Singapore and Thai armies conclude exercise Kocha Singa 2019.

Chief of Army (COA) Major-General (MG) Goh Si Hou and Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army (RTA) General (GEN) Apirat Kongsompong co-officiated at the closing ceremony of Exercise Kocha Singa 2019 at the Murai Urban Training Facility (MUTF) in Singapore this morning. GEN Apirat is also in Singapore for his introductory visit from 21 to 23 May 2019.

Closing ceremony of exercise Kocha Singa 2019 (Picture source: Singapore MoD)

This year's Exercise Kocha Singa, held from 14 to 23 May 2019, is the 21st in the series since its inauguration in 1997. Involving more than 700 troops from the 41st Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment, Headquarters 8th Singapore Armoured Brigade and the 1st Infantry Battalion from the RTA's 14th Infantry Regiment, this year's exercise featured peacetime contingency operations training, judgmental shooting, urban live-firing, and culminated in a joint battalion assault at the MUTF.

In his closing speech, MG Goh said, "Exercise Kocha Singa is an important event in our annual calendar. It underscores the special relationship between the Royal Thai Army and the Singapore Army. Generations of Singapore soldiers have benefitted from mutual exchange and interaction. These friendships continue to tie our Armies together."

Exercise Kocha Singa underscores the close and long-standing bilateral defence ties between Singapore and Thailand. Apart from bilateral exercises, both armies interact regularly through high-level visits, professional exchanges and courses.