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NS training deaths: Train hard but train safe - striking a balance

When soldiers die during training, the spotlight is put on whether overzealousness in training is compromising safety.

ST ILLUSTRATION: MANNY FRANCISCO
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An armoured vehicle commander who died in an overseas exercise after pressing on with a manoeuvre despite a faulty night vision device and without turning on the headlights because he felt they would give away his position to the "enemy".

A platoon that did not seem to have spoken out about insufficient minimum rest-time the night before a fast march that later resulted in the heatstroke death of a full-time national serviceman.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 16, 2018, with the headline NS training deaths: Train hard but train safe - striking a balance. Subscribe