Speech by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Defence, at Overseas Service Medal Presentation Ceremony

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen,IntroductionThe SAF's spectrum of operations has expanded in recent years, reflecting the wider range of security challenges that Singapore faces today. The SAF's primary mission is the defence of Singapore. But safeguarding Singapore’s peace and security has become more complex. We live in an inter-connected world, one where instability in one part of the world can profoundly affect the security of our country and the region we live in. All countries who want a secure homeland must work together to build a more secure and stable international environment.

For Singapore, safeguarding our national security includes contributing to international peace support missions, missions which seek to bring stability to critical regions, to prevent them from being used to spread violence to our part of the world. This is why Singapore has committed the SAF to participate in the international reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. A stable Iraq is vital to the security and stability of the Middle East, a region of strategic importance for countries around the world. Iraq - Challenges and Contributions Today, we recognise the contributions of servicemen and women who have played a part in the reconstruction efforts in Iraq. Our operations in Iraq have been a major undertaking. Since 2003, 5 Landing Ships Tank, 5 KC-135R tanker aircraft, 1 C-130 transport aircraft and a total of 998 personnel have participated in peace support operations in Iraq. 4 servicemen have also been deployed to serve in the Headquarters of the Multinational Force - Iraq (MNF-I). They served in the Strategy, Plans and Assessment Cell to support the planning for counter-insurgency operations and training of Iraqi security forces.

The operational challenges were plenty. Deploying 4000 miles away from home was a challenge in itself. The weather and operational conditions there presented us with operational and logistical challenges that we do not face at home. No amount of training could have prepared us completely for these challenges, but the SAF overcame them to achieve 100% mission success, and to make a real difference through our missions. Our contributions represented small but niche capabilities which were operationally useful to the coalition effort. Our KC-135 aircraft provided crucial air-to-air refuelling services to Coalition aircraft over Iraq, off-loading some 14 million lbs of fuel to 1407 aircraft during 303 refuelling sorties, while our C-130 provided transport for Coalition personnel and supplies into Iraq. Out at sea, our LSTs spent a total of 301 days on station protecting the waters around key oil terminals in the northern Arabian Gulf. Our LSTs were appreciated for their versatility. They conducted boarding and search operations, refuelled Coalition helicopters, deployed Unmanned Surface Vessels, provided logistics support, trained Iraqi naval personnel and served as command platforms. That our LSTs were assigned the role of Surface Action Commander from our second deployment onwards, tasked with the responsibility of coordinating ships from several countries and guarding key installations in the Gulf, points to the confidence that coalition partners had in our abilities. Experience GainedSignificant progress has been made in Iraq. Iraqi security forces are now ready to take over the responsibility of protecting their own country. As the coalition forces plan a phased drawdown of troops in Iraq, Singapore's deployments for operations in Iraq have likewise come to a close.

The SAF has made 11 deployments to Iraq. With each deployment, challenges were overcome, capabilities were honed and experience was accumulated. The experiences that we take away from Iraq are valuable operational lessons, lessons that will put us in good stead for future missions that the SAF may be called upon to execute.

Recognition and Appreciation Our operational success is underpinned by the dedication and hard work of our servicemen and women. The SAF is proud of you and the sterling qualities you have shown as you carried out the mission entrusted to you. I am heartened to hear of many servicemen and women who after returning from a deployment, have put in requests to be considered for subsequent deployments because of their personal conviction to the mission and its operational value. Of the 998 SAF personnel who have served in Iraq, 141 have served in multiple missions. Some amongst you have gone for as many as five deployments, such as LTC Sivaraman, who was the CO of the KC-135 squadron. He took part in all five KC-135R deployments because he wanted to contribute to what he believed was an important and worthy cause. Similarly, 1SG Cheong Hwee Lee, a Naval Systems Specialist on board RSS Resolution, did not hesitate to indicate her interest in a third deployment at short notice, when she replaced a colleague who had to attend to unforeseen personal matters at home. 1SG Cheong felt that she had greatly benefited from her past two deployments and had developed a strong sense of ownership over the mission. The fact that our servicemen and women have requested to be considered for deployments, and even for multiple deployments, shows a deep personal commitment to the call of duty, and demonstrates the strong ethos of service to Singapore in the SAF. ConclusionI am pleased to be here this evening to present the SAF Overseas Service Medal and Bar (Enhanced) to the 200 servicemen and women who served on board RSS Resolution, led by LTC Tan Bian and LTC Tan Kai Cheong, for over 113 days in the Gulf, from 30 Aug to 20 Dec 08. The return of RSS Resolution brings to a close the SAF's deployments to Iraq. But even now our servicemen are on duty in Afghanistan, and preparing to deploy to the Gulf of Aden.

Our contributions to international security operations have demonstrated that the SAF is a capable and professional force that operates alongside the world's best militaries in some of the most challenging parts of the world. To the 200 servicemen and women - congratulations on a job well done. You have been excellent ambassadors for the SAF and Singapore, and you have enriched yourself with unique operational lessons that you will carry with you for the rest of your lives. Each of you would have your own experiences and stories, and I encourage you to share them with others so that they will benefit from what you have learnt. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who supported you so that you could participate in this mission, especially your families. Their understanding and constant support from home have seen you through the successful completion of your mission. On behalf of the people of Singapore, I would like to express our gratitude for your contributions to the success of this critical mission.