Instead of having to trudge through uneven, rocky terrain amidst humid jungle heat, separated both physically and psychologically from the mainland (and home) in a grueling route march, new recruits from existing Tekong BMT batches get to do it all on the mainland.

Beginning from the SAF ferry terminal on the upper east corner of Singapore's mainland, they will make their way down to Changi beach, through East coast park, and end up finishing at the Marina Bay floating platform. There, their parents will enjoy the passing out parade, complete with the odd cooling down drill and tossing of jockey caps.

I think I speak for all the PES A and B recruits of my generation when I say that as good as the SAF has gotten when it comes to welfare for raw recruits, this by far takes the cake. An even route that is surrounded by civilization, accompanying civilians and a far more hospitable environment seems anathema to the concept of final suffering and endurance before the gratifying release from Pulau Tekong.

That being said, the tangible benefits that may come from it are there too, I believe. We can consider the fact that recruits may get to pick up NE pointers, as highlighted in the article through their trudging (or more like strolling) past certain historic locations, or that as they enter the floating platform, the surroundings and their present condition remind them of how far Singapore has come, and the sacrifices that we all have to make to maintain our level of achievement.

On a macro level, there is the concept of showing off a tour de force of one thousand recruits (though rough around the edges, and way too many of them in thick black spectacles) marching through the country, but not much else that I can see for now.

Even with those reasons, I see no sufficient value and benefit of this change when it comes down to the innumerable added headaches when it comes to the heavily laden logistical issues to tackle. Not only do you have one thousand raw recruits in a sizeable force, they all carry assault rifles with magazines too. They all need, as in Tekong, pee stops and rehydration points, where these rifles and all other equipment can go missing. There are those who will fall behind, there are those who will surge ahead, and then there are those who will fall out along the way. At the end of the parade, all the rifles will need to be returned to the island, there is no 'dumping' of their rifles on the tonners.

When it comes to the recruit himself, I'd hate to be in his shoes. I'm no masochist, but I see value in trudging through uneven terrain amongst forestry. Tired, dirty and my mind a blank, away from home and with a heavy as hell field pack on my back, it makes the journey way more meaningful. It gives one a sense of perspective to the many creature comforts we enjoy in normal conditions, it makes me feel like I've really gone through an experience that really certifies me, at a basic level, a soldier. It gives a fitting transition when all is done and over and you're on the ferry back to the mainland, away from a place that was home for two months. Yes, I'd hate to be one of the new recruits.

Ultimately, I'm sure the government has it's reasons weighed, and they say the change as coming out on a net benefit. I don't see those benefits, and I don't see the change at all benefitting the recruits, the sergeants, the officers and everyone else involved in the most defining moment of an NSF's BMT journey.

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