Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen presented the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Overseas Service Medal (OSM) to SAF personnel at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Defence this morning. The 82 medals were awarded to SAF personnel in recognition of their contributions to support the multinational coalition efforts to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the Middle East; and to transport Afghanistan evacuees from Qatar to Germany.

Addressing the OSM recipients at the ceremony, Dr Ng applauded their dedication and commitment in these overseas efforts, and said that international partners had shown appreciation for their significant contributions and professionalism.

Dr Ng highlighted the significance of the SAF's deployment to support counter-terrorism efforts in the Middle East since 2007, and said that this has been one of the SAF's longest overseas efforts. However, he cautioned that the fight against terrorism is not over, and said that Singapore and the SAF needed to continue to stay vigilant. "Indeed, even as America and other partners of the coalition draw down, the threat to this region increases. Remaining terrorist networks may increase their activity. Additionally, operatives and sympathisers from this region that went to the Middle East and have now returned, would have gained training, expertise and connections. We must be vigilant therefore to watch for increased threats in our region, including Singapore…This is the reason the SAF began the Counter-Terrorism Information Facility here in 2021, bringing countries together to share intelligence, monitoring and analysis capabilities. At home, the SAF must continue to hone its ability to respond to such attacks such as the recent exercise held at the Star Vista to simulate a hostage situation in an urban setting," he said.

Recipients of the OSM also included personnel involved in the evacuation of Afghanistan refugees from Qatar to Germany. Dr Ng applauded the operational readiness of the personnel, saying, "Within 48 hours of the US accepting the SAF's assistance, our Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and 76 SAF personnel, made their way to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Chief of Defence Force, other senior commanders and I met with them at Changi Air Base prior to their departure, and told them that we were deeply impressed with the SAF's readiness to depart for this mission at such short notice."

Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong, Chief of Air Force Major-General Kelvin Khong, Chief of Army Brigadier-General David Neo, and senior SAF officers as well as family members of the OSM recipients were also present at the ceremony.