Citizen soldiers are spending less than half the time on administrative processes than they were four years ago thanks to recent improvements in mobilisation exercises.

These used to involve spending 10 to 12 hours in camps waiting for weapons and combat kit to be issued and filling in forms. Now operationally-ready national servicemen (NSmen) take only four to five hours to get ready, said Second Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing.

Mr Chan was speaking to reporters after visiting 3,000 NSmen from the 76th Singapore Infantry Brigade who took part in a mobilisation exercise on Saturday.

He said the time savings have allowed the NSmen to undergo refresher training to maintain basic soldiering skills like weapon use, first aid and battle drills. At the same time, commanders have been freed up to draw out simulated battle plans.