Expanding training land in
Tekong
Report by Arthur Wong
Photos by Chua Soon Lye
At present, approximately 5,700 hectares of land in Singapore are
set aside for military training.
On 26 Aug, Chief of Army, Major-General (MG) Desmond Kuek, drove in
the first pile for the future of military training at the
soon-to-be established SanYangKong Field Camp on Pulau
Tekong.
A look at what's to come - a scale model of SanYangKong Field
Camp.
Scheduled for completion in June 2006, the new field camp, along
with other areas on the island, will increase the Singapore Armed
Forces' (SAF) training area by about 5,600 hectares, almost
doubling the current land area available for military training
locally.
Built by the Combat Engineers, this field camp will be used to
train Infantry and Guards battalions. Full-time National Servicemen
and Operationally Ready NSmen can stay in the field for up to two
weeks at a stretch.
Upon completion, the field camp will be handed over to 9
Division/Infantry.
When Sanyangkong Field Camp is ready, SAF units will also be able
to conduct training on the island itself, thereby cutting back on
the need to train overseas.
Chief of Army, Major-General (MAJ-GEN) Desmond
Kuek, lays the ground for the future training ground of SAF
soldiers.
Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony, MG Kuek emphasised the
need for such a "flexible" training area.
Pulau Tekong will be landscaped and crafted to meet future
training needs. This will allow units to train for extended periods
without the need to return to the mainland, he said.
With a minimalist design to suit the rugged environment, every part
of the camp will be constructed to simulate a realistic training
environment.
The rugged design of the camp will train resilience and build
camaraderie among the troops as they experience operations in a
challenging field environment, said MG Kuek.
