Soldiers will soon have different
types of combat boots to choose from to suit their specific
operational needs.
On 30 Dec, the Singapore Armed Forces
(SAF) will be introducing three new combat boots - two variants of
Army Combat Boots (ACB) for the majority of Regulars and national
servicemen, and the Enhanced Combat Boots (ECB) for soldiers in
selected manoeuvre units.
This is part of the SAF's continual
efforts to improve and renew the Personal Equipment of servicemen
and women. These new boots are the latest in a series of Personal
Equipment upgrades which began in March 2015.
Earlier, two new physical training
(PT) shoes were also rolled out. The Adidas Duramo is suited for
neutral to high-arch foot types while the New Balance NB 565 is
suited for neutral to low-arch foot types. It will replace the
existing Zoot model.
"The SAF continuously renews our
Personal Equipment, so that we better meet the operational
requirements and enhance the combat effectiveness of our soldiers.
We do this on a regular basis," said Lieutenant Colonel (LTC)
Elizabeth Soh, Head System Development Branch in HQ
Supply.
"We strive to enable our soldiers to
sustain longer in harsh conditions and increase their performance
through comfort in ergonomics. The key outcome is to enhance combat
effectiveness and physical performance."
Made by US company Altama and South
American company Wellco Peruana, the two ACBs are designed for use
in jungle terrain. Both utilise Direct Moulded Soles construction,
which enhances the durability of the boots. Panama thread patterns
improve traction for movements in jungle terrain.
The ECB is produced by US company
Magnum and is suited for both jungle and urban terrains. Its
durability is also enhanced by a fully-stitched cupsole, while the
Vibram jungle outsole allows for good traction. These boots will be
issued to soldiers from the infantry, commandos, guards and
armoured infantry from January 2017.
All three boots have enforced sole
inserts, which make them puncture-resistant and help to protect
soldiers from sharp objects on the ground.
The boots are used by the United
States (US) and British armies, and were selected based on their
positive track record among users.
They will replace the current
Frontier boots, which have been in use in the SAF since
2012.
More choices for recruits
Come May 2017, new recruits will be
issued with a pair of Altama and Wellco Peruana boots each on
enlistment day.
On the benefits of the two-brand mode
of equipping, LTC Soh noted that this would provide supply-chain
resilience and guarantee the supply of ACBs, which are an intake
equipping item.
She added: " Personal Equipment can
be quite subjective, especially for footwear. The idea is that the
recruits will be issued one pair of each brand. They can wear them
for training. After that, if they find they prefer one brand, they
can replace their boots with their preferred brand."
Full-time national serviceman (NSF)
Lieutenant (LTA) Sharan Thangavel, was one soldier who appreciated
having a choice in training footwear. The Altama boot was his
preferred choice as it suited his broad feet.
"The Altama's sole is wide (and) I
used it the most during overseas training, such as for 10km long
walks. When you're moving such long distances, I think comfort, as
well as the weight of the boots, is very important. It's durable
through the different terrain challenges," he said.
The Platoon Instructor at Officer
Cadet School (OCS) had tried all three boot options for about two
months and used them during an overseas training stint in late
November. He also liked that the Magnum was lightweight (700g) and
had good traction, which made it ideal for navigating the urban
environment.
Fellow OCS Platoon Instructor 2nd
Lieutenant (2LT) Tan Hean Shuen, who had also tried out the boots
for the two-month period, felt that both the Altama and Wellco
Peruana provided good lower shin cushioning, which improved comfort
for long-distance walking.
Like LTA Sharan, he found the Magnum
lighter and more suited for everyday use: "The sole feels thicker,
especially on the heel area, which is good for marching on tarmac
floors. It's good for long distances."
Both agreed that the new boots were
an improvement to their existing Personal Equipment.
"I was from NCC (National Cadet
Corps) and I was issued the full leather boots. I could feel the
difference between the leather boots and the Frontier boots I was
issued in Basic Military Training, to these three new boots," said
2LT Tan.
"I can see the progression, and it's
definitely for the better."
All three boots will be available
from 30 Dec. The Altama and Wellco Peruana boots can be purchased
with eMart credits at the following eMart outlets:
The Magnum boots are cash items and
are currently only available at SAFRA Mount Faber and The Chevrons
eMart outlets.
