The Ministry of Defence conducted a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Open Mobilisation exercise yesterday, scrambling both active and reserve national servicemen to report to the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s air bases. Five of the air force’s fighter squadrons reported to Changi Air Base, Paya Lebar Air Base, and Tengah Air Base, with over 90 percent of servicemen arriving within hours of activation.
Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen hailed to exercise as a successful display of the SAF’s operational readiness.
In any other times, it would have been a regular mobilization exercise — the SAF conducts up to 30 of these things every year, involving all military units. This one, however, seemed to have gotten a higher publicity thanks to the ongoing maritime dispute between Singapore and Malaysia, in which the former has assured that firm actions will be taken if the latter continues to intrude Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas.
The SAF even put out a snazzy little short film that hammers in the importance of having these exercises. No words were minced — SAF wants to show that it is very much ready to mobilize its military at a moment’s notice.
The rah-rah nature of the video didn’t seem to vibe well with some Malaysians, who mocked the SAF in the comments section.
In the words of Ho Ching: Chill, man.
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