Singapore • SAF / NSmen • 2026 Tables

The Medical Classification System (MCS) — PES Is Being Replaced

By Abubakar — IPPT Scores · First published 30 October 2026 · Updated 31 October 2026 · Scoring tables last verified: 30 October 2026

What we know so far, from CMPB's official page — checked 31 October 2026. This page will be updated as MINDEF publishes more.

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The change in one paragraph

If you enlist from October 2027 onwards, you will no longer receive a PES status. Medical screening for this cohort starts from end-June 2026, and instead of one grade you receive three sets of information (source: CMPB — Refreshed Medical Classification System).

The three things you will be told

1. Medically Fit or Unfit for Service — fit means you enlist; unfit means you are exempted from NS.
2. Your specific medical exemptions (if any) — issued by Medical Officers against a standardised list, these determine your eligibility for activities and vocations.
3. Your eligibility for the 8-week reduction in full-time NS duration — based on your medical fitness, and told to you with your screening results.

What happens to the IPPT 61-point rule?

It carries over. Per CMPB: the 8-week reduction is granted only if you attain 61 points or more across the three Pre-Enlistee IPPT stations, with a minimum of 1 point in each station. Our pre-enlistee calculator already works on exactly that rule.

Examples of the new exemptions

The standardised list includes exemptions such as: SOC/VOC, IPPT, grenade throwing, Trainfire, running/marching/jumping, kneeling/squatting/climbing, upper limb, lower limb, all physical training — and non-physical ones like peanuts. Your exemptions, if any, will be viewable on OneNS.

Three BMT programmes

Under the refreshed MCS, enlistees are routed into one of three BMT programmes based on their medical exemptions — from the full programme (physical training, IPPT, SOC, route marches) for those with no training-related exemptions, to scaled-down programmes for those with more. MINDEF's announcement notes the refresh lets about 1,200 servicemen a year take vocations they were previously ineligible for. Sources: MINDEF news release and CMPB above.

Who keeps PES?

Pre-enlistees enlisting before October 2027 still receive a PES status, and existing NSFs and NSmen retain their PES status for the rest of their NS journey.

Status: announced change, checked against CMPB's official page on 31 October 2026. Details may be refined by MINDEF before the first MCS cohort enlists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PES being abolished?

For new enlistees from October 2027, yes — replaced by the refreshed MCS. Existing NSFs and NSmen keep their PES status.

Does the 61-point IPPT rule change under MCS?

No. Per CMPB, the 8-week NS reduction still requires 61+ Pre-Enlistee IPPT points with at least 1 point per station.

When does MCS medical screening start?

From end-June 2026, for the cohort enlisting from October 2027.