BEYOND OUR SHORES
STORY // Ong Hong Tat
PHOTO // PIONEER photographers & courtesy of centre for heritage services
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has chalked up over 40 years of experience in conducting overseas operations. Here's a snapshot of where it has been.
1970
East Pakistan
First overseas mission
Nine days after East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was struck by a deadly cyclone on 12 Nov 1970, the SAF sent a 47-man team to provide aid. Medical supplies worth about $50,000 were handed to local medical authorities and 15 tons of canned food were sent to relief centres. By the end of the mission, the team had administered about 27,000 vaccinations.
1989
South-West Africa
First United Nations mission
The United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) was sent to South-West Africa (now Namibia) to ensure the fair and smooth conduct of elections there. From 26 Oct to 25 Nov 1989, 14 SAF officers were sent as part of the Singapore 20-man contingent to assist the UNTAG. This was the beginning of more than 20 years of involvement with the UN.
1991
Iraq
Longest-running mission to date
The United Nations Iraq Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM) was established in April 1991 to monitor the demilitarised zone and waterway along the Iraq-Kuwait border. By the time UNIKOM concluded in October 2003, the SAF had sent nine teams. During that time, several SAF personnel held key appointments, such as Colonel Yeo Cheng Ann, who served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Force Commander of UNIKOM from October 1993 to October 1994.
1997
Afghanistan
First peacemaking mission during an ongoing conflict
Singapore was invited by the UN to provide a military adviser for the UN Special Mission in Afghanistan (UNSMA) in early 1997 and LTC Lo Yong Poo was eventually chosen. He spent a year there liaising with local militia commanders, faction leaders, villagers and displaced communities, and helped to negotiate ceasefires between warring factions.
1999
East Timor
First UN peacekeeping mission with female SAF personnel
The International Force in East Timor (INTERFET) was a UN-mandated mission set up to alleviate the humanitarian and security crisis in East Timor (now Timor-Leste) at the time. The SAF sent a 373-strong team to the country. In it were eight women who were part of the three Landing Ships Tank (LST) deployed to East Timor. From 2000 to 2002, 330 SAF personnel were part of a separate mission - the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) - to oversee the transition of East Timor to independence.
2004
Indonesia & Thailand
Largest and most complex humanitarian mission to date
On 26 Dec 2004, an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered a devastating tsunami. The SAF launched Operation Flying Eagle in quick time with 1,500 personnel, three Landing Ships Tank, eight CH-47 transport helicopters, four Super Puma helicopters, six C-130 transport aircraft and two F-50 utility aircraft deployed to Indonesia and Thailand. The efforts focused on Banda Aceh, Medan and Meulaboh in Indonesia.
2007 to present
Afghanistan
Multinational reconstruction and stabilisation efforts
The SAF has been deploying teams to Afghanistan since 2007 to aid in multinational reconstruction efforts. In 2010, the SAF deployed a 52-man Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Task Group to the country. In the same year, a group of 10 institutional trainers were also deployed to assist the International Security Assistance Forces efforts to train the Afghan National Army (ANA) in an artillery school in Kabul.
2009 to present
Gulf of Aden
Anti-piracy operations
Located off the coast of Somalia, the 800km-long Gulf of Aden contains some of the worlds busiest sea lanes. It also attracts many pirates to the region. Since 2009, the SAF has deployed a Task Group each year to assist the multinational anti-piracy efforts under the ambit of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151. From January to April 2010, Rear-Admiral Bernard Miranda from the SAF served as Commander CTF 151. An RSAF Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft detachment was also deployed there from April to July 2011. Currently, a 229-strong SAF Task Group comprising personnel from all three Services of the SAF on board the RSS Endeavour is deployed there.
An RSAF Super Puma taking off from the deck of Landing Ship Tank RSS Endurance while in the Gulf of Aden as part of multinational anti-piracy efforts there.
2011
New Zealand
Quake relief efforts
On 22 Feb 2011, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, and 116 SAF servicemen were deployed to provide aid. The RSAF also sent 24 personnel, two C-130 transport aircraft and a KC-135R tanker (left) to airlift supplies and evacuate civilians. SAF doctors also provided primary health care and the Singapore Combat Engineersworked to stabilise the affected areas around the city centre.
Want to find out more?
Come late November, there will be an exhibition at the Army Musuem of Singapore on the various overseas operations which the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) was involved in. On display will be some of the SAF equipment used in the operations, as well as the United Nations medals presented to SAF personnel for their assistance in overseas operations. Admission is free for Full-time National Servicemen and Operationally Ready National Servicemen of both the SAF and the Home Team, and SAF servicemen and women. They can bring in up to four guests for free on weekends and public holidays. Opens daily from 10am to 6pm except on Mondays. For more details, visit www.armymuseum.gov.sg.
