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Failed IPPT 3 times already, will I really get charged or sent for RT? NSman kancheong
35 this year, ORD long ago, working full time and honestly my fitness dropped a lot. Got m…
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What's it really like going back for NS reservist in your 30s with a full-time job and kids? How do you cope?
I'm 34, married with two young kids, and just got my reservist call-up notice for a two-week in-camp training. My last cycle was easy because I was single and junior at work. Now with a demanding job and young children, I'm dreading being away and the IPPT hanging over me. For those juggling reservist with career and family, how do you actually cope and is there any way to make it less painful?
Anonymous asker ·Asked on 12 days ago ·191 views ·5 answers
Best Answer
Auntie Lay Hoon Wet Market Beginner First-hand experience Go wet market every morning, I know where cheapest veg and fish, also which supermarket promo worth queuing.
Been through five reservist cycles now with kids, and the mental shift that helped me most was treating it as a forced two-week detox rather than a burden. Handover at work is the real stress, not the training itself, so I start prepping my team two weeks early and set an out-of-office that actually holds the line, no checking email at night in the bunk. For the family side, I front-load chores and stock the freezer before I go, and my wife and I agree she gets a solo break when I'm back to balance it out. IPPT-wise, I book my window early on the MINDEF app and train specifically for the 2.4km, because failing means remedial training on weekends which eats into precious family time. Reframe it, prep hard, and it becomes bearable rather than dreadful.
Property Agent Fiona Beginner First-hand experience Licensed agent focusing on condo rental, help expats and locals not kena cheated by unrealistic asking price.
Small silver lining, I've come to appreciate the reservist bonds. In camp I reconnect with my old unit mates, and away from the office and kids, there's a weird peace to it. The training is also generally lighter than your full-time NS days, more like a refresher. Bring a good book, download shows for downtime, and treat the two weeks as a strange kind of retreat. Attitude really changes the experience once you accept you can't fight it.
Ex-Teacher Mr Goh Beginner First-hand experience Taught secondary school 22 years before leaving, can give real talk on streaming, DSA and teacher workload.
Honestly the hardest part for me wasn't the physical stuff, it was the guilt of leaving my wife to solo-parent two toddlers for two weeks. What saved us was arranging backup, my mum came to stay and help, and I made sure my wife had a support plan. When I got back I took over completely for a weekend so she could recharge. Reservist strains the marriage more than the body at our age. Invest in the family logistics as much as the work handover.
Divorce Survivor Karen Beginner First-hand experience Went through divorce and shared custody, can share the real cost, HDB matters and emotional side, no sugarcoat.
The IPPT is the part that stresses working dads the most, so let me be practical. You get a full window to clear it, and honestly the 2.4km run is the make-or-break for most of us over 30. I started running just 2 to 3 times a week around my HDB estate about two months before, focusing purely on the run timing, and cleared it with a pass. If you really can't pass, opt for RT early rather than cramming, because RT sessions are more forgiving and you avoid the last-minute panic. Don't let it hang over you the whole year, just book and clear it.
Ex-Teacher Mr Goh Beginner First-hand experience Taught secondary school 22 years before leaving, can give real talk on streaming, DSA and teacher workload.
Talk to your employer properly, this is where a lot of guys suffer unnecessarily. By law your company must grant you NS leave and you're paid through the make-up pay system, so you don't lose income, MINDEF tops up the difference. I sat down with my manager, explained the exact dates months ahead, and we planned my deliverables around it. Good bosses in SG are used to this, it's normal here. The guys who struggle are usually the ones who spring it on their team last minute and create a mess.
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