Singapore and Thai Armies Conclude Bilateral Exercise

Chief of Army Brigadier-General (BG) Melvyn Ong (left) and Royal Thai Army (RTA) Commander-in-Chief General Teerachai Nakwanich (right) officiating at the closing ceremony of Exercise Kocha Singa 2016.

The Singapore Army and the Royal Thai Army (RTA) concluded Exercise Kocha Singa, an annual bilateral army exercise this morning. The closing ceremony was officiated by Chief of Army Brigadier-General (BG) Melvyn Ong and RTA Commander-in-Chief General (GEN) Teerachai Nakwanich.

The exercise was held in Phitsanulok, Thailand from 15 to 26 February 2016 and is the 18th in the series. It involved more than 800 personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces' 40th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment and Headquarters 8th Singapore Armoured Brigade, as well as the RTA's 1st Infantry Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment. The exercise included professional interactions, combined training sessions, and culminated in a company level live-firing exercise.

First conducted in 1997, Exercise Kocha Singa underscores the close and long-standing bilateral defence ties between Singapore and Thailand, and serves to enhance the interoperability between the two armies. Apart from bilateral exercises, both armies also interact regularly through professional exchanges, visits and courses. These interactions have strengthened the professionalism, friendship and mutual understanding between personnel from the two armies.

Soldiers from the Singapore Army and the RTA conducting a joint urban operations attack during the exercise.

BG Ong (third from right) being briefed by soldiers from the RTA on their military systems and capabilities.