HEADLINES
ACCORD
members check out Army logistics
Report
by Felix Siew
Photos by Alvin Lim
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| Division Manager, General Supplies Division, Mr Hoe Juan Teng (extreme right), shows Minister of State for Defence and National Development, Mr Cedric Foo, and ACCORD members some of the items stored at the ALB. |
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Mr
Chua Kheng Hwa
|
 |
|
Dr
Maszenan Bin Abdul Majid
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Mr Chua Kheng
Hwa remembers his first brush with Army logistics: then, he was a
recruit who waited a whole day just to collect his 'barang-barang'
(or personal items and supplies) for his basic military training.
On 30 Nov, he
learnt how far the Army had come in its logistics management, when
he visited the Army Logistics Base (ALB) as a member of the Advisory
Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD).
Together with
Minister of State for Defence and National Development, Mr Cedric
Foo, about a dozen ACCORD members were taken on a tour of the 10-storey
ALB.
They saw how,
with the simple push of a button, the Automated Storage and Retrieval
System (ASRS) could easily locate items kept on pallets or in bins.
They were also
briefed on how space was optimised by storing smaller, light-load
items like medical supplies and ordnance spares in looming Vertical
Carousels.
The visitors witnessed
how manpower was reduced with the use of Automated Guided Vehicles,
which are essentially laser-guided forklifts that can move goods about
the warehouse unsupervised.
"The visit
has shown me that Army Logistics is very open to new ideas, embraces
private sector best practices and benchmarks itself against them,"
said Mr Chua, a director in the Singapore Workforce Development Agency.
"The Army
is really transforming itself, from a logistics point of view!"
he added.
Another ACCORD
member, Dr Maszenan Bin Abdul Majid, a Research Fellow at the Nanyang
Technological University, was also impressed by what he saw.
He said: "Today I saw how our resources are managed more efficiently.
And we do not have to wait and wait anymore; once activated, we are
ready to go!"
RADM
(NS) Teo opens first locally-designed air base
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| RADM (NS) Teo meets the Commanding Officers of the four squadrons located at the new Changi Air Base (East). |
Report
by Felix Siew
Photos by Lum Ngia and Alvin Lim
The first locally-designed
and developed Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) air base was
opened by Minister for Defence, Rear-Admiral (RADM) (NS) Teo Chee
Hean, on 29 Nov.
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| Changi
Air Base (East) Size: About 200 hectares Runway: A 3050m-long and 60m-wide runway (wide enough to accommodate a Boeing 747), a 2900m-long and 23m-wide taxiway parallel to the runway. Home to: 145 Squadron, operating 20 F-16 D Block 52+ Fighting Falcons (top); a Flying Support Squadron; an Air Logistics Squadron and an Airfield Maintenance Squadron. |
Jointly developed
by the Ministry of Defence, RSAF, and the Defence Science & Technology
Agency (DSTA), Changi Air Base (East) is home to four squadrons, including
145 Squadron, which flies the F-16 D Block 52+ Fighting Falcons.
The new air base
is built on 200 hectares of reclaimed land in Changi East, and is
an extension of the existing Changi Air Base (West).
Describing the
inauguration of the base as a "milestone event", RADM (NS)
Teo said the indigenous development allowed the RSAF to define the
base's design to fully meet its current and future requirements.
"Changi Air
Base (East) enhances the RSAF's operational capability and readiness,
for it provides greater operational flexibility and more deployment
options for the RSAF's fighter assets," said the minister.
"The base
enhances the RSAF's ability to launch and recover its air assets under
adverse conditions, as well as to mitigate our airspace constraints,"
he added.
Base Commander,
Colonel (COL) Andy Tan, explained: "Prior to this, we operated
mainly from either Tengah or Paya Lebar air bases."
"Now, with
Changi Air Base (East), the RSAF has the flexibility to launch and
recover aircraft from all three bases. It also provides the RSAF easier
access to training areas over the South China Sea," he added.
