PEACE SUPPORT IN AFGHANISTAN

The Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) work in Afghanistan has helped make the world, and Singapore, a safer place. Working together with coalition partners, its contributions have made a significant difference to the reconstruction of a country ravaged by war.

When news got around that a dental clinic had been set up in central Afghanistan's Bamiyan Hospital, locals trekked an entire day and night to seek dental treatment. There were long queues every day, even on days when the clinic was closed.

A five-man SAF team had designed the clinic from scratch - from its drainage system and water pipes to its power sources and lighting. They also ran the clinic.

Their days were packed but the spirits of the team were high. "The smiles on the Afghans' faces were all that we needed to keep us going. Knowing that we had made a difference was rewarding," recounted team leader Colonel (COL) Lee Kuan Chung, then Lieutenant Colonel (LTC). The five-man team treated nearly a thousand locals, conducted health talks and trained two locals to run the clinic.

All this was done during their deployment from May to August 2007 as part of the New Zealand Defence Force Provincial Reconstruction Team. They were one of the first teams that the SAF sent to Afghanistan.

Multiple deployments

Six years later, close to 500 soldiers have participated in the Afghanistan mission as part of the United Nations-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The mission has been one of the SAF's longest overseas deployments as well as one of the furthest - at more than 5,000km away from home.

The teams contributed expertise in various niche areas, which included construction engineering, humanitarian aid, medical, surgical and dental health care, weapon locating radars, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and imagery analysis. They also helped to train the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to develop counter-Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) capabilities and artillery doctrine. *For more details, see infographic below.

"We fully appreciate the support of the Singaporean military and their big contribution to the Bamiyan people," said Bamiyan's Governor Dr Habiba Sarobi at the 2010 ceremony when the SAF handed over the Foladi Comprehensive Health Clinic to local authorities.

Led by LTC Royston Lim, a six-man Construction Engineer team had overseen the construction of the facility, which was to provide medical services to around 10,000 families in the vicinity.

"We have made a difference to the local people in Afghanistan as well as in the international fight against terrorism," said Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at an Overseas Service Medal (OSM) presentation ceremony held this February.

"Singapore can be satisfied that that the SAF has done its job well in preventing the export of terrorism from Afghanistan and preparing the Afghans for self-governance. These were our two missions and we have done them very well," he added.

Working with global partners

This was achieved by working hand-in-hand with coalition partners who were also part of the ISAF. Led by NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), the ISAF comprised 43 nations and 86,000 personnel.

In the last six years, the SAF has worked with troops from countries such as Australia, Canada, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovakia and the United States.

The competence of SAF servicemen was well regarded by its global partners. In July 2010, for example, six SAF servicemen were awarded the Commemorative Medal for Peacekeeping Operations by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence. The medal was awarded for their outstanding work and close cooperation with the Dutch surgical team at an Oruzgan field hospital.

"Working with the Dutch surgical team was a very memorable and enriching experience for us as they were very professional in their work and compassionate towards those whom they treated. Through our time together in Afghanistan, we have also become very good friends," said medical team leader Major (MAJ) (Dr) Muhammad Idu.

In a 2012 interview, Australian Minister for Defence Stephen Smith described the cooperation between Singapore and Australia in Afghanistan as a strong one. "We are both in Oruzgan province and in Tarin Kowt. We very much appreciate the work that we have done together with Singapore."

"In the first instance, Singapore provided very important medical care and attention, which is greatly appreciated by Australia. More recently, Singapore is doing very significant anti-IED work and that is greatly appreciated," said Mr Smith.

3rd Warrant Officer Aloysius S/O Joseph, for instance, was part of a five-man team of Military Institutional Trainers (MITs) who worked together with the Australian Defence Force in Oruzgan to train ANSF commanders to detect and identify IEDs. His team was in Afghanistan from June to December last year.

The combat engineer from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit of the 36th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers, said that his foreign counterparts were confident to let the SAF take the lead in conducting the training.

"They said 'We will be stepping aside because we know you have the knowledge to conduct the training ," noted the 37-year-old.

A stronger SAF

With each deployment, servicemen accumulated valuable experience. Dr Ng said this at an OSM ceremony in 2011. "The things that we do in various operations give us the opportunity to hone our skills and strengthen our system because it is a challenging and unfamiliar condition, and the challenges are real-time."

Working with coalition partners also gave SAF troops the opportunity to benchmark and compare standards. Their experiences are consolidated and shared at events like the Army Overseas Operations Learning Symposium. Those who have not been deployed come to hear and learn from with those who have.

These events helped the Army to learn from these operations, crystallise them into actionable knowledge, and share them with the SAF as soon as possible, noted Chief of Army Major-General Ravinder Singh at a symposium held in January.

Dr Ng announced in February that the SAF would end its mission in Afghanistan in June as the ANSF was on track to take over full security responsibility for Afghanistan from the ISAF progressively.

1st Sergeant Ng Ching Boon, who returned from a five-month deployment last year, considered it an honour to have been sent there.

As an MIT, he was a mentor to ANSF instructors when he was at the Kabul Military Training Centre Artillery School. Not only did the experience allow him to learn and share military practices with some of the American troops he worked with, it has also deepened his appreciation for Singapore's peace.

The platoon sergeant from Headquarters 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade said: "It has allowed me to see a different side of the world. Once, the siren went off. We took cover in the bunkers and heard three explosions.

"You don't hear explosions back here. We were prepared, but we were thinking: 'What is next?' I appreciate the stability in Singapore even more now."

"Our contributions there support the larger multinational effort to prevent extremists from using Afghanistan as a base to export terrorism to the rest of the world, including Singapore."
- Dr Ng speaking at the OSM presentation ceremony in June last year

"I can honestly say that MAJ Clarence Cai and MAJ Goh Pei Ming (now LTC) are some of the finest soldiers of any country that I have ever had the pleasure to serve alongside. Rarely do you find officers of such competence and poised professionalism. Thank you for sending your best, it is making a difference in southern Afghanistan."
- US Army's Lieutenant-General (then Major General) James Terry, Commander, ISAF Joint Command, on two members of the National Command Element. He was then Commander of Regional Command-South.