A 30-year-old operationally ready national serviceman passed away on Monday, June 30, following his collapse outside Maju Camp. The incident occurred after he had completed a National Service Fitness Improvement Training (NS FIT) session. The training session took place at the Maju Fitness Conditioning Centre, running from 6:50 PM to 8:00 PM.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on Tuesday, the NSman had completed his training and had reported his condition to fitness instructors. MINDEF stated that “the NSman was cleared to leave after reporting to fitness instructors that he felt well, and he booked out of Maju Camp at 8:11 PM.” However, shortly after exiting the camp, he collapsed.
A passer-by who witnessed the collapse outside the camp immediately called for emergency medical assistance. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received an alert regarding the incident at 8:16 PM. An ambulance was dispatched and arrived at the scene approximately nine minutes later, at 8:25 PM, to provide immediate medical attention.
Upon the ambulance’s arrival, resuscitation efforts were promptly administered to the NSman directly at the site of his collapse. These critical life-saving measures were continued without interruption as he was transported to the National University Hospital for further medical intervention. He arrived at the hospital facility around 9:00 PM. Despite the comprehensive emergency medical efforts undertaken by the medical team, the serviceman was sadly pronounced dead at 9:54 PM.
In response to this incident, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has implemented a precautionary safety pause. All National Service Fitness Improvement Training (NS FIT) sessions have been temporarily halted until July 4, 2025. The purpose of this pause is to conduct a thorough review of existing safety procedures and protocols within the NS FIT program. Additionally, it serves as a critical period to remind all soldiers participating in these training sessions about the paramount importance of safety during physical activities.
The NS FIT program itself was introduced in 2021. It was established as a replacement for the previous IPPT preparatory training (IPT) and remedial training (RT) programs, aiming to provide a structured approach to maintaining fitness among operationally ready national servicemen. Following this unfortunate event, MINDEF has extended its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased serviceman. The Ministry is also actively providing support to the family during their period of grief. Further investigations will be conducted to ascertain the precise cause of death.
