28 personnel honoured for overseas contribution

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen interacting with servicemen who had been deployed to Afghanistan and their families after the ceremony.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen presented the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Overseas Service Medal to 28 servicemen at a ceremony held at SAFTI Military Institute this afternoon, in recognition of their contributions towards the SAF's overseas operations in Afghanistan. The personnel had been deployed as part of the SAF's last deployment to Afghanistan to contribute to the multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts there.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Ng spoke about the contributions of the SAF in Afghanistan and highlighted how this had been the longest and most challenging overseas mission for the SAF since its inception. "Operations Blue Ridge (OBR) is the most complex and challenging mission the SAF has ever undertaken. As Defence Minister, I was conscious that we were putting our soldiers deployed there in harm's way for OBR. But the decision for the SAF to be part of international efforts against terrorism in Afghanistan, though difficult, was a right one," said Dr Ng. He also added that the SAF had made a difference with this deployment. "It was not easy for our SAF servicemen and women to operate in Afghanistan. They had to deal with a volatile security environment, work in an unfamiliar culture, overcome harsh and unfamiliar terrain and adjust to extreme weather changes. Despite these challenges, our people adapted well, performed their duties to the highest levels of professionalism," added Dr Ng. 

The medal recipients included two six-man Imagery Analysis Teams who provided imagery interpretation and analysis support in Oruzgan as well as a six-man Re-deployment Task Force who provided support for the recovery of equipment from Afghanistan to Singapore. Other medal recipients included four servicemen who served as National Liaison Officers, two servicemen who served in the Combined Team-Oruzgan Headquarters, as well as four servicemen who served in the National Support Element and Forward Support Team. These servicemen provided logistics and liaison support for all SAF personnel deployed in Afghanistan.

The SAF has deployed close to 500 personnel to Afghanistan since May 2007 as part of Singapore's contributions to the multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts there, and concluded its mission after six years in June 2013. Operating as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), SAF personnel have contributed their expertise in humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts, force protection, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as the training of the Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF).

Dr Ng (left) being briefed by Chief Guards Officer BG Desmond Tan (right) at the exhibition.

More Resources

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

Infographic: Key SAF Deployments in Afghanistan