PES

PES is an acronym for Physical Employment Status or PULHHEEMS Employment Status. It is a grading system originally devised by the United Kingdom's armed forces to determine the suitability of deploying military personnel for combat and in other vocations. It has been adopted and modified by several Commonwealth countries including Singapore, New Zealand and Australia.

Once an individual in military service has undergone a PULHHEEMS assessment, he receives a score. In the Royal Air Force (RAF), the score is called the MES, which stands for Medical Employment Status. In the other branches, the score is the PES, which stands for PULHHEEMS Employment Status or Physical Employoment Status. This PES is used to determine whether the soldier is "employable in full combatant duties (in any area) in any part of the world" or if they must remain away from the combat area, or within a specific geographic limitation. Sometimes it may be used in determining whether they are unfit for all duties.

In the UK, A PES grade of P2 is excellent, that of P7 is very poor, and P8 is unfit for duty. MES determines the suitability of personnel for posting in the air, on the ground, and in different climates. Thus, a fully fit RAF serviceman will be graded A1G1Z1 rather than P2. Conversely the Royal Navy, which includes the Royal Marines, makes no distinction between postings at sea or on land.

Singapore has modified the UK's PES grading categories and designated them with alphabets from A to F instead of using numerals.

Categories

PES A

PES A (L1) - Fit for full Basic Military Training (BMT) and for all combat vocations.

PES B

PES B (L1) - Fit for full Basic Military Training (BMT) and for most combat vocations.

All PES A and B1 designations are followed by the L-Code (Land Deployability Code) as follows:

L1 – Fit for all field duties including frontline duty.

Can be deployed in Manoeuvre vocations and be involved in direct combat.

PES Bp - Fit for obese Full BMT (applicable to obese recruits).

PES B2 (formerly called C1) - Fit for some combat vocations. Required to take IPPT but can be excused up to 2 static stations in IPPT.

PES B2 grading will be followed by the L-Code (Land Depolyability Code) as follows:

L1 – Fit for all field duties including frontline duty. Can be deployed in Manoeuvre vocations and be involved in direct combat.

L2 – Fit for most field duties. Can be deployed in Manoeuvre vocations of Brigade HQ level units and above, and/or Combat Support vocations in frontline units of Battalion and above, and/or Combat Service Support vocations at all echelons.

L3 – Able to bear firearms and operate in a field environment. Can be deployed in Combat Support vocations of Brigade HQ and above, and/or Combat Service Support Vocations at all echelons.

PES C

Fit for combat service support vocations (modified BMT)

PES C is further subdivided into:

PES C2 - Servicemen do not have to take the IPPT for NSF / NSman, except regulars who are required to take Alternative Aerobic Fitness Test (AAFT).

PES C9 - All servicemen not required to take the IPPT.

PES C grading will be followed by L-Code (Land Deployability Code) as follows:

L2 – Fit for most field duties. Can be deployed in Manoeuvre vocations of Brigade HQ level units and above, and/or Combat Support vocations in frontline units of Battalion and above, and/or Combat Service Support vocations at all echelons.

L3 – Able to bear firearms and operate in a field environment. Can be deployed in Combat Support vocations of Brigade HQ and above, and/or Combat Service Support vocations at all echelons.

L9 – Able to bear firearms and protect themselves, others and property. Can be deployed in Combat Support vocations in Main Support Area, and/or Combat Service Support vocations of Brigade HQ and above.

PES D

Temporary unfit for grading and pending further review.

PES E

Fit for administrative duties only.

PES E1 - Able to participate in simple observance parades and LIFE activites.

PES E9 - Unfit for any form of physical activities, field duties or exercises.

PES E grading will be followed by the L-Code (Land Deployment Code) as follows:

L9 – Able to bear firearms and protect themselves, others and property. Can be deployed in Combat Support vocations in the Main Support Area, and/or Combat Service Support vocations of the Brigade HQ and above.

PES F

Medically unfit for any form of service.

Upgrade or downgrade of PES

(From an administrative point of view).

Downgrade to PES C/D/E

A downgrade to a certain PES status means that owing to the soldier's medical condition, he is no longer fit to be deployed in his current vocation. It may be permanent or temporary.

This means that he will be transferred to a vocation which suits his new PES status.

1) Vocation reassignment is done by the SAF and not choosen by the soldier.

2) Vocation reassignment depends on PES grading.

3) Vocation reassignment will also mean that the serviceman can be redeployed to another formation, unit or camp altogether.

Upgrade from PES C/D/E

For enlistees classified as PES E or with a temporary PES status.

A PES E upgrade to PES A, B or C will mean a vocation reassignment. Servicemen will be required to undergo BMT in accordance with their new PES status (in Pulau Tekong) and subsequently reassigned to a new vocation.

PES A/B/C downgrade/upgrade and BMT re-course. This section is applicable to those who are downgraded or upgraded to PES A/B/C.

1) If a serviceman has completed and passed his BMT course, he does not have to undergo a re-course. This is applicable to those who have their PES downgraded/upgraded after BMT.

2) If a serviceman has completed but failed his BMT, he must undergo a re-course. This is regardless of whether he is downgraded or upgraded. As long as the serviceman has not passed his BMT, he has to redo it, of course, in accordance with his PES status.

3) If a serviceman has gone OOC (out of course) during BMT and is downgraded, he must go for a re-course. This includes even those who go OOC just before the POP (passing out parade). There is no choice because he has not completed and passed his BMT.

4) Do servicemen who are PES C need to do reservist training?

Yes.

5) Do servicemen who are PES E need to do reservist training?

Maybe, if required.

They are put on the reserve holding list (RHL) / Mindef reserve (MR) / stand down list.

See also

• PULHHEEMS
• Gay men in the Singapore Armed Forces

Acknowledgements

This article was written by Roy Tan.