In theory, Mindef can recall every single uniform they ever
issue
No, lah. No need to exaggerate that far. Ever since the SAF
eMarts were introduced, I think it's more or less accepted that
whatever sold inside them are considered expendable items. Those
stores are supposed to serve as the modernized kit-exchange system
(but without any sneering Nazi storemen ~lol~).
Previously, the expendables used to consist of stuff like foot
powder, shoe polish, insect repellent, etc. (& their issuage
could be quite tightly controlled by "ngeow" CQs). With them, the
perennial instruction was also that, while the items wouldn't need
to be strictly accountable for, they shouldn't be discarded away
indiscriminately either (ala issuable disposables like toilet paper
& -- if you can get them -- chinagraphs, notebooks, etc.)
I suppose camo No.4s, along with the other eMart equipment in
general, are now treated the same way. You can dispose them of them
on your own, but the official line is that they shouldn't end up in
an unauthorized usage.
----------
If you browse through the relevant feedback at the Cut Waste Panel
portal (see below links), you can also sense from the corresponding
SAF replies that the official policy is always to equip with the
latest equipment. In response to suggestions about recycling
unwanted items (from reservists & the ilk), the most they're
conceding is that the Army Logistics Base will accept donated
stuff, & then "ALB would then decide whether to recycle or
dispose the items depending on the nature and condition of the
returned items."
Note the inclusive phrase "nature", cuz the present mindset is
apparently also not to reuse discontinued models as much as
possible (even if the items are brand-new). Presumably for a number
of reasons, the most important is that we're rich enough now to
afford to do this.
Then again, my reservist RQ himself used to reject discontinued
models -- eg. camo No.4s (telltale color shade, as I recall),
boots, jockey caps -- issued down to him for our long field
exercises too, & I'm talking about the early '90s. The old
items didn't look exactly hygenic, I must add. A lot of us were
disgusted at the state of the Temasek Green uniforms in ROC, in
particular. Used to joke was that they'd belonged to either the
1970s SAF generation or, worse yet, the 1949 Guomintang!
http://app.mof.gov.sg/cutwaste/suggestionview.asp?id=4162
http://app.mof.gov.sg/cutwaste/suggestionview.asp?id=909
http://app.mof.gov.sg/cutwaste/suggestionview.asp?id=2752
http://app.mof.gov.sg/cutwaste/suggestionview.asp?id=33815
http://app.mof.gov.sg/cutwaste/suggestionview.asp?id=28815
http://app.mof.gov.sg/cutwaste/suggestionview.asp?id=1113
http://app.mof.gov.sg/cutwaste/suggestionview.asp?id=30315
http://app.mof.gov.sg/cutwaste/suggestionview.asp?id=6971
