RSAF Clinches Two Awards at Exercise Red Flag - Nellis in Nevada, USA

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) concluded its participation in the United States Air Force (USAF)-hosted Exercise Red Flag - Nellis at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, United States, from 14 to 25 Aug 2017 (US time), and clinched two awards at the exercise - "Overall Outstanding Mission Commander" and "Outstanding Aircraft Maintenance Unit".

The RSAF deployed eight F-15SG fighter aircraft and more than 100 personnel from its Peace Carvin V detachment in Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, to participate in this large-scale air combat exercise. This year's exercise also saw the participation of about 70 aircraft from Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United States (US), with observers from Chile, Oman and Romania.
 
Exercise Red Flag - Nellis is designed to enhance the combat readiness and operational capabilities of the participating air forces due to the realistic training provided by a dedicated opponent force. During the exercise, the participants engaged in air combat and strike missions in a challenging environment which allowed them to hone and sharpen their operational competencies.
 
Highlighting the significance of the RSAF's participation in this year's exercise, Lieutenant Colonel Oon Kok Choon, the RSAF Peace Carvin V Detachment Commander said, "We are glad to be given the opportunity to fly our F-15SGs alongside our USAF counterparts, whose participation included the F-22 fighter aircraft. Working together with these other advanced fighters, we were able to accomplish our missions more effectively, and at the same time benchmark our performance with other advanced air forces. The exercise provided a realistic training environment for both our air and ground crew, and I am proud that our RSAF team has upheld the high standards and continued to perform well. The attainment of the two awards is also a reflection of the commitment and professionalism of our people, and we will continue to work hard to improve our level of readiness."
 
Captain (CPT) Chia Chi Yu, a first-time Mission Commander for the strike mission at the Exercise Red Flag series, shared, "It has been an invaluable opportunity for me to be able to lead a team with the USAF's F-22s, F-18s, F-16s and the Royal Saudi Air Force's Eurofighter Typhoons. We were up against a realistic adversary team which was trained in advanced tactics and employed electronic warfare. However, our training prepared us well, and we successfully dropped bombs on various targets to accomplish our strike missions." Speaking after being awarded the "Overall Outstanding Mission Commander" at the closing ceremony of Exercise Red Flag - Nellis, CPT Chia said, "I am personally very glad to be able to win this award. It is definitely a testament of our training and operational standards, benchmarked with the rest of the participants in this exercise. It is really a team effort as the support from my whole squadron also contributed to the attainment of this award."
 
The "Outstanding Air Maintenance Unit" award was presented to the RSAF ground crew in recognition of their consistent efforts to ensure that the F-15SGs were maintained in tip-top condition throughout the entire duration of the exercise. One of the members of the crew, Military Expert 2 Joan Teo, shared, "Although it had been a strenuous and tiring exercise, everyone in the team played their part and spurred each other on. It was indeed a very rewarding moment when they announced that we won the award and to know that our hard work was recognised and paid off."
 
Exercise Red Flag - Nellis underscores the excellent and long-standing defence relationship between the US and Singapore. It also enhances professionalism and interoperability among the participating forces, and provides the RSAF an opportunity to benchmark itself against other leading air forces.