OPS & TRAINING

High combat readiness

31 May 2019

It’s exam time for the citizen soldiers of 790th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (790 SIR), who must prove their combat readiness in ATEC.

Feature — A sharpshooter looking out for enemies through the scope of his M110 sniper rifle during the first night of their ATEC evaluation.

Story by Koh Eng Beng

Photos by Chua Soon Lye

English 华文

They are getting on with age — most of them are in their late 20s and some in their early 30s. These lao jiao (Hokkien for old bird) soldiers were not expecting to perform as well as they had in their younger days.

But at their Army Training Evaluation Centre (ATEC) Stage 2 evaluation in April, they excelled in their fight against the Opposing Force (OPFOR), relying on their experience and close teamwork.

The battalion's overall Readiness Condition (REDCON) grade for its entire ATEC evaluation was 2A — the second-highest possible grade.

Soldiers forming up for a final inspection before the start of their three-day, two-night battle.

Section commander 2nd Sergeant (2SG) Tan Si Kai (far right), 30, briefing his men about the battle plan before they move out.

Soldiers loading up onto the five-tonner trucks that will ferry them to the battlefield.

Moving inland from the beachhead (an area on the landing beach secured by the attacking forces) after a simulated coastal hook (an attack using the coastal sea or river).

A pair of Section Assault Weapon gunners providing cover as the rest of the battalion moves in.

1SG (NS) Tan Tien Wei, 29, applying first aid for the platoon runner who has been “hit” in the eye. He is now leading the platoon as the platoon commander has been “killed” by an enemy patrol. Such wartime scenarios force the soldiers to think on their feet.

"In the one-week training before the start of the ATEC evaluation, we beefed up (790 SIR's) fundamentals — training tactics and procedures as well as combat fitness. They have also been training on their own, (as) shown by their Individual Physical Proficiency Test results: the battalion was the best among all NS infantry battalions in the last work year."

With an objective captured, the battalion now moves into an urban area where remnant enemy forces are still holding out.

A group of soldiers storming a room swiftly. Their rapport was forged from almost a decade of training together since their full-time national service days.

Providing covering fire after the room is captured.

From his shellscrape, 3SG (NS) Ng watches out for signs of enemy troops and vehicles. He takes turns with his men for sentry duty so that they can get some rest.

As night falls, section commander 3SG (NS) Samson Ng, 31, starts digging a shellscrape. His company has been tasked to dig in and defend the knoll.

It is past dawn but there is still no sign of the enemy. Nevertheless, machine gunner Private (NS) Tan Zhi Ming, 35, continues to keep a vigilant watch.

"This ATEC evaluation is our final milestone — the last time we did this was back in our active days in 3 SIR. This is also our 7th In-Camp Training…(so this may be) the last battle we can truly experience being outfield fighting alongside one another."

The enemy’s reinforcements arriving for a counter attack.

An Anti-Tank Guided Missile team deploying their weapon to stop the enemy tanks.

At the battalion headquarters, RSM 1WO Cheng Joo Teck (right) is listening to situational reports from his troops — the battalion has successfully driven the enemy away. Mission accomplished!

Friend & foe

ATEC crossed a key milestone when it conducted its 300th evaluation in April this year.

Commander ATEC Senior Lieutenant Colonel (SLTC) Fairoz Bin Hassan, 40, said: "It means 300 manoeuvre units across nearly 30 years have had the common experience of being put under pressure of a proxy to war."

"These soldiers have proven their mettle and operational readiness, and come out of their ATEC evaluations learning and growing for the betterment of the Army."

ATEC not only evaluates a unit's combat proficiency, it also conducts reviews for unit commanders to help them take stock of learning points from the evaluations.

One new initiative from ATEC this year is the focus on the operational safety of the unit, to minimise combat attrition and fratricide (accidental killing of one's own forces) as well as to ensure the timely evacuation of casualties.

Explained SLTC Fairoz: "You can't win without people, and a battle is not worth winning if there's no one left after it."

ATEC conducts about 12 evaluations each year for infantry, guards, commando and armour units. These are done locally as well as overseas, including in Australia and Thailand.

Comprising over 20 personnel who plan and conduct evaluations, ATEC is supported by umpires and two OPFOR companies from various training institutes in the Army.

Tags:

jun-2019-issue ATEC Evaluation OPFOR NSmen 790 SIR 2019-ops

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