SAF and Other Militaries Conclude the ADMM-Plus HADR/MM Exercise

Exercise participants from China, Singapore and US having a discussion on China's water purification unit.

The ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Military Medicine (MM) Exercise was successfully held in Brunei from 17 to 20 June 2013. His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei officiated at the closing ceremony held at the Muara Naval Base, together with the visiting Defence Chiefs (or their representatives) of the participating nations. This marked the successful conclusion of the four-day exercise involving the armed forces of the ADMM-Plus countries. The ADMM-Plus is made up of 18 countries, namely the ten ASEAN countries as well as Australia, China, Japan, India, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

The ADMM-Plus HADR/MM Exercise saw the deployment of approximately 3200 personnel, seven ships, 15 helicopters as well as military medical, engineering and search and rescue teams and assets from the 18 nations in scenarios relating to collapsed buildings, landslide and flash flood. The multi-national forces exercised the evacuation of casualties and displaced personnel, as well as the delivery of aid to affected communities.

During the closing ceremony, Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) Chief of Defence Force Major-General (MG) Ng Chee Meng highlighted the significance of the ADMM-Plus HADR/MM Exercise. "This marks the first time that 18 nations have come together, participated constructively and demonstrated practical cooperation in a HADR/MM exercise. Brunei has done an excellent job in hosting this exercise, and the SAF is honoured to have worked closely with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces as well as the other ASEAN and Plus militaries in making this exercise a success," said MG Ng.

The successful conduct of the ADMM-Plus HADR/MM Exercise further underscores the importance and relevance of the ADMM-Plus in the regional security architecture. Since its establishment in 2010, the ADMM-Plus has made significant progress in facilitating strategic dialogue between defence officials as well as practical cooperation between militaries. This has helped to build confidence and promote stable military-to-military relations in the region.