193 SERVICEMEN AWARDED MEDALS FOR INTERNATIONAL COUNTER-PIRACY EFFORTS

When Captain (CPT) (NS) Esmond Han was offered the opportunity to sail to the Gulf of Aden (GoA) for an international counter-piracy operation, he did not hesitate to say yes.

Participating in such a naval operation was a dream come true.

"These are the kind of missions you joined the Navy for," said the 31-year-old who left the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) last year to pursue a new career as general manager of a clothing store.

He took time off from work to serve as the Battle Watch Captain with the fifth SAF task group which was deployed to the GoA from March to June this year, under the ambit of the multinational Combined Task Force 151.

The SAF task group comprised the Formidable-class stealth frigate, RSS Tenacious,with a Republic of Singapore Air Force Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter on board.

CPT (NS) Han was among the 193 servicemen who were presented with the SAF Overseas Service Medal (OSM) by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at a ceremony held at Changi Naval Base on 27 Jun. The medals were given in recognition of their contributions.

Addressing the servicemen in the presence of their family members, Dr Ng noted that there was no successful piracy attack in their area of responsibility, and commended them for their crucial efforts.

"More than 30,000 vessels pass through those waters each year and they carry on them essential commodities - crude oil and petroleum goods - some making their way to Singapore each day.

"If this essential waterway is disrupted, trade, of course, will be affected. Livelihoods would be severely affected in Singapore and our entire region if there is no freedom and safety of navigation in these vital sea routes."

During its deployment, the task force responded to 18 calls for assistance and flew 81 helicopter sorties to provide air surveillance and ward off suspicious boats.

Colonel (COL) Ricky Hi, Commander of the task group, said the crew had to endure choppy waters, temperatures of up to 42 degrees Celsius, and the risk of getting infected with the deadly MERS virus that had hit the Middle East.

They were also forced to stay out at sea for 29 days straight when the frigate had to cancel a port of call at the Republic of Djibouti. Terrorists had attacked a restaurant in the country two days before their arrival.

"This crew was very resilient; even when we were out at sea for 29 days, (I didn't see any) desperation or unhappiness. They continued to work because they knew the purpose (of their operation) there," said COL Hi.

It was this sense of purpose that enabled the crew to endure being away from family and home for three months. Tears and hugs could be seen all around when they were reunited with their families.

Military Expert (ME) 1-1 A Rajee was deployed just two weeks after getting married. She said: "It was quite hard; my first time being away from the family, and for such a long period of time - 103 days."

For Full-time National Serviceman Lance Corporal (LCP) Daniel Ng, he considered the deployment a capstone of his enriching NS journey.

His most vivid moment was when the entire crew was scrambled while he was off duty. A merchant ship was being pursued by a few skiffs. Everyone, including himself, had to swing into action to help the merchant ship.

Asked what he learnt during the deployment, the 22 year-old navigation specialist said: "Always be ready. When something happens, you have to react within seconds and deal with the situation."