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Special
features of the base
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S'pore
sends LST to aid in Iraq's reconstruction
Report by Cheng Kiat Loon
Photo courtesy of Republic of Singapore Navy
Singapore
is deploying a Landing Ship Tank (LST), RSS Resolution, to the Gulf
to assist in the multinational effort in support of the reconstruction
of Iraq.
This is the 4th deployment of Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) assets and personnel.
With a crew of 180 personnel, RSS Resolution will be protecting the waters around key oil terminals, providing logistics support for coalition vessels and helicopters, as well as conducting patrols, querying, and boarding operations.
Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard Miranda, the LST and men will be deployed for three months.
The SAF had previously
deployed a LST, a C-130 transport aircraft and a KC-135 tanker aircraft
to the Gulf.
S'pore,
UK inaugurate defence policy talks
Report by Felix Siew
Photo by Chua Soon Lye
Singapore
and the United Kingdom held the inaugural MINDEF-UK MoD Defence Policy
Dialogue on 26 Nov.
Co-chaired by
Permanent Secretary (Defence), Mr Chiang Chie Foo, and the UK's Permanent
Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Sir Kevin Tebbit, this dialogue
provided both countries a forum to exchange views on security issues
of mutual interest.
While in
Singapore, Sir Kevin called on Minister for Defence, Rear-Admiral
(NS) Teo Chee Hean.
The inauguration
of the bilateral talks underscores the warm defence relations between
the two countries.
National
Day awards for 703 defence personnel
Report by Cheng Kiat Loon
Photos by Alvin Lim
A
total of 703 personnel from the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Defence Science and Technology
Agency (DSTA) received medals for their outstanding work performance
and dedication at the National Day Awards Investiture on 24 Nov.
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| LTC Kum Chee Meng, recipient of the Commendation Medal (Military), together with his wife. |
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| Mdm Marcellina Chew, recipient of the Efficiency Medal, sharing her pride with her husband. |
The awards comprised 41 Commendation Medals, 118 Efficiency Medals and 544 Long Service Medals.
Lieutenant-Colonel
(LTC) Kum Chee Meng, who has been with the Navy for 22 years, felt
honoured to receive the Commendation Medal (Military). Specialising
in the area of technology and electronic warfare, he has a simple
success formula.
"I believe in being consistent, bold and creative," said LTC Kum. "Sometimes when you buy things off the shelf, it doesn't really meet everything that you want. We have to be creative by trying to tweak technology and blend it with the operating processes and procedures so that we get something that is unique and yet able to meet our requirements."
Passion is also a key factor that kept him committed to his work.
"Technology is also my interest," LTC Kum added. "Technology keeps changing, there's always something new to look forward to and pick up along the way. It is dynamic and it keeps me going."
Madam Marcellina Chew, a Senior Manager from DSTA, was one of the Efficiency Medal recipients. Having been with DSTA since it was established four years ago, she attributed her achievement to her team members and management.
"I think it's recognition of not just my efforts, but also of my team. Without them and management's support, this award would not have been possible," said Madam Chew.
A mother of three-year-old twins, she believes strongly in maintaining a balance between work and family.
"When we are doing our work, we concentrate and try to do things as efficiently and effectively as we can. Try to find better ways of doing things, such as working smarter and yet achieving the results," shared Madam Chew.
"At home, don't think about work anymore, try to devote the time to the family."
The recipients
received their awards in two separate ceremonies, officiated by Minister
for Defence, Rear-Admiral (NS) Teo Chee Hean, and Minister of State
(Defence and National Development), Mr Cedric Foo.
Brunei's
armed forces commander awarded top military medal
Report by Cheng Kiat Loon
Photo by Chua Soon Lye
Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Major-General (MAJ-GEN)
Pehin Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi Bin Haji Md Yussof, received
Singapore's highest military award, from the President, Mr S R Nathan,
on 23 Nov.
MAJ-GEN Pehin Dato Halbi was conferred the Distinguished Service Order (Military) for his significant role in enhancing the excellent defence ties between RBAF and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
Under his leadership,
the relationship between the two armed forces has continued to grow,
with bilateral interactions and professional exchanges increasing
in both scope and complexity.
