BMT PREP COURSE FOR CAST OF NEW JACK NEO MOVIE

"Sedia. Senang diri!" "When you turn, lift up your leg 90 degrees! Remember to keep your elbows locked!"

Commands and instructions were flying thick and fast throughout the morning on 14 May as section commanders taught their men to execute parade drills in a sharp and precise manner.

A typical training scene at Pulau Tekong, perhaps, but these guys weren't your usual recruits. Sporting a range of looks from the more conservative to those with bright, brass-blonde hair, the 60-odd "recruits" were cast members undergoing a familiarisation course on basic military training (BMT) at Selarang Camp, as part of their preparation for Jack Neo's latest film, Ah Boys To Men.

Known for his knack of telling heartwarming Singapore stories with a comedic touch, the well-known local director and actor, who has produced big-screen hits like Money No Enough and I Not Stupid, is embarking on his first military-themed movie.

Set to be released in two instalments, Ah Boys To Men is about a young man's journey through BMT, and shows, through his experiences, how National Service (NS) has progressed in the past 45 years. The first of this two-parter movie is planned for release in the latter part of the year, and the second during Chinese New Year 2013.

The two-day familiarisation course helped the budding actors, some of whom had not enlisted yet, to get a taste of military life in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) today.

From learning the right way to wear the Smart No. 4 (combat fatigues worn during normal working hours with sleeves folded up) to handling the Singapore Assault Rifle (SAR) 21, making simple tactical movements and even singing military songs, the cast members tried their hand at various activities to refresh their memories or get themselves up to scratch.

"We held an audition and found that some of the ones we selected hadn't gone through military training, so in order to standardise (their knowledge and skills) and let them know how to behave as recruits, we asked the SAF to conduct this special course for all of them," explained Mr Neo.

Just as common experiences during BMT bond recruits, the familiarisation course helped the cast to know each other better. "So when it comes to acting in a movie, they'll have their own chemistry," he noted.

A former platoon commander in the 1st Battalion Singapore Infantry and later Drama Director of the SAF Music and Drama Company, Mr Neo called his Officer Cadet Course in NS a "turning point in his life" which built his confidence.

His reaction upon visiting the Basic Military Training Centre at Pulau Tekong for research, was one of great nostalgia. "It was like, 'wow, everything's so different'! The SOC (Standard Obstacle Course) is entirely different, not like during our time. It made me recall all my old memories of life as a recruit.

"My son should be enlisting next year. Like most parents, the mothers are usually more concerned, but fathers know what army training is about. Especially after all my visits to BMTC, I can see that as far as safety is concerned, it's still the number one priority in the Army, so I don't worry so much."

On what audiences can expect in Ah Boys to Men, Mr Neo said: "They're going to see the recruits' story - not only the present recruits, but also the past... I'm from the batch that went from wearing the Temasek Green uniform to the old camouflage uniform, and now we have the 3rd Generation SAF soldiers.

"We're going to show the old camps and bring back the old uniforms that we all miss so much. I think it'll bring back a lot of memories for many people."

Fall in for Ah Boys to Men when the first part of the movie hits theatres later this year!