The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the United States Marine Corps (USMC) have successfully concluded the 27th edition of the annual bilateral Exercise Valiant Mark, which ran from 25 August to 12 September 2018. Commander 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade (7 SIB), Colonel (COL) Xu Youfeng and Commander 7th Marine Regiment, USMC, COL Kyle B. Ellison co-officiated at the closing ceremony in Twentynine Palms, California early this morning (Singapore Time).

More than 1,000 personnel from 7 SIB and the 7th Marine Regiment, as well as supporting components from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)'s Peace Carvin II and Peace Vanguard Detachments and the USMC Aviation participated in the exercise. The exercise culminated in a battalion assault mission, involving joint planning and air-land integrated live-firing by both militaries. In addition to the RSAF's F-16C/D fighter aircraft, this year's exercise also saw the inaugural participation of the RSAF's AH-64D Apache helicopters, which provided the SAF with closer air-land integration training opportunities with the USMC.

Launched in 1992, Exercise Valiant Mark underscores the excellent and long-standing bilateral defence relations between Singapore and the US. Besides bilateral exercises, the two militaries also engage in a wide range of multilateral exercises, professional exchanges and cross-attendance of courses. These regular interactions have enhanced the interoperability between the two armed forces, as well as fostered mutual understanding among their personnel.