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Heard from the news earlier that the BMT programmes have been changed. Some are shortened and some lengthened to another few more weeks. Heng are I already completed BMT almost 10yrs ago liao. Was in the obese programme and went for 15weeks at Tekong. Posted: 04 Dec 2009 1330hours Report by Ong Hong Tat Starting from December 2009, changes to the Basic Military training (BMT) programmes will be implemented progressively. As BMT is likely to be their first experience of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) for most Singaporean males, training must also focus on integrating recruits into the military and instil a greater sense of purpose towards defence. This was a point made by Chief of Army Major-General (MG) Neo Kian Hong during a media brief on the new BMT programmer on 4 Dec at the Central Manpower Base. While the purpose of BMT will continue to be training combat-ready soldiers for the SAF in a safe and professional manner, there will be changes to the duration of BMT and the Physical Employment Status (PES) for some groups of enlistees. A recruit's PES will determine his role within the SAF. For example, PES A and B recruits can expect to be deployed in combat and combat support roles within formations such as Combat Engineers, Artillery and Signals after completion of BMT, PES C and E recruits will take on roles such as storeman, military logisticians and administrative clerks. Key changes to the BMT programmes are a new 19-week BMT for obese recruits, a four-week BMT for PES E recruits, a nine-week BMT for PES C recruits, and a new nine-week BMT for PES B2 recruits. PES B2 is the new name for the current PES C1 for consistency between medical classification of SAF soldiers and their subsequent deployment to combat and combat support roles. The nine-week BMT programme for these recruits will include customised physical training and basic combat training. Explaining the changes to the BMT programmes for obese recruits, MG Neo said: "The revised BMT for obese recruits is based on careful analysis and research which indicate that we are able to achieve an optimum fitness level and weight loss at around 19 weeks. Data also shows that weight loss becomes natural after about 19weeks in BMT. " Under the old BMT system, obese recruits attended either a 15-week or 26-week BMT, based on individual levels of obesity. Under the SAF medical classification system, a pre-enlistee whose Body Mass INdex exceeds 27 will have to attend the obese BMT programme. The revised 19-week BMT for obese recruits will start from February next year, while the nine-week BMT programmes for PES B2 and PES C recruits will be taking effect from June. The four-week BMT for PES E recruits will also commence in June. http://www.mindef.gov.sg/mindef/publicatio...dec09_news.html.

THE Government is looking at introducing programmes tailored for marriages between Singaporeans and foreigners. These programmes would involve counsellors and educators trained to address cross-cultural issues. Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan disclosed this in a reply on Tuesday to a parliamentary question from Nominated MP Paulin Straughan, who had asked how resilient were the marriages of couples brought together by agencies that match Singaporean men with foreign brides. There are no figures of such matchmade couples, but marriages between Singaporean men and foreign women were on the rise, said Dr Balakrishnan. Last year, there were 6,360 marriages between Singaporean men and foreign brides, up from 5,414 in 2004. But their divorce rate was not significantly different from other marriages, he said. For instance, 4 per cent of these 2004 marriages ended five years later while the divorce rate for all marriages in the same period was 6 per cent. http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_444343.html --- got catalogs to choose one not heheee...