US, Singapore armies strengthen Pacific ties

By Sgt. Ashley CurtisJuly 18, 2013

US, Singapore armies strengthen Pacific ties
1 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Singapore Army Col. Hock Woon Chiang, 9th Infantry Division commander and Tiger Balm Director of Exercise, speaks to participants of the U.S. Army Pacific's exercise at Pasir Laba Camp, Singapore, July 15, 2013. The exercise allows the U.S. and Singa... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Singapore armies strengthen Pacific ties
2 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Bruce Oliveira, Hawaii Army National Guard commander, speaks to the participants of U.S. Army Pacific's Tiger Balm exercise at Pasir Laba Camp, Singapore, July 15, 2013. The exercise allows the U.S. and Singapore armies to reinforce ties a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Singapore armies strengthen Pacific ties
3 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Singapore armies strengthen Pacific ties
4 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Brig. Gen. Bruce Oliveira, Hawaii Army National Guard commander, speaks to the participants of U.S. Army Pacific's Tiger Balm exercise at Pasir Laba Camp, Singapore, July 15, 2013. The exercise allows the U.S. and Singapore armies to reinforce ties a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Singapore armies strengthen Pacific ties
5 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Commanders from the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, 7th Infantry Division of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., the 23rd Singapore Infantry Brigade, 9th Infantry Division (Singapore) and the Hawaii National Guard, look on during the Tiger Balm ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Singapore armies strengthen Pacific ties
6 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Participants of U.S. Army Pacific's Tiger Balm exercise look on during the exercise's opening ceremony at Camp Pasir Laba, Singapore, July 15, 2013. The exercise allows the U.S. and Singapore armies to reinforce ties and practice tactics in the regio... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Singapore armies strengthen Pacific ties
7 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Bruce Oliveira, right, the commanding general of Hawaii Army National Guard presents a gift to Singapore Army Col. Chiang, the commander of the 9th Infantry Division (Singapore), prior to the Tiger Balm exercise opening ceremony ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Singapore armies strengthen Pacific ties
8 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Commanders from the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, 9th Infantry Division (Singapore) Hawaii Army National Guard and 23rd Singapore Infantry Brigade chat before the opening ceremony of U.S. Army Pacific's Tiger Balm exercise at Pasir Laba Cam... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Singapore armies strengthen Pacific ties
9 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Daniel E. Soller, commander of the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Singapore army Col. Chiang, commander of the 9th Infantry Division (Singapore), Brig. Gen. Bruce Oliveira, Hawaii Army National Guard commander, and Singapore army Col. F... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
US, Singapore armies strengthen Pacific ties
10 / 10 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Daniel E. Soller, commander of the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, tries on a team baseball cap gifted from Singapore army Col. Chiang, commander of the 9th Infantry Division (Singapore), during the Tiger Balm exercise opening ceremony a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

PASIR LABA CAMP, Singapore - Members of both U.S. and Singapore forces continued a 32-year tradition Monday with the opening of the annual two-week wartime simulation exercise "Tiger Balm" at Pasir Laba Camp, Singapore.

"We value the U.S. military's presence here," said Singapore Army Col. Chiang, commander of the 9th Infantry Divisions (Singapore). "This strong bond that we have forged is what sets us apart from many other cooperating organizations."

Brig. Gen. Bruce Oliveira, Hawaii Army National Guard commander, knows the importance of exercises like Tiger Balm for the future of stability in the region.

"Early last year the United States announced a new defense strategy; the cornerstone of this strategy is a refocus on the Pacific," he said. "Over the last three decades, Tiger Balm has become the gold standard of military partnership in Asia Pacific."

Commanders from the 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, 7th Infantry Division of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., the 23rd Singapore Infantry Brigade, 9th Infantry Division (Singapore) and service members representing the Hawaii National Guard are all contributing Soldiers to the U.S. Army Pacific-sponsored exercise.

The exercise aims to continue bolstering the long-standing relationship between the U.S. Army and Singapore Armed Forces, as well as give the forces an opportunity to share tactics and learn from one another's experiences.

The countries' forces have been taking part in USARPAC's exercise for the better part of Singapore's history. Tiger Balm is also the longest-running bilateral exercise in the Pacific.

"It's a great opportunity to learn [tactics] from each army," said Master Sgt. David Perez, member of the Hawaii Army National Guard and acting as higher command operation command sergeant major for the exercise. Perez is a 4th-year Tiger Balm veteran.

Oliveira said, "This exercise not only represents continued growth of the military capability but serves as a shining example of the enduring relationship between the United States and Singapore."