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SAF Explains How They Choose Their PT Shoes for Their Soldiers

2022-03-20 , 4:21 pm

No one ever looks forward to their IPPT training consisting of the dreaded push-ups, sit-ups, and finally the killer 2.4km run.

But every once in a while, guys do find joy in the little things in life and that includes buying your PT shoes from the e-mart with your stash in SAF credits (aka free shoes).

Bonus is when the shoes are currently supplied by your favourite sports brands which include Adidas, New Balance, and the underrated Asics.

(All shoes are good shoes. But some are just better than others.)

But if you have wondered why different sports brands get changed out by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) for physical training use throughout the years, the SAF has revealed the intricate planning involved behind each change.

Outline of ‘Technical Requirements’

The process begins with an open tender revealing a set of technical requirements that has to be met for the new shoes, said military expert (ME) 6, John Tan, on 17 March.

The technical requirements are basically conditions the new shoe must fulfil which are curated from the feedback given on the current shoes used and the existing technological advancements available on the market. Proving an extent of durability and safety for wearers are also part of the technical requirements as well.

So just think of it as the requirements you’d usually see for job openings on job portals—you only get a shot at the interview unless you meet the criteria.

The tender will be led by ST logistics, SAF’s procurement arm, and usually they would have more than five suppliers at a time putting up different brands up for consideration.

Well, you know…GEBIZ~

But that’s not all for the suppliers—after they’ve passed the first round of technical requirements, SAF will put the selected brands through a second round of real-world testing by SAF personnel.

Thorough Physical Testing by Serviceman

After the brands have been shortlisted from the first round, suppliers will send shoes for testing in trials. In order to avoid brand bias, the shoes will be given generic designs during this round of testing by SAF serviceman.

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More than 30 servicemen consisting of full-time national servicemen (NSF) and regulars will be tasked to use the shortlisted shoes for at least two months in their regular training. Their training hours will include running and static exercises.

During the physical test period, the shoes are judged based on several factors: their utility, comfort and most importantly—their design.

(I kid about the design part.)

(Or maybe…not, you know)

The servicemen will also be asked to note which shoes has the best shock absorption and durability, and whether they can allow wearers to train safely during their day-to-day activities.

Adding reflective prints to the shoe designs are a must as well as it is a safety feature that ensures the wearers visibility when they train at night.

Once the testing period is over, the servicemen will be asked to take a survey on their experiences wearing the shortlisted shoes just like the main lead in the reality show The Bachelor.

Questions asked during this survey include whether the shoe cushioning was good and the servicemen design preference for the shoes.

Financial State of Suppliers Play A Role Too

The final round of shortlisting left will come down to the supplier’s reliability and financial health which is “extremely important” according to ME6 Tan.

That’s because the army doesn’t want to end up in a situation where there’s not enough shoes for their servicemen to use when they need to train. This is especially poignant given that worldwide supply chain issues had emerged due to supply mobility issues caused by COVID-19 and the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

So after they’ve determined which shoes out of the shortlisted ones are better, the army still has to do a background check to determine the reliability and reputation of the shoe suppliers.

When that’s done, the final consideration would be the cost where SAF will decide the final pair (or pairs) that has “the best value-for-money product”, said ME6 Tan.

Final Round of Testing

In the final round of selections, the SAF will select the best two out of the shortlisted pairs to accommodate for high-arch and low-arch feet.

Deciding on the final two models of shoes involves a decision made across an entire board of people to ensure that the selection is done in a “fair and transparent manner” said ME6 Tan. Therefore, the entire process to get new shoes to the servicemen officially via the e-mart takes about one year.

The latest batch of PT shoes provided by New Balance and Asics cost $43.55 and $35.90 respectively on the SAF e-mart, or about $0 and $0 if you’re using your e-mart credits.

So if you have not gotten their hands on them yet—chiong ah.