Chief of Staff of the US Army General (GEN) Mark Milley was conferred Singapore’s prestigious military award, the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera), or Meritorious Service Medal (Military), by President Halimah Yacob. Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen presented the award to GEN Milley at an investiture held at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) this afternoon.  

GEN Milley was conferred the award for his significant contributions in strengthening the long-standing and excellent defence relations between the US and Singapore. Under GEN Milley’s leadership, bilateral cooperation has expanded and deepened significantly. Both armies have worked together closely to enhance the scope, complexity and professional training value of bilateral exercises and exchanges. Exercise Tiger Balm, the longest-running bilateral exercise between the two armies, has grown in scale and complexity since it was first conducted in 1981, with the US Stryker Combat Vehicles’ inaugural participation in the exercise in 2017. The Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles also participated in Exercise Lightning Strike in the US for the first time in the same year. Such exercises and exchanges have strengthened the interoperability between both armies, and forged strong rapport and camaraderie between personnel from both forces.

On receiving the award, GEN Milley said, “I am honoured to receive this award from Minister Ng Eng Hen and the SAF. The US Army and the Singapore Army have a strong partnership which is evident from the training exercises we conduct together, among other areas of cooperation. I am personally grateful for the friendship I have with the Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Melvyn Ong, and enjoyed a very productive meeting with the Chief of Army Major-General (MG) Goh Si Hou. We look forward to working together in the future.”

GEN Milley, who is in Singapore from 29 April to 1 May 2019, also called on Dr Ng, Chief of Defence Force LG Melvyn Ong and Chief of Army MG Goh Si Hou, and reviewed a Guard of Honour at MINDEF this afternoon prior to the investiture.