Singapore Participates in FPDA Exercise

Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Wong Shi Ming (first from left) joining hands with representatives of the other FPDA nations at the opening ceremony of Exercise Suman Warrior 2016.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) participated in Exercise Suman Warrior, a Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) land exercise, from 19 to 29 September 2016 in Malacca, Malaysia. This year's exercise, the 26th in the series, was a command post exercise involving the planning of combined task force operations. Hosted by the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), the exercise involved 45 SAF personnel and over 135 personnel from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. 

Exercise Suman Warrior aims to enhance interoperability and provides a platform for professional exchange amongst the FPDA armies. Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Wong Shi Ming, led the SAF's delegation this year. He said, "Exercise Suman Warrior is a valuable platform for enhancing professional military interactions among the FPDA countries. The exercise offers an excellent opportunity to build professional networks and personal friendships. We have learnt a lot from our interactions with the other FPDA armed forces. Most importantly, we have made many good friends here, and will take with us many wonderful memories of the two weeks that we spent with our counterparts from FPDA."
 
Formed in 1971, the FPDA was established for the external defence of Singapore and Malaysia during their early days of independence. Over the years, FPDA activities have evolved to adapt to the changing regional security environment, and has remained relevant as a collaborative platform that supports regional security. Next month, the FPDA Defence Chiefs will meet in Singapore to celebrate 45 years of long-standing friendship and cooperation among FPDA member-nations.