SINGAPORE โ€” The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has confirmed that a full-scale search operation remains ongoing for a recruit who was ordered to "run there, touch that tree and come back" during Basic Military Training in 2004, but has yet to report back.

The missing soldier, now believed to be in his mid-40s, was last seen sprinting enthusiastically towards what witnesses described as "some tree somewhere over there."

Despite the passage of 22 years, SAF officials insist the order remains in force.

"As far as we're concerned, he's still carrying out a lawful instruction," said one spokesman. "Until he reports back, he is technically still between the 'touch tree' and 'come back' phases."

Satellite imagery reportedly places the soldier somewhere in Central Catchment Nature Reserve, occasionally emerging to ask joggers if they happen to know which tree his sergeant was referring to.

"I've touched hundreds already," the exhausted man said, clutching a faded water bottle and still dressed in an increasingly vintage physical training kit.

"But every time I think I've found it, I hear his voice in my head... 'Not that one. That one.'"

Military historians believe the "Touch That Tree" order has shaped generations of Singaporean men.

"Every BMT platoon had one mythical tree," explained defence researcher Dr. Lim. "It was always somehow the furthest visible object on the horizon. If there wasn't a tree, one would mysteriously materialise."

Former commanders defended the practice.

"The objective was leadership," explained retired First Sergeant Tan.

"And cardio."

The SAF also rejected suggestions that GPS technology could be used to locate the missing soldier.

"GPS doesn't work against Encik pointing," the spokesman admitted. "Nobody knows exactly which tree he meant. Not even the Encik."

The recruit's family has long since accepted his unusual fate.

His wife says she leaves the porch light on every evening.

"Our children are adults now," she said. "Whenever they ask where Daddy is, I just tell them he's almost back. He only needs to touch one more tree."

Friends say the missing soldier has nevertheless achieved several milestones while still carrying out the order, including completing university through distance learning, becoming a grandfather, and passing multiple IPPT windows entirely by accident.

At press time, eyewitnesses reported spotting a tired middle-aged man jogging through MacRitchie Reservoir muttering, "Confirm this one already..." moments before continuing deeper into the forest.