If you’re reading this, you’ve probably heard the term “command school” being thrown around a lot and am wondering whether you should actually go for it.
Command school is split into 2 paths: OCS and SCS.
If you want to become an officer (2nd Lieutenant and above), aim for OCS.
If you want to become a sergeant (3rd Sergeant and above), aim for SCS.
As someone who went through SCS, this page will be dedicated to helping those who plan on going to / are planning to go to SCS.
What’s the difference anyways?
For those uninitiated, the hierarchy in the SAF is as such:
Men -> Sergeant -> Officer
Therefore, a sergeant is typically in charge of a section, consisting 6-7 men, and the officer will be in charge of the platoon, consisting 20ish men.
A simple difference is that sergeants are much more on the ground and bonded with their men whereas officers do the behind the scenes work and are generally seen less.
So, if you want to be directly involved in developing people and watching them grow, go for SCS. For those who like to plan and do work behind the scenes, go for OCS.
However, do note that training in OCS will be tougher, both physically and mentally, compared to SCS because after all, you’re training to become an officer.
One example of this would be the sheer amount of outfields cadets go through in OCS compared to in SCS.
Breakdown of SCS
The journey of a cadet in SCS is as such:
- Foundation Term (8 weeks)
- Professional Term (12.5 weeks)
- Combined Arms Term (1.5 weeks)
Foundation Term:
If you receive your posting order as INF(LDR), it means that you’re posted to SCS at Pasir Laba Camp! (Note, there are a few other postings that you may receive that will also train you to become a 3SG but majority will go to SCS)
This is where all cadets go through a course in which they teach basic infantry skills. You will train to become a Specialist of the SAF. Activities during this period include technical handling lessons of more infantry weapon systems. Live firings of these weapons follow.
You will get the opportunity to fire new weapons such as the SAW (Section Assault Weapon) as well as the M203 (Grenade Launcher)!
There will also be outfield exercises, such as:
- Ex (Exercise) Tenderfoot and Ex Wanderer – Navigation training
- Ex Grandprimer – Conventional Operations and Urban Operations
And miscellaneous lessons such as:
- National Education
- Chemical Defence
- Guard Duty Training
The Sergeant Rocky challenge is also conducted at the end of the term. It is a 16km Route March that includes various stations of Foundational Term tests. This will happen through the night. Trainers will inform the infantry postings in the Professional Term in the morning after, for the rest you’ll have to wait for it to be uploaded onto your NS portal.
Professional Term
During this term, you will be assigned to the various formations in the Army. You will learn vocation-specific skills at the respective training institutes for a duration of 12.5 weeks.
These are the possible institutes and vocations you may be posted to:
- Specialist Cadet School (Infantry)
- Island Defence Training Institute (Military Police)
- SAF Military Intelligence Institute (Infantry Recce, Armour Infantry Recce etc.)
- SAF Medical Training Institute (Combat Medics)
- Motorised Infantry Training Institute (Motorised Infantry)
- Engineer Training Institute (Combat Engineer, CBRE/EOD)
- Artillery Institute (Artillery)
- Armour Training Institute (Armour)
- Signals Institute (Signals)
- Sniper Cadet Course
- Naval Military Expert Institute
A summary exercise is usually conducted at the end of the term. This is usually the peak of your term as it aims to test whatever knowledge you’ve gathered in the 3 months you spend in the course.
My experience (MP)
As a MP spec, I’ll be detailing my experience in IDTI for those interested in coming here:
Discipline and regimentation is number one in IDTI. From having weekly bearings checks to enforcing the 4 by 2 haircut strictly (Heck, I had to cut my hair every 2 weeks!) as well as always expecting polished boots, discipline is key to thriving in the 3 months you spend at Mowbray Camp training to become a 3SG.
You may have thought that life as a MP cadet would be smooth-sailing and easy as there is no outfield other than a one-day CQB, but the trade-off would be that discipline is expected at all times. From having 1 hour long SBAs (Stand-by-area) before bookout to being confined in camp for falling asleep during those monotonous and dreary lessons on military laws, your every action is being monitored as you can be easily seen since you are not out in the field.
Your first few weeks will definitely be rough if you’re like me, someone who’s not used to having to follow a thousand and one rules back in Foundation Term. Regardless, you will eventually learn how to adapt and maintain the highest level of discipline after about 1.5 months in the course.
The activities in your 3 months will include PT, Arms Drills, MPCCT, Summary Exercise, ATP and P30 Live Firing.
- For PT it mostly comprises of different types of running and for Arms Drills you will have to go through a test around 2 months in.
- MPCCT is basically your BCCT from BMT but you learn restraints and locks.
- The 2 SUMMEX include Ex Strongtower (24-hour event to test your ability as a Guardroom commander) as well as Ex Enforcer (6 hour event to test your policing skill).
- As for live firing you have ATP where you can get your $200 and Marksman Badge and P30 Live Firing
The Combined Arms Term
All cadets will come back together for the final Combined Arms Term for a brief 1.5 weeks. You will have lessons conducted by Military Experts on leadership skill experiences. Do learn how the different factions of the Army come together to manage their troopers.
This is also where the preparation for the Specialist Cadet Graduation Parade (SCGP) begins. The Master Trainer of the School will conduct rehearsals until every cadet has met his standard of parade. You will be wearing the SAF Long No.4 with parade gloves to practice in. Additionally, an issued bayonet attaches to the SAR-21 for rehearsals.
In my experience, this was a very tiring process as our Master Trainer had us repeat the entire process many times.
Your family and friends are invited to watch the SCGP. What puts this apart from the BMT Passing-Out Parade is the various vocational SAF No.1 dress uniforms marching together in contingent with their respective coloured berets.
At the end of the parade, your family and friends will come down to the parade square for photographs. You will finally be able to don the rank of a fully-fledged 3SG!