The Singapore Army and US Army concluded the 43rd Exercise Tiger Balm 2024, strengthening their longstanding military partnership through complex, multi-domain operations and joint training exercises.

From May 6 to 17, 2024, the Singapore Army and the United States (US) Army conducted the 43rd Exercise Tiger Balm at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) and Yakima Training Centre (YTC) in Washington, USA. The closing ceremony, held at JBLM, was co-officiated by Colonel Anand Sathi Kumar, Commander of the 6th Singapore Division / Headquarters Sense and Strike (HQ SS), and Brigadier General Phillip L. Mallory, Commander of the 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard.

This year’s exercise, which included a Brigade-level command post component, saw the participation of approximately 670 personnel from the Singapore Army’s Headquarters 6 Div / HQ SS, Headquarters 76th Singapore Infantry Brigade, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)’s Peace Carvin V Detachment, and the US Army’s Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG), the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade. Notably, the exercise featured the inaugural participation of the RSAF’s F-15SG fighters and Singapore Army’s VELOCE 15 mini-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, enhancing air-land integration.

The Combined Arms Live Firing segment involved the Singapore Army’s Strike Observer Mission (STORM) team, 11th Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence Battalion (11 C4I Bn), the RSAF’s Peace Carvin V detachment, and the US Army’s Fire Support Team (FiST) and Field Artillery unit. This component allowed participants to practice Multi-Domain Smart Warfighting and sense-strike processes.

Additionally, the exercise incorporated a Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) simulation system, linking Brigade Command Posts at the Joint Multinational Simulations Centre of Indo-Pacific (JMSC-IP) from JBLM with the SAF Wargame Centre at Pasir Laba Camp, facilitating coordinated planning and execution. Subject matter exchanges on Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) and Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Defence (CBRD) operations culminated in live-firing and field exercises.

Colonel Anand Sathi Kumar highlighted the importance of Exercise Tiger Balm, stating, “Exercise Tiger Balm is a reflection of the strong, valuable, and long-standing partnership between the Singapore Army and US Army. The successful conduct of the complex scenarios within the exercise is a demonstration of the competence and commitment of both forces.”

First conducted in 1981, Exercise Tiger Balm is the longest-running bilateral exercise between the Singapore Army and US Army. This annual exercise fosters collaboration and the sharing of tactics, techniques, and procedures, symbolizing the excellent ties between both armed forces. Regular interactions through professional exchange programs, cross-attendance of courses, and other exercises have strengthened the professionalism, friendships, and mutual understanding between personnel from both armies.

Source – MINDEF