Chief of Army (COA) Major-General (MG) David Neo and Chief of Army of the Royal Thai Army (RTA) General (GEN) Narongpan Jittkaewtae co-officiated the closing ceremony of Exercise Kocha Singa 2022 at the 1st Army Area Tactical Training Field in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Held from 7 to 23 November 2022, Exercise Kocha Singa is in its 22nd iteration since its inauguration in 1997.
In his closing speech, MG Neo said, “The RTA and the SAF share a strong and long-standing bilateral defence relationship, built on years of extensive cooperation, professional exchanges and the common aim to ensure peace, security, and stability in our region. Our close ties extend across all levels in both armies. Through exercises such as Exercise Kocha Singa, our units and soldiers learn from one another, fostering mutual understanding and trust.”
This year’s Exercise Kocha Singa marks the resumption of the bilateral exercise since COVID-19. Involving more than 800 troops from the 40th Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment, and the 3rd Infantry Battalion from the RTA’s 9th Infantry Regiment, this year’s exercise featured urban operations training, peacetime contingency operations training, small arms live-firing exchanges and culminated in a joint combined arms live-firing field training exercise.
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. In conjunction with Exercise Kocha Singa, MG Neo is also in Thailand for his introductory visit where he called on Thailand Deputy Minister of Defence Chaichan Changmongkol, Chief of Defence Force of the Royal Thai Armed Forces GEN Chalermphon Srisawasdi and Chief of Army of the RTA GEN Narongpan.
