BOOSTING SOLDIERS' FITNESS AND COMBAT PERFORMANCE

Under this system, soldiers put on the equipment to be tested and go through an instrumented obstacle course. Engineers then analyse the impact of the equipment on the soldiers' performance through data collected.

Such data includes the soldier's timing at each station, as well as thermal readings to identify areas where heat is trapped within the equipment.

LEAP was introduced at the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence for Soldier Performance (CESP) by Second Minister for Defence Ong Ye Kung, at Selarang Camp, on 1 Dec.

"The establishment of the CESP is a key milestone in the Army's efforts towards more targeted and effective training. By putting our soldiers first, we are able to develop each soldier to his full potential and give our soldiers a positive NS experience," said Mr Ong.

CESP sees the integration of the Army Fitness Centre, the Soldier Performance Centre and the Soldier Systems Integration Lab. The set-up currently houses over 20 domain experts in the fields of sport science, nutrition, physiology, psychology and human factors engineering.

One of the equipment being evaluated at CESP is the next-generation Load Bearing System (LBS).

Compared to the current integrated Load Bearing Vest, the LBS features a belt carrier which distributes weight more evenly across the body. The LBS also comes in five customisable parts to be well-fitted to soldiers' different body types.

"For the first time we are deliberately using human factors engineering and (applying it) in the design phase of the LBS", said Head of CESP, Senior Lieutenant Colonel (SLTC) Yee Kok Meng.

"We also deliberately trialled (the LBS) with active units to get their feedback so that we can make further refinements to the design."

Another CESP initiative is the introduction of customised training programmes.

Captain (CPT) (NS) Tan Chong Hwa went for the revised fitness training for Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) after he failed his Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) in 2014.

"After 12 years of not training, as I was working overseas, I was actually building up my stomach instead (of building up my fitness)," said the 45-year-old.

"I went twice-weekly for the customised training, one to train the upper body, and one to train the lower body. These helped me build up my physical fitness," he added.

CPT (NS) Tan not only passed his IPPT the following year, but attained the Silver standard in 2016 and 2017.

Full-time National Serviceman (NSF) 3rd Sergeant (3SG) Rashid Mustaffa, who also benefited from the customised training programme, said the vocation-specific training had helped him target specific muscle groups.

"In infantry, we need to train on our strength and our agility. So we do exercises like battle ropes and tyre flips, to simulate activities we do out in the field," said the Section Commander from the Infantry Training Institute.

The new equipment allows more varied training, added 3SG Rashid. "It's also much more interesting, as the activities are not like the same old push-ups and sit-ups."