Senior government
officials and military officers from Singapore and Brunei were present
at the investiture, which was held at the Istana.
SAF
unveils dedicated battalion for homeland security
Report
by Felix Siew
Photos by Lum Ngia
You can be even more confident that Singapore is now better protected,
thanks to the specially trained and equipped soldiers of the 6th Battalion,
Singapore Infantry Regiment (6 SIR), who will be deployed at various
key installations from next week.
While
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers have been patrolling places
like Changi Airport and Jurong Island to enhance security since late
2001, 6 SIR is the Army's first battalion to be specially trained
and dedicated to the protection of installations (POI).
At the battalion's
'turn-operational' parade on 19 Nov, Chief of Army, Major-General
(MAJ-GEN) Desmond Kuek, noted that this was an important milestone
for the Army.
He said
that while the Army remains operationally proficient and ready to
counter threats, its capacity to deal with unconventional threats
like terrorism should be expanded. New capabilities, skills and mindsets
are required for mission success, he added.
Although 6 SIR
soldiers maintain basic Infantry capabilities, they have also been
taught additional skills that are different from those learnt by soldiers
in other Infantry regiments. 
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|
Spring into action: During 6 SIR's 'turn-operational' parade, the soldiers demonstrate their capabilities. |
According to Commanding
Officer of 6 SIR, Major (MAJ) Kong Kam Yean (right), since March this
year, his men learnt how to recognise improvised explosive devices,
how to cordon off the area around a suspicious object, and how to
manage civilians, among other skills.
The Full-time
National Servicemen and Regulars of 6 SIR were also taught comprehensive
'rules of engagement' (ROE), so that they would know how to approach
different situations appropriately.
"Previously
our role was to prepare against a conventional hot-war scenario. Now,
our new role is homeland defence security," said MAJ Kong.
"Our
place of operation is different - it is largely a civilian environment,
and our enemy is not easily identified."
While these
factors may pose a challenge, MAJ Kong felt his soldiers are well-trained
and prepared to manage them. "They are thinking soldiers who
are able to work independently and make decisions. They can also deal
with civilians confidently, and are vigilant and able to look for
things that are 'out of place'."
NCC
training officers visit Sembawang Air Base
Report by Cheng Kiat Loon
Photos by Chua Soon Lye
About
350 National Cadet Corps (NCC) training officers, secondary school
principals, vice-principals, teachers and senior education officials
got a taste of flying in the Air Force's biggest chopper, the Chinook,
when they visited the Sembawang Air Base on 19 Nov.
Apart from this
rare opportunity of enjoying an aerial view of Singapore from the
Chinook, the visitors also gained a better understanding of the Singapore
Armed Forces' (SAF) latest developments and capabilities.
Ms Ang Sing
Leng, Commanding Officer of Nanhua Secondary's NCC Girls was all praise
for the visit.
"I
think today's visit is an eye-opener for many people, including the
NSmen," said Ms Ang (right). "We have a greater understanding
of how the Air Force works and the newest machines it has."
"The
SAF is very future-oriented and it's making use of a lot of technology
and intelligence to better equip our soldiers," said Mr N Satia
Nathan, Principal of Unity Secondary School.
"As a principal,
I can bring back this information to prepare our students to come
for NS with a very positive mindset to enhance the security of Singapore,"
he added.
The annual
visit was hosted by Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Defence and the
Environment & Water Resources), Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee.
Transnational
co-operation to deal with maritime threats
Report by Felix Siew
Photo by Lum Ngia
More
countries in the Asia Pacific region are recognising the importance
of regional maritime security and now agree that transnational maritime
threats are real and can only be effectively dealt with through transnational
co-operation.
Minister for Defence, Rear-Admiral (RADM) (NS) Teo Chee Hean, made this observation at the opening of the ninth Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) on 18 Nov.
Held in Singapore from 17 to 20 Nov, this biennial naval forum comprises 18 members and three observer navies. Members include navies from Australia, Brunei, China, Malaysia, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.
