Speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Overseas Service Medal Presentation Ceremony

Ladies and gentlemen,Good afternoon.

Men and women of the Singapore Armed Forces Task Group, it gives me great pleasure to join your family and friends in welcoming you home. You have done Singapore proud by making significant contributions to the international fight against piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

In the second half of 2008, the Gulf of Aden saw a sharp increase in hijackings by pirates to 28. This number dropped to 18 in the first half of 2009. The presence of naval ships from various countries, including Singapore, to the region has no doubt contributed to this improvement. During the period that the SAF Task Group was deployed, the number of successful pirate attacks fell from seven in April to two in May and one in June. Of significance, not a single attack occurred in our Task Group's assigned areas of operations during the period of our deployment. The concerted action by ships from several countries, responding to a series of UN Security Council Resolutions, demonstrates the resolve of the international community to act collectively to safeguard shipping in a key sea lane used for international trade. The situation in Somalia, from which the pirates operate, is still unstable. Hence, it is vital that these naval operations continue.

More countries have deployed or are planning to deploy military assets to the Gulf of Aden. This development reflects the strategic importance of maintaining the safety and security of the sea lanes in that region for international shipping. It also reinforces the need for international cooperation, as no single state, acting alone, has the capabilities or resources to resolve the complex security challenges that the world faces today.

As a maritime nation, Singapore is committed to supporting the international counter-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden. The successful deployment of the Task Group has demonstrated that Singapore can make a useful and meaningful contribution to these efforts. We are honoured that the Combined Maritime Forces HQ has requested Singapore to consider commanding the multinational anti-piracy Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151). Singapore has agreed to this request and a Singaporean Naval Officer, supported by a core command group, will take command of CTF 151 from January to March 2010. This will be a valuable opportunity for the SAF to work with other navies operating in the Gulf of Aden, and to coordinate the military efforts so that we can better tackle piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

Today, we recognise the contributions of the 296 servicemen and women from the Navy, Air Force and Army who have been deployed these past four months to undertake this challenging operation in the Gulf of Aden. This was Singapore's furthest operational deployment to date - some 4000 nautical miles from Singapore. The SAF Task Group was tasked to deter and disrupt pirate attacks against merchant shipping, often in poor weather and difficult sea conditions. During its three months in the Gulf, RSS Persistence spent 68 days on station. The Task Group launched 80 helicopter sorties during its sector patrols, and responded to 57 calls for assistance by despatching its Super Pumas to provide air surveillance and turn suspicious boats away from merchant vessels. The Task Group also helped to coordinate operations within the multinational Combined Task Force 151 by acting as a key node for information sharing between the Combined Task Force and other navies operating in the region. As this was our first extended deployment to this region, there were unique operational and logistical challenges. Detailed planning before the deployment helped to overcome many of these issues, but when unexpected issues cropped up, our Task Group was able to solve them using their initiative in a creative and flexible way, always keeping the objective of accomplishing the mission in mind.

It was in January this year that the decision to deploy was made. The SAF was given a mere two months to prepare for the mission. I would like to commend the Task Group, and those supporting units, who readied the equipment and ensured that the Task Group personnel were trained to a high standard to carry out their tasks. For example, the SAF was able to integrate the two Super Puma helicopters and their crew with the LST, train and prepare boarding teams, and embark equipment such as unmanned surface vessels to enhance the overall effectiveness of the Task Group. This demonstrates that the 3rd Generation SAF is versatile, creative and operationally ready, capable of rapidly mobilising a wide spectrum of skills and resources to accomplish a wider spectrum of missions.

The dedication, hard work, and sheer determination of each member of the Task Group has made this mission a success for Singapore. Some of you have made significant personal sacrifices to be deployed for this mission. MSG Cher Heng Boon, for example, volunteered for the mission just one week before the Task Group was set to depart when one of the original crew members unexpectedly fell ill. There are also NSFs amongst you who volunteered to go, such as, LTA Lin Dian Xue, who even extended his service so that he could participate in the mission. I am sure that he will bring many unforgettable memories with him when he begins his tertiary studies in three days' time.

Your commitment to duty clearly demonstrates the strong ethos of service to the nation in the SAF. I am therefore pleased to present the SAF Overseas Service Medal to the 296 servicemen and women who served on board the RSS Persistence from 9 April to 31 July in the Gulf of Aden. To all of you, congratulations on a job well done. I would also like to thank the support units as well as families of the servicemen whose assistance and understanding have contributed to the successful completion of this mission.

On behalf of the people of Singapore, I would like to express our gratitude to each and every one of you. Thank you.