Enlisting for NS soon and quite anxious, what should I expect in BMT?
I'm enlisting in a couple of months and honestly quite nervous, especially about BMT. I'm not the fittest and worried about keeping up. Any advice from those who've been through it on how to prepare physically and mentally?
Anonymous asker·Asked on 4 hours ago·3 views·2 answers
From my experience, BMT is designed for average guys, so you don't need to be an athlete, you just need to not give up. If you're not fit now, start jogging and doing push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups regularly before you enlist, because the fitter you go in, the easier the first weeks feel. Everyone struggles at first and the trainers know it, so pace yourself and don't compare with the fit ones. Mentally, the hardest part is being away from home and the routine, but you adjust fast and your bunk mates become close friends. Take care of the small things: keep your feet dry to avoid blisters, drink water, and follow instructions. The confinement period feels long but book-out will come. It genuinely builds you up. Just show up, try your best, and you'll be fine.
W Wei Jie BeginnerFirst-hand experience
I was unfit and dreading it too, but honestly BMT was more manageable than I feared. If you're really out of shape you might be posted to a longer BMT which actually eases you in more gently, so don't panic about your fitness level. Before enlisting, focus on the IPPT-style basics and build stamina with regular runs, and get used to waking early. The mental game matters most: expect to feel homesick and tired, and just take it one day at a time. Your section mates are all in the same boat and helping each other is what gets everyone through. Keep a positive attitude with the commanders, don't try to be smart or slack off. Sort out admin like your finances and tell family your book-out schedule. It's a shared rite of passage here, and most of us look back on it fondly.