Speech by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, at the Overseas Service Medal Presentation Ceremony

Senior commanders,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Family members,
Good morning.

I am delighted to be able to do this and to have your family members with us. It is very important for us to do this as one big family.

From 2007, 320 servicemen and women from the SAF have held up Singapore's colors high, proudly and ably in Afghanistan. This was under the ambit of Operation BLUE RIDGE. During this period, we began by giving medical and dental treatment to ease suffering, as well as built bridges and culverts. But as new needs and challenges evolved, the SAF responded in a professional manner. When new threats emerged from incoming enemy rockets and artillery shells, the SAF on its own suggested and provided subsequently, round-the-clock radar surveillance for early warning of these new threats, to help our own servicemen and others who were there. More recently, we have sent in analysts and trainers, when their skills were required.

The valuable contributions of our people in these faraway places underscore the transnational nature of the security challenges we now face. In today's interconnected world, all countries must do their part to maintain security and stability. As a responsible member of the international community, Singapore holds fast to these commitments. We're realistic. We do not exaggerate our contributions. We are a small country, and a small military force. While our contributions are typically not large in scale, they represent niche capabilities that are significant for the overall coalition effort. We look at places that we can specifically help and besides contributing towards the success of a multinational mission, our soldiers on deployment also serve as ambassadors for Singapore. Because when you are there, people look at you and wonder what type of military force you represent. How are you trained? What is your bearing, how do you respond, how do you contribute, what is your expertise, what are your skill sets and what are your values? I am proud to say that their vigilance, skill, and adaptability in an unfamiliar environment have done much to enhance the SAF's reputation as a professional outfit and a reliable partner. And I receive this feedback first hand. So when I meet visiting military commanders, political leaders from other countries and regional fora, the most recent being the Shangri-La Dialogue. When they talk about military to military cooperation, they would say their troops like to work with the SAF. They do so with conviction and spontaneity and that speaks volumes, even though we are small.

Our recent deployments in Afghanistan have deepened our defence relationships with other international forces there, especially through working closely with the Australians, New Zealanders and the US. Such deployments underscore our common belief that terrorism can be defeated only by a concerted, international effort.

This morning, we recognise the efforts of 29 servicemen who have served in various capacities across Afghanistan over the past seven months. COL Chia Choon Hong, who led the National Command Element (or NCE) based out of Kabul, was the overall commander of our SAF troops deployed in theatre. COL Chia and his team coordinated operations at various levels with the International Security and Assistance Force Headquarters, or HQ ISAF. The NCE plays a vital role. Besides ensuring the coherence and continuity of the SAF's mission in Afghanistan, the NCE looks after the welfare of our servicemen wherever they may be.

From November to April, we also deployed our second rotation of an Imagery Analyst Team (IAT) to Uruzgan. This was led by MAJ Wilson Yeo, the 6-man team helped to interpret and analyse intelligence imagery at Multinational Base Tarin Kowt. I saw the reports and looked carefully at the pictures, the analysis, the current tools that we have as well as the whole international expertise to deliver products which were useful to ourselves and to the ISAF troops there. We provided critical information that enhanced the security of the Afghan population and international forces. This rotation was also significant because it marked the first time one of our Imagery Analyst Teams was supporting a foreign UAV detachment. In other words, our coalition partners collected the images and videos, it was our team who translated that raw intelligence data into useful reports on possible enemy trends and threats.

We also recognise a second rotation of SAF military institutional trainers who were deployed to the artillery school in Kabul to mentor and train the Afghan National Army. We all recognise that ultimately it must be the Afghans themselves who can bring lasting peace and stability to their country, and so in this phase, to train them up is crucial. Led by LTC Lek Seng Khoon, the 10-man team worked together with their counterparts from Australia, the US, and Mongolia to run a series of training courses for Afghan officers, NCOs and other ranks. Our soldiers' success at this task is not only a testament to their professional skills, but also their ability to work across cultures, with servicemen from very different backgrounds from our own. I understand they have helped to mentor almost 700 Afghan trainers and artillerymen in the business of effective soldiering. More importantly, they are laying the foundations for the Afghan National Army to eventually take charge of their own training, and secure the defence of their own country.

By upholding the professional standards and core values of the SAF, you have done Singapore and the SAF proud. The training you have received in the SAF has given you the courage and confidence to go stoically into a conflict zone, to get the job done well, and serve a larger, national, and international interest. We thank you for these contributions.

Let me also take this opportunity to acknowledge the families of our soldiers, for the sacrifices that you too have made while your loved ones were away. Yours is a different kind of courage that is no less extraordinary, and certainly no less essential - in shouldering the responsibilities of family, and dealing privately with the separation and uncertainty. Their missions could not have been successful without your steadfast support, and I thank you on behalf of the people of Singapore.

Thank you very much.

More Resources

29 SAF Personnel Honoured for Overseas Contributions