The IPPT: The Individual Physical Proficiency Test.
Every army around the world has their different testing systems. The Singapore Armed Forces has had the IPPT for a very long time, and the testing criteria have changed over the years.
When I was first enlisted, as part of my National Service in the conscripted army of Singapore, the IPPT was a 5 station test that you needed to pass. The entry for this, was the NAPFA Test: The National Physical Fitness Award.
The stations of testing for the NAPFA Test:
- Bent Knee sit ups
- Standing Broad Jump
- Sit and Reach
- Inclined or Hanging Pullups
- 4 X 10M shuttle run
- 2.4KM run
Every station has a max of 5 points per station, and the top award given being Gold. A Gold score needs a minimum of 21 points, meaning you could afford to max out only one or two stations, but your lowest station needs to be at least a 3 point. (This is critical in planning because it comes back later for the IPPT test)
So if a male boy scores a Gold for his NAPFA test (done before enlistment), he can enter army slightly later. The peers that did not get Gold are required to enter army 2 months earlier for physical training.
So the IPPT Test. Every soldier must pass their IPPT, if not they would need to go for extra training, to make up for failing it. Failing to attempt it also results in punishment, occurring during Reservist periods, rather than during their National Service time.
These days, there are some who are physically ineligible to take the test, due to weak joints, or other medical related issues.
However, many, including myself, would push our physical limits to get a Gold scoring for IPPT, as there are monetary incentives for it.
A Gold score during our NS days (2 years or 1 year 10months) would get you a SGD$200 monetary payout. A Silver score is SGD$100, and a pass gets you something else. I honestly can’t remember what it was because I never let myself go that badly.
However, when we have completed our NS training, and are Operationally Ready to be Deployed (ORD personnel), we are give SG$500 for gold, SGD$300 for silver, and SGD$200 for a pass with incentive. We can only take the test once a year, but we can keep retaking it until we get the highest score. The year period to take it starts and ends on our birth date. If a silver was scored first, and then a gold after that, the money incentive would only add on another $200, instead of another full $500.
The IPPT Test stations are:
- Push ups
- Sit ups
- 2.4KM run
During my service time, the stations were:
- Sit ups
- Sit and Reach
- 4 X 10M shuttle run
- Standing Broad Jump
- Pull ups
- 2.4KM Run
As you can tell, the older stations for the IPPT matched the NAPFA Test almost identically. The scoring would be the same both ways, meaning we would still get the same monetary incentives. The modern IPPT is really aimed to give us a great and easy way of getting Gold.
The point system works this way: 50 points come from the 2.4km Run, 25 points come from Push ups and 25 points come from Sit ups. As long as you hit 85 points, you get Gold. Based on your age, the quantity of sit ups or push ups changes to get within the range of 20-25 points, and then your run timing would be adjusted based on that as well.
For example, I would usually try to get about 41-45 sit ups within a minute, and 41-45 push ups within a minute as well. This would get me about 20-21 points per segment. Meaning that I would have a total of about 42 (optimistically). My run timing would just need to hit about 43 points for me to get 85 points, and securing my gold. The run timing would need to be about 10mins 30secs for that 43 points, for my age group.
This very long and detailed explanation is necessary because at this current point, I am training for my last IPPT that I will ever take as a National Serviceman, and I desperately want to get my last Gold ever. It comes as a point of pride, and also for the monetary rewards as well.
I am stressing out about it a bit, but man. I really need to get this Gold. Wish me luck.