Royal Thai Army Chief Receives Prestigious Military Award

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen congratulating Thai Deputy Minister of Defence and Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army GEN Udomdej Sitabutr after the MSM(M) investiture.

Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army (RTA), General (GEN) Teerachai Nakwanich, was conferred Singapore's prestigious military award, the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) [or Meritorious Service Medal (Military)], by President Tony Tan Keng Yam. Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen presented the award to GEN Teerachai at an investiture held at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) this morning.

GEN Teerachai was conferred the award for his significant contributions in forging closer ties between the RTA and Singapore Army. Under GEN Teerachai's leadership, the close and long-standing relationship between the two armies has deepened. Practical cooperation has strengthened through bilateral and multilateral exercises such as Exercise Kocha Singa and Exercise Flash Thunder, and most recently the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism Exercise in May 2016. These exercises have yielded significant professional benefits and enhanced the interoperability between the two armies. GEN Teerachai also promoted stronger people-to-people ties by supporting a wide range of interactions, including the cross-attendance of courses and professional exchanges, such as the Joint Army Training Working Group Meeting and Officers' Exchange Programme. These interactions have strengthened the friendship and mutual understanding between the personnel from both armies.

On receiving the award, GEN Teerachai said, "It is a great honour to be presented with the Meritorious Service Medal (Military) by the President of Singapore. I am confident that the RTA and Singapore Army will continue to enjoy a close friendship forged over decades of mutual cooperation, and work closely together to enhance our bilateral defence relations."

GEN Teerachai, who is in Singapore from 11 to 12 July 2016 for his introductory visit, called on Dr Ng, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Perry Lim, and Chief of Army Major-General Melvyn Ong prior to the investiture. He also inspected a Guard of Honour contingent at MINDEF this morning.

GEN Udomdej inspecting the Guard of Honour at MINDEF.