SINGAPORE: Shooting is a critical part of any soldier's arsenal of military skills, and Singapore soldiers now have a new high-tech indoor live firing range where they can hone their shooting skills in a variety of environments, under one roof.
The Multi-Mission Range Complex (MMRC) at Pasir Laba Camp was officially opened by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Friday.
The three-storey facility has seven firing ranges providing realistic scenario-based training.
The complex also includes an urban operations range where soldiers can practice shooting at close-quarters.
At the inauguration ceremony, Dr Ng said the complex is an example of how the army taps on technology to achieve its goals and mission.
Dr Ng said: "This complex is indeed a milestone for the army and I would say it is a strategic platform for the SAF to maintain, if not improve, the competence of our individual soldiers.
"We learn from the best shooting ranges overseas, and I doubt you will find anywhere in the world, such a large and complex shooting range like this. This is really the front edge of development, it is state-of-the-art."
The MMRC allows marksmanship training to be more efficient.
It usually takes two to three days for a unit to complete a marksmanship test for its soldiers, but now with the complex, it can be completed within a day.
The special lighting at the MMRC also allows day and night conditions to be simulated, so units can hold day and night shooting training within a few hours of each other.
The army has outsourced functional services at the complex, including ammunition management and conduct of the range.
But it maintains that security has not been compromised.
Colonel Chiang Hock Woon, chief infantry officer at the Singapore Armed Forces, said: "From the ammo security point of view, the Certis Cisco, the process, everything adheres to Mindef SAF protocol, and so we certify their people, and we also audit their process on a regular basis."
For soldiers, it is a load off their shoulders.
Lieutenant (LTA) Liang Lemin, an operationally-ready national serviceman, said: "Definitely less responsibility and it gives us less burden. So, we can focus in the shoot, rather than focus on safety, focus on getting men to move, where to move, what time to move, is there enough ammo, is the medical personal here.
"So, now we just come here, and focus on the task at hand, and then we get out, job done nice and quickly."
The ranges at the complex also track and monitor the shooting performance of soldiers in real time.
So, they receive almost instant feedback on their performance, and hopefully shoot better the next round.
And these features have already started to show results.
Specialist cadet (SCT) Suthan Selvam, a full-time national serviceman, said: "Last time when I did my firing, I got a borderline pass. I keep missing a lot of targets, because a lot of things were going through my head.
"Then, when I come here, I feel I'm more focused, and I got quite a decent score. I got 16 upon 20."
Over 22,000 servicemen have undergone training at the complex since it came into service six months ago.
www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-indoor-live-firing/836414.html
