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Police Officers Basic Course

A brief introduction on what you can expect during the Police Officers Basic Course (POBC).

Last updated 22 July 2025
SPF officer aiming pistol at paper targets during shooting practice.

On this page

Physical training
Classroom lessons

The Police Officers Basic Course (POBC) is an initiation to the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and rite of passage every Police full-time National Serviceman (PNSF) must go through. However, the type and duration you will be required to go through will depend on your Physical Employment Standard (PES) and Pre-Enlistee Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) results. You can refer to our page on Enlistment Notice for more details.

In general, you can expect to go through the following training and activities during POBC:

Physical training

  • Foot drills

  • Weapon handling

  • Straight extended baton handling

  • IPPT

  • Police defence tactics

  • Police standard obstacle courses

  • Swimming (with land-based life-saving techniques)

Classroom lessons

  • Community policing

  • Criminal law

  • Patrol and security duties

  • Police operations and procedures

  • Scenario-based training

The actual training curriculum will differ for PNSFs depending on their PES, physical abilities and training needs. Regardless of which type of POBC you will be going through, training safety is continually emphasised in the SPF. All possible safety control measures are taken to ensure that you are safeguarded against all injuries during training.

Beyond skills required for operational police work, POBC is also a period for new recruits to be inducted to the way of life and culture, so that you can learn and adjust to the requirements of working and living within a disciplined organisation. Your performance will be assessed for deployment to a suitable vocational training after POBC. Learn more about training after POBC.