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Singaporean Airmen complete deployment to Guam

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  • Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

The Republic of Singapore Air Force completed its training deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam on July 15, after deploying six F-16 fighters, one G550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft and approximately 150 personnel June 13.

This deployment provided Airmen from the United States and Singapore the opportunity to fly and train together and build upon a longstanding bilateral defense relationship.

The RSAF Airmen conducted training with the 122nd Fighter Squadron assigned to the 159th Fighter Wing of the New Orleans Air National Guard, which is deployed to Andersen AFB as part of Pacific Air Forces’ Theater Security Package from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana. The 122nd FS flies the F-15C Eagle.

Maj. Aaron Koh, an officer commanding from the RSAF 140 Squadron, shared, “The vast airspace in Guam allows our RSAF personnel to conduct realistic training to build up our operational readiness. The RSAF trains and interacts regularly with the U.S. through a wide range of bilateral and multilateral exercises. We value this opportunity to train with an advanced air force and are thankful for the hospitality provided by the U.S. throughout this training detachment.”

According to Maj. Joshua Higgins, 122nd FS pilot, it was a good training opportunity for the squadron’s pilots to practice operating with Airmen from another country.

The bilateral training supports two of PACAF’s lines of effort to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific: improving interoperability and strengthening cooperation with allies and partners. Singapore has been a Major Security Cooperation Partner of the U.S. since the 2005 Strategic Framework Agreement.

“The RSAF personnel are top-notch,” said Maj. Tracy Hall, 122nd FS senior intelligence officer. “They’re very professional and highly skilled.”

The RSAF also operates at other U.S. air force bases. The 425th FS flies F-16s out of Luke AFB, Arizona; the 428th FS flies F-15SGs from Mountain Home, Idaho; and the RSAF operates AH-64D helicopters from Silverbell Army Heliport in Marana, Arizona.

The detachment continues the long-running practice of training in Guam, having conducted bilateral exercises with the U.S. Marine Corps as early as the 1990s. Most recently in 2017, the RSAF deployed six F-15SGs and conducted training with the 44th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, with support from people and assets from the 36th Wing.

(Editor’s Note:  Airman 1st Class Amir Young, 36th Wing, contributed to this article.)