Singapore and US armies hold first in-person Exercise Tiger Balm since COVID-19 pandemic
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and US Army personnel executing integrated urban operations as a combined task force. (Photo: MINDEF)
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Army and the United States Army have successfully conducted the first in-person Exercise Tiger Balm since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The annual exercise, first conducted in 1981, is the longest-running bilateral exercise between the Singapore and US armies, said the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in a news release on Thursday (Jun 16).
The 40th edition of the exercise was held virtually in 2021, after it was suspended the year before due to the pandemic. The previous in-person exercise was held in 2019, which saw about 766 soldiers participate.
The Brigade-level exercise, held over nearly two weeks, was conducted at the Murai Urban Training Facility, added MINDEF.
The exercise involved more than 1,000 personnel from the Headquarters 6th Singapore Division/Headquarters Sense & Strike (HQ 6 Div/HQ SS), Headquarters 10th Singapore Infantry Brigade (HQ 10 SIB) and 5th Battalion Singapore Infantry Regiment (5 SIR).
Also involved were personnel from the US Army’s Hawaii Army National Guard, the 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team (1-2 SBCT) and 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment (1-23 IN).
The 41st Exercise Tiger Balm saw both armies execute an integrated urban operations exercise within the training facility, with the US Army’s Stryker Combat Vehicles operating with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)'s Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles under the ambit of the Combined Task Force.
They were also supported by SAF’s Strike Observers Mission team and the US Army’s Fire Support Team.
“This annual exercise allows both armies to collaborate and share tactics, techniques and procedures, and is the hallmark of excellent and long-standing ties between both armed forces,” said MINDEF.
MINDEF added that apart from this exercise, both armies also interact extensively through professional exchange programmes, cross-attendance of courses, as well as bilateral and multilateral exercises.
“These regular interactions have fostered and enhanced the professionalism, friendship and mutual understanding among personnel from both armies."
Exercise Tiger Balm is “symbolic” of the special relationship built on common interests and values that is shared between the two armies, said Commander 6 Div/HQ SS Colonel Adrian Teng.
“Through more than four decades of exchanges, we have learnt from each other, and enhanced our professionalism ... This has been made possible by the mutual trust and respect we have for one another,” he added.
