S’porean and Indonesian commandos conclude bilateral exercise in Kalimantan

SINGAPORE – Commandos from the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) 1st Commando Battalion and their counterparts from Indonesia concluded a bilateral exercise on Sept 8.

Held from Sept 2 to 8 in Singkawang in Kalimantan, the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo, the annual Exercise Chandrapura saw the elite troops sharing their knowledge on commando tactics and techniques, as well as operational planning.

The exercise, which also saw the commandos execute an airborne static line jump – in which a cord attaches a soldier’s parachute to the aircraft – culminated in a field training exercise focused on jungle warfare.

In a statement on Sept 9, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said the shared experiences helped to build “trust and camaraderie” between the soldiers from the two countries, while also strengthening their operational understanding.

Lieutenant-Colonel Kok Yi Long, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Commando Battalion, said the exercise highlighted the commitment towards mutual cooperation between Singapore and the Indonesian Armed Forces.

“Today, the participants in front of us, stand testament to this network of friendships, brotherhood and special trust that are built from our past cooperation,” he added during the closing ceremony, where an exchange of airborne wings was conducted between the two contingents.

First conducted in 1994, Exercise Chandrapura, said Mindef, underscores the strong and long-standing defence relationship between Singapore and Indonesia.

On top of bilateral exercises, both countries’ armies also participate in other activities such as professional exchanges and the cross-attendance of military courses, with the regular interactions enhancing professionalism and fostering mutual understanding, the ministry said.