Plans in place to enhance training realism

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen visited a rafting exercise conducted by the Singapore Combat Engineers on 7 Mar and elaborated further on the Western training area development plans that he had announced at the Committee of Supply debate a week earlier.

He noted that on top of the plans to build the 88-hectare SAFTI City and the Instrumented Battle Circuits, the Singapore Armed Forces also has plans to widen some roads and build new ones. This would allow troops to practise fighting across different terrain types over continuous stretches within the same training space.

Speaking on this after visiting a rafting exercise conducted by the Singapore Combat Engineers, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen said: "The idea is to mimic the terrain that they (the battalions) would (operate on) during conventional operations, (to) move from urban terrain to natural terrain such as this, where there are axes to be crossed (and) to be moved on, (and) river bodies or water bodies to traverse."

He added: "That (remaking the SAFTI training area) will take us a good part of a decade, but it is a significant investment and the general idea is that we want to maximise the resources given to us."

During the visit, Dr Ng piloted a Mobility 3rd Generation (M3G) Float Bridge/Raft. The same system was used during National Day Parades as a firing platform for the 21-gun Salute.

The 12-day exercise, which ended on 10 Mar, involved more than 1,000 troops from the Singapore Combat Engineers, and tested the ability of the SAF to smoothly move vehicles and supplies across waterways.

"The scale of this exercise shows how much the Army values training realism," said Lieutenant Colonel Wong Chee Heng, Commanding Officer of the 35th Battalion Singapore Combat Engineers.

The exercise saw Operationally Ready National Servicemen training alongside Regular troops.

"Our In-Camp Training periods are short, so it takes a fair amount of effort to gel everyone together and to make sure that we can have a fruitful two weeks training out here," said Captain (CPT) (NS) Shanmugam s/o Paramasivam, Officer Commanding of M3G Company.

"So far, morale has been high. It's an exercise that we have mentally and physically prepped for, and now we are here and (we want to do well)."

For Corporal First Class (CFC) (NS) Choo Xin Jian, ICTs gives him the opportunity to catch up with his NS mates. He was responsible for directing the movement of the M3G raft at traffic control points and has eight men working together with him.

"Peace should never be taken for granted, as Singaporean men it's our duty to be ready to fulfil our NS duties."