DIPLOMACY
SAF CO-HOSTS MULTINATIONAL PLANNING WORKSHOP
28 Feb 2007
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is co-hosting a planning workshop involving delegates from 28 countries.
The five-day Multinational Planning Augmentation Team (MPAT) Tempest Express (TE) 11 Staff Planning Workshop opened at The Regent on 26 Feb.
Among the guests present at the opening were Chief of Air Force Brigadier-General (BG) Ng Chee Khern, and Ms Judith Fergin, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Singapore.
This is the second time that the US Pacific Command in Hawaii has invited the SAF to jointly organise the MPAT TE workshop, which is aimed at practising crisis action planning procedures to build a team of skilled multinational military planners.
As part of the programme's exercise scenario, Singapore is serving as the lead nation for a United Nations-mandated peace enforcement operation.
"The complexity of peace operations today requires a high level of understanding and cooperation across nations around the world," said workshop participant Colonel Nelson Yau, Commander of 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade.
"I think this workshop is an important tool and vehicle for enhancing mutual understanding among MPAT nations and honing our skills in planning as a multinational force," he added.
Also taking part in the workshop are representatives from humanitarian and non-governmental organisations.
Said Mr Frederick Foo, executive director of Mercy Relief: "It's the first time that Mercy Relief is participating in this workshop, and it's a good chance for us to understand how we can get with the military and complement each other."
"We first worked with the SAF during the tsunami relief efforts, and its officers did a wonderful job on the ground," he said.
"We are confident that in the future, wherever the SAF provides humanitarian aid, we will definitely be able to work together."
The United Nations World Food Programme has been involved in the MPAT TE workshops for a few years now, and Mr Anthony Craig from its Regional Bureau for Asia felt that this year's edition was "excellent and well organised".
"There are a wide variety of presentations that give an overview of the issues concerning military operations and humanitarian action," said the senior regional programme adviser.
"It's one of the best workshops I've been to."
The five-day Multinational Planning Augmentation Team (MPAT) Tempest Express (TE) 11 Staff Planning Workshop opened at The Regent on 26 Feb.
Among the guests present at the opening were Chief of Air Force Brigadier-General (BG) Ng Chee Khern, and Ms Judith Fergin, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Singapore.
This is the second time that the US Pacific Command in Hawaii has invited the SAF to jointly organise the MPAT TE workshop, which is aimed at practising crisis action planning procedures to build a team of skilled multinational military planners.
As part of the programme's exercise scenario, Singapore is serving as the lead nation for a United Nations-mandated peace enforcement operation.
"The complexity of peace operations today requires a high level of understanding and cooperation across nations around the world," said workshop participant Colonel Nelson Yau, Commander of 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade.
"I think this workshop is an important tool and vehicle for enhancing mutual understanding among MPAT nations and honing our skills in planning as a multinational force," he added.
Also taking part in the workshop are representatives from humanitarian and non-governmental organisations.
Said Mr Frederick Foo, executive director of Mercy Relief: "It's the first time that Mercy Relief is participating in this workshop, and it's a good chance for us to understand how we can get with the military and complement each other."
"We first worked with the SAF during the tsunami relief efforts, and its officers did a wonderful job on the ground," he said.
"We are confident that in the future, wherever the SAF provides humanitarian aid, we will definitely be able to work together."
The United Nations World Food Programme has been involved in the MPAT TE workshops for a few years now, and Mr Anthony Craig from its Regional Bureau for Asia felt that this year's edition was "excellent and well organised".
"There are a wide variety of presentations that give an overview of the issues concerning military operations and humanitarian action," said the senior regional programme adviser.
"It's one of the best workshops I've been to."
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