Canada, Chile and India are the three observer navies.
While piracy and maritime terrorism continue to threaten regional maritime security, RADM (NS) Teo noted that multinational co-operation has resulted in several recent initiatives to counter such threats.
They include co-ordinated patrols in the Malacca Straits, expansion of Five Power Defence Arrangement's (FPDA) activities to include exercises on non-conventional maritime threats, and the setting up of the Regional Co-operation Agreement on Anti-Piracy (ReCAAP) in Asia.
A multinational effort like the WPNS also has the potential to make an important contribution to maritime security in the Western Pacific region, said the minister.
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| Under the auspices of the WPNS, activities like the 2nd Western Pacific Mine Countermeasure Exercise (MCMEX) (above) are counducted. |
"The WPNS is an ideal forum as its membership encompasses a broad spectrum of key user states of regional waterways. Moreover, the WPNS brings together regional navies, and navies are, more often than not, the key operational agencies which plan and execute national maritime security strategies."
He added: "The
WPNS is a uniquely valuable forum, not just for discussions of global
and regional maritime security issues, but also for fostering the
mutual trust and inter-operability that are necessary to make co-operation
yield concrete results."
The symposium
was inaugurated in 1988. Initial discussion topics of navigation safety
and pollution control have grown to more complex issues like current
exchanges on conventional maritime warfare and the exploration of
new areas for multinational co-operation.
Activities have
also broadened to include workshops, seminars and operationally-focused
exercises. For instance, under the auspices of the WPNS, a mine-countermeasure
exercise and a diving exercise, co-hosted by the Republic of Singapore
Navy and the Indonesian Navy, were held in April this year.
Greater co-operation between S'pore, Thai air forces
Report by
Felix Siew
The
Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Royal Thai Air Force
(RTAF) now have greater opportunities to train together - thanks to
a long-term reciprocal agreement between the two countries.
Minister for Defence, Rear-Admiral (RADM) (NS) Teo Chee Hean, and his Thai counterpart, General (Retired) Sumpun Boonyanun, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 12 Nov.
This MOU covers mutual training and logistical support between the RSAF and the RTAF, increasing the scope of interaction and co-operation between the two air forces.
The Singapore
Armed Forces has been training in Thailand since 1978. The signing
of the MOU marks a significant milestone in the bilateral defence
relationship between Singapore and Thailand, and demonstrates the
trust and commitment between both countries towards long-term co-operation.
10
Nov 2004
Synergy
between SAF and defence researchers key to transformation goal
Report by
Gail Wan
Photo by Alvin Lim
It
is crucial for our own defence scientists and engineers to work together
with combat personnel to come up with new operating concepts, infuse
them with technology and put them to work in the battle-field. Only
then can the full potential of the 3G SAF be realised.
Minister for Defence, Rear-Admiral (NS) Teo Chee Hean, said this at
the Defence Technology Prize (DTP) Award Ceremony held at Suntec Singapore
International Convention & Exhibition Centre on 10 Nov.
The award honours defence scientists and engineers who have made significant
contributions to the defence of our nation.
The individual award for the R&D category went to Dr Goh Joo Thiam,
Head of the Centre for Underwater Systems and Signal Processing at
the DSO National Laboratories. His efforts in underwater acoustics
have enhanced the Navy's capabilities in underwater warfare.
Dr Goh, who did his postgraduate studies in underwater acoustics at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, had been drawn to this area
of research since the late 80s.
He said: "My
greatest satisfaction is to see the Navy grow together with the team
and to know that some of the initiatives that we are pushing are helping
the Navy operate better."
For the team prize this year, five awards were presented in the R&D
and Engineering categories.
One of the R&D category award winners, the DSO high-performance-laser
team, is no stranger to accolades for their research developments.
With three world records of high-powered lasers under their belt,
the team is constantly seeking new challenges.
"We want to be novel and we have always set our sights on world
records. There's no point doing something that has already been done,"
said team leader, Dr Lai Kin Seng.
With the emphasis
on transformation into a third-generation fighting force, the defence
technology ecosystem is pivotal in contextualising new ideas to the
SAF's own unique operational needs and demands.
