time without the need for specialised equipment".

Besides clocking the fastest timing for their runs, servicemen will have only one minute to complete as many sit-ups and push-ups. The current five-year age band has also been narrowed to three years to better reflect the peformance of servicemen of different ages.

For a 25 to 27-year old NSman to achieve Pass he would be required to perform 16 Push Ups in 1 min (6 pts), 30 Sit Ups in 1 min (14 pts) and complete his 2.4km run in 12min 40s (31 pts). With this performance, he would accumulate a total score of 51 points, which would make him eligible for the Pass Award.

Under the changes that were announced by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Wednesday, three components - the 4x10m shuttle run, standing broad jump and chin-up stations - were scrapped.

At least 3,000 servicemen and women will be put through the paces of the new test in a three-month trial which starts in September.

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