SAF Participates in Multinational Exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand

Ambassadors and representatives from the participating countries at the opening ceremony of Exercise Cobra Gold 2019.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is participating in Exercise Cobra Gold 2019 from 12 to 22 February 2019 in Phitsanulok, Thailand. Co-hosted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the United States Indo-Pacific Command, the exercise also sees participation from the Indonesian National Defence Forces, Japan Self-Defense Forces, Malaysian Armed Forces, and Republic of Korea Armed Forces. This year marks the SAF's 20th year of participation in Exercise Cobra Gold.

This year's exercise will focus on combined joint-operations to deal with traditional and non-traditional threats, as well as planning and coordination for a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation. The 45-member SAF contingent, led by Chief Guards Officer Colonel Seet Uei Lim, will undertake the role of staff planners within the Multinational Combined Task Force set-up alongside their counterparts from the participating nations, and also participate in the HADR table-top exercise and field training exercise. 

As part of the SAF delegation, a team of combat engineers from the Singapore Army will also participate in a multinational Engineer Civic Action Program to build a single-storey community hall and activity centre for the students of Ban Koh-i-Duan School, situated in Tak Province, Thailand.

Exercise Cobra Gold is one of the largest multinational exercises in the Asia-Pacific region. In its 38th iteration this year, the annual exercise promotes friendship, interoperability, and mutual understanding amongst the participating armed forces. The SAF has been a full participant of this exercise since 2000.

Participating armed forces treating simulated casualties during the field training exercise component of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise.

Combat Engineers from the Singapore Army working with their United States and Thailand counterparts in the multinational Engineer Civic Assistance Program.