Under the current PES system, pre-enlistees are assigned a single PES status (PES A to PES F), which determines the broad range of training activities and vocations that they are eligible to participate in. While this provides a general summary of their medical fitness, the PES system was not designed to reflect the specific functional strengths and limitations of each individual.

The refreshed MCS will allow MINDEF/SAF to more precisely characterise each serviceman’s medical fitness and his ability to perform various tasks. Under the refreshed MCS, pre-enlistees will receive three sets of information on their medical fitness.

(i) Medical Fitness for Service. Pre-enlistees will be informed of whether they are “Medically Fit for Service” or “Medically Unfit for Service”. Those who are Medically Fit for Service will be enlisted to serve NS.

(ii) Medical Exemptions. Pre-enlistees will receive information about their specific medical exemptions, if any, based on their individual medical conditions and functional limitations. These medical exemptions will determine the pre-enlistee’s eligibility for the various training activities and vocations.

(iii) Eight-week reduction in full-time NS duration. Eligibility for the eight-week reduction in full-time NS duration is assessed based on pre-enlistees’ medical fitness. If pre-enlistees are eligible for the 8-week reduction in full-time NS, they will be informed via OneNS to book their Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT). Eligible pre-enlistees must attain 61 points or more in their pre-enlistee IPPT to be granted the reduction.