RADM (NS) Teo cited one of Singapore's strengths as the ability to
harness and integrate the technological resources and ideas of various
sectors to contribute to the country's defence.
He said: "When such technologies are properly harnessed and appropriately
woven into new and novel fighting concepts, they will enable us to
see first and see more, understand faster and better, decide faster,
and act more decisively and precisely."
In conjunction with the Defence Technology Prize Award ceremony, the
defence technology community set up the 3G SAF TechX exhibition to
showcase new developments that will shape the SAF of tomorrow.
A total of 12 organisations participated in the event and the exhibits
on display included Autonomous Unmanned Ground Systems, Tactical Mobile
Robots and Solid State Lasers.
The exhibition aimed to help raise public understanding of the transformation
journey of the SAF, and how the defence technology ecosystem is continually
harnessing technologies to enable the transformation of the SAF into
the 3G fighting force.
DTP
2004 Winners
| Individual
award (R&D) - Dr Goh Joo Thiam for underwater acoustics |
| Team
award (R&D) - DSO team for advanced radar surveillance technologies - Another DSO team for high-performance lasers - Tropical Marine Science Institute team for remotely-operated ambient noise imaging system |
| Team
award (Engineering) - DSTA team for integrated Command and Control - DSTA, ST Kinetics, and the Army for the joint development of the Air-Bursting Munitions System |
Justice Choo appointed Military Court of Appeal President
Report by
Gail Wan
Photos by Chua Soon Lye
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| Justice Choo taking the oath in the presence of CJ Yong (extreme left), as SG Chan, LT-GEN Ng and AG Chan bear witness. |
He took his oath before Chief Justice Yong Pung How in the Senate Room at the City Hall Building.
The event was witnessed by the Attorney-General, Chan Sek Keong; the Solicitor-General, Chan Seng Onn, who is also the Judge Advocate-General of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), and the Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General Ng Yat Chung.
The MCA is the SAF's highest court and its decision on a case is final. It convenes from time to time and hears cases on appeal from the subordinate military courts, commonly known as the courts martial.
A soldier convicted
by a court-martial may appeal to the MCA against the conviction as
well as the legality and extent of the sentence.
The
MCA consists of the President and four other members appointed by
the Armed Forces Council. Its President must be a Judge of the Supreme
Court, or a person qualified to be one.
Two of the members are either lawyers in private practice or senior legal officers from the Singapore Legal Service, while the other two members are senior SAF officers.
Justice Choo (pictured right), 50, said he was delighted with the appointment and hopes to "inject a sense of judicial temperament" to the other MCA members.
"There's very little difference between justice in the military court and justice in the civilian court," said Justice Choo.
"But we mustn't
forget that the military is an institution which has emphasis on responsibility,
duty and discipline, so this emphasis must be maintained because the
public expects it and the military itself expects it," he added.
Justice Choo was appointed Judicial Commissioner in 1995 and Judge
of the Supreme Court in 2003. He takes over as the President of the
Military Court of Appeal from Justice Goh Joon Seng.
Spanking new club for SAFRA members
Report by
Cheng Kiat Loon
Photos by Alvin Lim
Walk
into the spanking new SAFRA club along Telok Blangah Way and you will
feel a surge of vibrancy.
Nestled at the foot of Mount Faber, SAFRA hopes its new club will attract younger National Servicemen (NSmen) and members with its hip, trendy image, and range of facilities catering to a younger crowd.
Sitting on 1.4 hectares of land, the $30-million club boasts facilities that are unavailable in its other clubs: a 34-lane bowling alley, an all-weather bouldering rock wall and a sunken pool bar.
The building makes use of bright, bold colours and colour-changing lights to create a vibrant atmosphere. Members can feel close to nature too, especially since the glass façade of the building creates an open concept and brings you closer to the lush greenery behind the building.
This new and bigger club replaces the 22-year-old SAFRA Bukit Merah Club, which officially shut its doors with a flag-lowering ceremony on 29 Oct.
