Photo By Sgt. Casandra Ancheta | U.S. Soldiers and soldiers of the Singapore Armed Forces cheer together during the...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - U.S. Soldiers and soldiers from The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) participated in Exercise Tiger Balm 24 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, May 6-17, 2024.
Exercise Tiger Balm 24 is the longest-running bilateral exercise between the U.S. Army and SAF continuing the legacy and enduring partnership between the two nations. Legacy is defined as something that is transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor from the past.
“Exercise Tiger Balms foundations has been built upon 42 iterations, and it is those pillars on which our objectives this year will be supported,” said U.S. Army Col. Tyson Tahara, exercise co-deputy director and Chief of Staff of the Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG).
HIARNG Soldiers have participated in multiple iterations of the exercise, with each iteration bringing new relationships and opportunities for professional development.
“I know that there are many HIARNG Soldiers who have participated in multiple iterations of Tiger Balm and have developed not only professional, but true and lasting personal relationships that I witnessed over the past four years,” said Tahara.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Phoebe Inigo, the exercise lead planner assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Joint Force Headquarters, HIARNG, has participated in six iterations of Tiger Balm.
“It’s always an honor to be part of the planning team because I get to reconnect with Singapore friends from the past,” said Inigo. “I’m still in touch with my counterpart from 2009 as well as many other SAF soldiers from previous exercises.”
The Soldiers participated in cultural exchanges and took the time to bond and understand each other throughout the exercise.
“It’s always a pleasure to work with the SAF, we share many similarities in culture so I’ve always connected really well with my counterparts,” said Inigo.
The bonds that are created throughout the exercise are always present through every iteration of Tiger Balm.
“Since being assigned as the co-deputy exercise director four years ago, I witnessed the enduring partnership from the cancellation of Tiger Balm 2020 and the conducting of a virtual exercise in 2021,” said Tahara.
Persevering through challenges, the continued relationships and bonds between the two nations continue to remain strong.
Singapore Armed Forces Col. Oh Chun Keong, Chief of Staff for the 6th Singapore Division/Headquarters Sense and Strike recounted the countless times during planning meetings Tahara would be pulled to the side to greet people he had met in previous exercise iterations.
“These stories of enduring relationships are not unique and were built with their counterparts in previous editions of exercise Tiger Balm,” said Keong. “I encourage all participants to build new relationships with their counterparts.”
Exercise Tiger Balm has evolved from being a planning exercise to a brigade-level command post, including multi-domain warfighting concepts and operations.
“We have seen much expansion in scope, complexity and realism to further strengthen our competency, integration and friendship together,” said Keong. “I am confident that exercise Tiger Balm will continue to grow throughout the years and be the platform that brings defense relations between our two armies to the next level.”
The closing ceremony signifies another successful exercise signifying the continued interoperability and the solidifying bonds and readiness between the two nations will improve.
“Having a better understanding of each other and our capabilities will increase our long-lasting relationships that transcend beyond this exercise,” said Tahara.
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 05.30.2024 19:08 |
| Story ID: | 471683 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 143 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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