SINGAPORE : More than 300 NSmen have signed up to do their Individual Physical Proficiency Tests (IPPTs) at indoor air-conditioned gymnasiums.
The first batch of nine NSmen did their test on Monday at the SAFRA gym in Tampines.
It is not the usual IPPT, it is indoors, the air-conditioning is on, and there is even piped-in music.
The NSmen are among the first in the island to do their physical fitness test in a gym.
The 2.4 kilometre run is done on treadmills, while other tests like sit-ups and broad jumps are done in the gym's multi-purpose hall.
"The environment is much better than in the army camp because there's
music to motivate NSmen to do better in their IPPT." 
"It's very convenient, like today, it's raining if we're doing outside it's probably going to be cancelled."
And that is exactly why the Defence Ministry has allowed the indoor IPPT.
But some things are still the same - physical fitness instructors and medics were on standby in case of any mishaps.
And because of the small turn-out, each NS men completed his test in about an hour.
Responding to criticism on the test being too soft, the Defence Ministry has raised the treadmills' gradient by 0.2 degrees in an attempt to match conditions of outdoor runs.
"It's only 0.2 degrees, so you can't really feel the incline at all."
"I think this is straying further away from realistic army training which is the whole purpose of training."
The Defence Ministry said both indoor and outdoor tests were equally tough, but monetary awards for good performance are not given for indoor tests.
But many of the NSmen do not really care - they just want to get the test over and done with.
"I'm not really concerned about the money aspect because I just want to pass. I think it's much easier to pass using this treadmill, but I failed because I did not train enough."
According to some of those who took the test on Monday,
more than half the NSmen passed.Indoor tests are now held at SAFRA Tampines and Toa Payoh.
SAFRA is considering extending the IPPT to other gyms after a year-long trial period. - CNA
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1. how lame can ppl get.
2. they raised the gradient by 0.2 degrees in response to comments tt the test is too soft. in the end ppl say the 0.2 degrees is like nothing. hm.....

3. if the 2 are equally tough y canot give monetary award to those who achieve the std in the gym??
4. and only more than half
passed?!
sigh...