Mr Elywn Tan, a former staff of the Bukit Merah Club for almost 13 years, is now a volunteer with the club because he enjoys interacting with other volunteers and NSmen.
"To me, the closure marks a significant closing of a chapter of the SAFRA history because this was the corporate headquarters for many years," he said.
"There's a tinge of sadness, but at the end of the day, there's also great expectations with the development of the new club," added Mr Tan.
To cater to the changing needs and expectations of the NSmen, especially the younger ones, the new club is specially geared towards them, with facilities like an open concept gym with a dance studio, a cyber gaming arcade, billiards and snooker room, outdoor Jacuzzis, a disco and karaoke lounge.
However, family-oriented features have not been excluded. The swimming pools, food and beverage outlets, childcare centre and badminton courts are just among some of the other facilities available.
The other four
SAFRA clubhouses are in Toa Payoh, Tampines, Yishun and at Carpenter
Street. To find out more about SAFRA, visit www.safra.org.sg.
There's something for
everyone at SAFRA Mount Faber!
| Item | Mount Faber |
| Sports | -
Swimming pool with five 25m lanes - Training pool - Wading pool - Tennis court - Outdoor multi-purpose court (for basketball and soccer) - Indoor multi-purpose court (badminton) - Sheltered bouldering rockwall |
| Gymnasium | -
Gymnasium with dance studio - 2 outdoor Jacuzzis - Steam rooms (for males and females) |
| Bowling Centre | -
34-lane bowling alley |
| Entertainment | -
Billiards & Snooker Room - Cyber gaming arcade and amusement centre - Wine bar, pub, disco and karaoke lounge - Sunken pool bar - Mahjong room |
| F & B outlets | -
Chinese restaurant - Japanese restaurant - Lobby cafe - Poolside cafe |
| Carpark | 210 lots (basement) |
 |
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| The brightly coloured Mount Faber Club is located at the corner of Telok Blangah Way and Henderson Road. | The bowling centre at Mount Faber has 34 lanes. |
 |
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| This is the only sheltered bouldering rockwall in all the five SAFRA clubs. | There are nine snooker and six billiard tables at the billiards and snooker room. |
Employers gain insight into NS
Report by
Cheng Kiat Loon
Photos by Alvin Lim
 |
| Assoc Prof Koo Tsai Kee (second from left), interacting with some employers at the Employers' Visit. |
The visit was hosted by Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Defence and the Environment and Water Resources), Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee.
"The SAF and employers share a vital resource - the same resource - and that is our citizen soldiers, who form the backbone of the 350,000 strong Singapore Armed Forces," said Assoc Prof Koo in his welcoming address.
"The Ministry of Defence and the Singapore Armed Forces are mindful of the competing demands on the time of our NSmen, who have to perform many roles."
"We recognise the sacrifices made by employers, who release the NSmen to do their calling," he added.
During
the afternoon's visit, the employers also had the opportunity to see
a static display of the latest equipment used by the Singapore Artillery.
These include the indigenously produced self-propelled howitzer -
the Primus, the Arthur Weapon Location System, the FH2000 52-calibre
gun and the TPQ-37 Weapon Locating Radar.
"I
think today's visit has been very interesting, and it's very forward-looking
of the ministry to invite the employers to see what sort of programmes
our employees are on," said Mr Paul Lawrence (right), Chief Executive
Officer of a foreign bank.
"The visit really gave us an opportunity to see what our employees are doing during their stint out of office, and allowed me to see the changes that have taken place," said Mr Harold Thng (left), Regional Managing Director of an IT company.
"In the past, there was great emphasis on the physical aspects of the military service. There still is today, but the emphasis is more on skill sets and competency in IT."
"But the soldier of tomorrow is really a knowledge soldier," added Mr Thng, recognising the transformation that the Singapore Armed Forces is going through.
Employers' visits
are organised annually to enable employers to better understand the
need for NS and to see what their employees do during ICT.
Cope
Tiger roars into action
Report
by Felix Siew
The
air forces of Singapore, Thailand and the United States are currently
involved in Exercise Cope Tiger.
