PAP cronies going to make more money
Mindef to outsource more tasks to boost NS efficiency
The days of reservist soldiers spending countless hours installing and dismantling communications equipment for training exercises look set to be over. They are also not likely to be saddled with washing armoured vehicles.
According to tender documents obtained by The Straits Times, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) is looking for civilian companies to take over these time-consuming tasks, to further enhance national service (NS) training efficiency.
These tasks are currently carried out by armoured troops or tank crew before and after an outfield training exercise.
The outsourcing to civilian contractors will free up operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen) to focus on honing their combat skills.
According to the documents, the civilian contractors will be expected to handle an average of 510 tracked vehicles a year, and will be responsible for mounting and dismantling equipment from the vehicles and washing them.
For a start, staff from private commercial companies will take over these tasks for selected major exercises for NSmen.
"These efforts allow for a faster turnover of vehicles required to support NS training," said Colonel Lam Sheau Kai, commander of the Combat Service Support Command.
It typically takes nine men up to four hours to dismantle communications equipment from the Bionix armoured infantry fighting vehicle and hose it down.
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is also increasingly handing over the management and warehousing of combat equipment or stores in training institutes to civilian contractors.