SIX SAF SERVICEMEN LAUDED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN

Six Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) servicemen were awarded the Commemorative Medal for Peacekeeping Operations by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence for their contributions towards multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan on 31 Jul.

The SAF Contingent Commander in Oruzgan, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Alvin Chan, received the medals from the Commander of Task Force Oruzgan, Brigadier-General (BG) Kees van den Heuvel, in a medal presentation ceremony held in Afghanistan.

LTC Chan also received the medals on behalf of the five other commemorated servicemen. They include the former SAF contingent commander in Oruzgan, LTC Dinesh Vasu Dash, who had served in Oruzgan from November 2009 to July 2010; and four members of the SAF surgical team which served in a field hospital in Tarin Kowt, Oruzgan, from April to May - Major (MAJ) (Dr) Muhammad Idu, MAJ (NS) (Dr) Mathew Cheng, MAJ (NS) (Dr) Philip Iau and CPT (NS) (Dr) Tan Wah Tze.

The SAF surgical team medal recipients were commended for their outstanding work and close cooperation with the Dutch surgical team at the field hospital. The team had provided surgical and medical support to the International Security Assistance Force personnel deployed there, as well as emergency medical care for the Afghan locals.

When asked about his feelings on receiving the commemorative medal, MAJ (Dr) Idu said: "We feel honoured to receive this medal from the Netherlands Ministry of Defence. 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."

SAF medical and surgical teams have been deployed with the Netherlands Armed Forces in Oruzgan since 2008.