New recruits to Singapore’s military, air force and navy will be issued iPads soon, reports the “AFP” (http://macte.ch/6lscR). The defense ministry will issue “about 8,000” of the Apple tablets to recruits starting in November.

The ministry said it was also planning to issue the devices to other servicemen next year. The cheapest iPad2 device currently retails in Singapore for Sg$668 ($538). Defense chief Neo Kian Hong told the “AFP” that adopting the iPad would allow the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to take advantage of the technological abilities of the city-state’s youth.