Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and United States Marine Corps personnel enhanced interoperability with heliborne, live-fire and urban operations drills during Valiant Mark 2025, as U.S. Marines became the first partner force to train at the SAF’s new urban training facility.
The 10-day exercise in Singapore in March, the latest in a series dating to 1991, is emblematic of the robust bilateral security relationship. Singapore hosts rotational deployments of U.S. littoral combat ships and P-8 Poseidon aircraft, according to the city-state’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). Meanwhile, SAF personnel train and exercise in the U.S., where Singapore has operated fighter jet detachments for almost 30 years, according to the U.S. State Department.
“The consistency and growth of [Valiant Mark] over three decades since its establishment demonstrates the commitment of both nations to regional security and mutual dedication in strengthening military-to-military relationships in the Indo-Pacific region,” Col. Wong Pui Chuan, commander of the 21st Singapore Division, said during the opening ceremony at Bedok Camp.
About 800 personnel participated in drills including a combined assault at Singapore’s most advanced military training institute, known as SAFTI City, the first phase of which launched days ahead of Valiant Mark. The facility resembles a densely populated city with high-rise buildings, underground passages and a transportation hub.
Smart instrumentation and about 11,000 sensors allow trainers to deploy interactive targets and provide real-time analysis, according to MINDEF.
Valiant Mark was the final engagement of Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia’s (MRF-SEA) six-month deployment to the region, which also included Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Brunei, exercise Keris MAREX in Indonesia, CARAT Malaysia, exercises Kamandag and Sama Sama in the Philippines, and exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand. U.S. Marines also delivered humanitarian aid after Typhoon Krathon in Luzon, Philippines, in October 2024.
“Our organic capabilities allow us to plan, command and control, and execute crisis responses or exercises,” Capt. Mark McDonough, an MRF-SEA spokesman, told U.S. Naval Institute News.
U.S. Marines and SAF personnel also engaged in expert exchanges during the 27th iteration of Valiant Mark.
“This bilateral exercise not only enhances military interoperability but also provides a unique opportunity for participants to engage in cross-cultural exchanges and learn from each other’s diverse experiences,” Wong said, according to MINDEF.
The exercise came three months after Valiant Mark 2024.
“Conducting back-to-back iterations of Valiant Mark with the Singapore Guards is an exceptional opportunity to increase our collective lethality and interoperability as a U.S.-Singapore force,” Col. Stuart Glenn, commanding officer of MRF-SEA, said in a news release. “We will tackle new challenges, enhance our combined capabilities, and set the stage for future Valiant Mark exercises and a secure region for many years to come.”
