SINGAPORE - Full-time national servicemen (NSFs) who need army supplies can turn to a vending machine which has been on trial since December last year.

The LifestyleMart Express vending machines are located at White Sands Shopping Mall.

They supply items like ziplock bags, batteries, powder, socks, insect repellant, singlets and shorts, Lianhe Zaobao reported.

ST Logistics, which runs army supply store LifestyleMart, announced the installation of the machines on its Facebook page on Dec 1 last year.

"Sporting our corporate green is the latest initiative by ST Logistics to bring more convenience to our NSmen and soldiers! The LifestyleMart Express vending machines are located right in the heartlands at Pasir Ris, White Sands Shopping Mall, just next to the taxi stand! Have a look, take a peek!" the post said.

The company told Zaobao that the items sold in the vending machines are the ones NSFs buy most often when they are out of camp during weekends, based on data from two branches.

ST Logistics added that it is still monitoring and assessing the initiative.

A number of NSFs checked out the machine when Zaobao visited, and ziplock bags - a popular item - were sold out.

One 19-year-old NSF, who bought a pair of socks, told the Chinese paper: "I had to go to Beach Road to get army supplies, but the vending machine is much more convenient."