Photo By Joseph Siemandel | Group photo for the Information Operations Subject Matter Exchange during the opening...... read more read more
Subscribe
Guardsmen from across the Washington Army National Guard traveled to Mandai Hill, Singapore from May 5 through May 16, 2025, to take part in exercise Tiger Balm 2025. This was the 44th iteration of the bilateral exercise between the Singapore Army Forces (SAF) and the U.S. Army.
This year's exercise involved 823 personnel from the Singapore Army's 6th Singapore Division and 76th Singapore Infantry Brigade, alongside 257 personnel from the Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG), the Washington Army National Guard, and the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
“We participated as secretariat to the director of the exercise along with the Hawaii Army National Guard, higher command and exercise command in the maneuver and intelligence cell, information operations in the multi domain operations cell, and some key roles in the exercise support group managing life support and feeding,” said Maj. Shaun Neil, Washington Army National Guard worldwide engagements officer. “This was all in preparation for the Washington Army National Guard to assume the lead role in the exercise starting in fiscal year 2026.”
Guardsmen from the 144th Digital Liaison Detachment, 156th Information Operations Battalion, and 205th Regimental Training Institute traveled to the southeast Asia nation with the intent of deepening relations with the partner forces while obtaining critical exercise information from the HIARNG and SAF.
“Tiger Balm is a smaller exercise in size and echelon of units involved when compared to an exercise like Cobra Gold or Ulchi Freedom Shield that enables more control and participation across the board,” said Neil.
The key focus of the training during Tiger Balm is the integration of urban operations conducted in Singapore's advanced SAFTI City, with both armies operating under a combined task force and receiving significant air support from the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Beyond the realistic field training, the exercise incorporates command post operations to test combined brigade staffs' decision-making processes, as well as subject matter expert exchanges on counter-improvised explosive device and chemical, biological, and radiological defense operations.
“In larger exercises it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture and only focus on your small piece of it. We have a lot more control and flexibility to make on the spot adjustments to better meet the training objectives,” said Neil.
Exercise Tiger Balm has become a cornerstone of the deep and strategic partnership between the U.S. and Singapore. The exercise helps enhance interoperability, foster professional ties, and adapt training with new urban combat missions and unmanned technologies to address contemporary threats in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“Future iterations of Tiger Balm will hopefully expand on the role of multi-domain operations closing the gap between intelligence and precision fires. Additionally, more emphasis needs to be put into non-kinetic warfare and information dominance,” said Neil. “Singapore is a country that pushes the boundaries in innovation in all areas and is ever present in their military. Participating in this exercise will be mutually beneficial for both the Singaporean Armed Forces and the Washington Army National Guard in building readiness, lethality, and cohesion.”
| Date Taken: | 05.29.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.30.2025 09:36 |
| Story ID: | 499217 |
| Location: | CAMP MURRAY, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Army Guardsmen building partnership with Singapore Army Forces during Tiger Balm 2025, by Joseph Siemandel, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