The first phase,
a command post exercise, will be held at Singapore's Paya Lebar Air
Base from 3 to 4 Dec. Participants will gain a better appreciation
of the operating procedures of the three air forces through mission
planning exercises and the exercising of contingency handling.
The second phase, a flying training exercise, will be conducted in Korat, Thailand, from 24 Jan to 4 Feb. This will involve 88 aircraft and about 1200 personnel flying over 1250 sorties.
29
Nov 2004
S'pore,
Indon armies exercise together
Report
by Felix Siew
About 180 soldiers from the 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade (3 SIB) and the 18th Airborne Infantry Brigade (18 AIB) of the Indonesian Army Strategic Reserves Command (KOSTRAD TNI-AD), are taking part in this year's Exercise Safkar Indopura.
This annual bilateral exercise between the armies of Singapore and Indonesia is being conducted in Central Java, Indonesia, from 20 Nov to 2 Dec.
For the first
time, a brigade war-game exercise will be conducted. Combined battalion
troop manoeuvres will also be carried out.
CBRE
exercise held in Singapore
Report by Cheng Kiat Loon
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) hosted an inaugural bilateral exercise between its Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives (CBRE) Defence Group and the Australian Defence Force's Incident Response Regiment (ADF - IRR) from 15 to 20 Nov.
Code-named Black Orchid, the exercise tested the CBRE Defence Group and the IRR participants in various terrorist activity scenarios. Among the skills and capabilities the participants practised were: high-risk search, detection, explosive ordnance disposal, decontamination and communications.
In addition, they exchanged knowledge on planning and operating procedures, with a specific focus on improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with chemical and radiological payloads.
Exercise Black Orchid will be held annually and hosted alternately by the SAF and the ADF.
VISITS
CDF calls on Indonesian President
Report
by Gail Wan
Singapore's Chief
of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General (LT-GEN) Ng Yat Chung, called
on the Indonesian President, Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in Jakarta
on 25 Nov.
LT-GEN Ng arrived
in Indonesia on 24 Nov to attend the inaugural Indo Defence Expo and
Forum 2004.
During his stay, LT-GEN Ng also made courtesy calls on the Commander-in-Chief
of Indonesia's National Defence Force, GEN Endriartono Sutarto; Minister
for Defence, Dr Juwono Sudarsono; and Co-ordinating Minister for Political,
Legal and Security Affairs, Rear-Admiral (Ret) Widodo Adisutjipto.
Swedish
defence minister calls on RADM (NS) Teo
Report
by Felix Siew
Photos by Alvin Lim
Sweden's Minister
for Defence, Dr Leni Bjorklund, called on her Singapore counterpart,
Rear-Admiral (RADM) (NS) Teo Chee Hean, at the Ministry of Defence
on 16 Nov.
Dr Bjorklund
is in Singapore for a four-day introductory visit from 16 to 18 Nov.
While
in Singapore, Dr Bjorklund will visit Changi Naval Base, the Singapore
Armed Forces' (SAF) Underground Ammunition Facility, DSO National
Laboratories and the SAF Centre for Military Experimentation (SCME).
Singapore and Sweden have substantial co-operation in military training and defence technology.
The Republic of
Singapore Navy and the Royal Swedish Navy have been conducting a mine
counter-measure exchange programme annually since 1996.
There are also regular submarine interactions between the two navies.
US Seventh Fleet Commander here on visit
 |
| VADM Greenert (left) and RADM (NS) Teo exchange plaques. |
Report by Gail
Wan
Photo by Alvin Lim
During his four-day introductory tour to Singapore, VADM Greenert will also call on Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General Ng Yat Chung, and Chief of Navy, Rear-Admiral Ronnie Tay, and tour Changi Naval Base.
The Republic of Singapore Navy and the US Navy engage in regular exercises and in joint training of increasing complexity that serve to enhance inter-operability between the two navies.
VADM Greenert's visit underlines the excellent defence relationship between Singapore and the US.
IN
BRIEF
