Frontliners - Level 6 : Unite




How do our NSmen contribute to and serve the community? Nabel uses his unique language skills as a Crime Prevention Officer to spread anti-crime messages to the foreign worker community. Shahrel sacrifices evenings with his family to resume his yearly NS duty at the Geylang Bazaar , while Raymond battles the Tuas Fire while on recall for his operationally-ready NS duties.


Previous episodes;

A Family's Pride




From My Generation to Yours

National Service has fulfilled Singapore's critical need for defence and security.

Thanks to the generations of national servicemen such as 1WO (NS) Jason Ong, and his son, LTA Clarence Ong who have served with dedication and pride, many can enjoy the peace and stability that we have today.

You make us proud!

Venezuela army trains for possible US military intervention



Venezuela's army has started two days of exercises aimed at deterring possible military intervention by the United States.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump warned of a “military option” against Venezuela, as President Nicolas Maduro consolidated his power.


Myanmar army 'fires on fleeing Rohingya' amid Rakhine clashes



In Myanmar, thousands of Rohingya Muslims are trying to flee to Bangladesh after reports that 89 people were killed in a government crackdown.

Fighters in Rakhine state are being targeted by Myanmar's military, but witnesses say civilians are also under attack.

Many Rohingya are trapped on the border with Bangladesh, which is refusing them entry.

RSAF clinches two awards at US air combat exercise



The mission involved taking out a ground target in enemy territory, while fending off adversarial air forces and threats on the ground.

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) weapons systems officer Chia Chi Yu, 32, planned and led a multinational team in the simulated scenario in a two-week exercise in Nevada, in the United States.



The exercise involved some of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, such as the US Air Force's (USAF) F-22s and Royal Saudi Air Force's Eurofighter Typhoons.

The Singaporean was recognised as the top performer out of 19 mission commanders - he was named the Overall Outstanding Mission Commander at this year's Exercise Red Flag - Nellis, hosted by the USAF from Aug 14 to last Friday.

Captain Chia is from the RSAF's Peace Carvin V Detachment, based in Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

The Singapore team was also recognised as the Outstanding Aircraft Maintenance Unit at the exercise at Nellis Air Force Base. The Singapore detachment deployed eight F-15SG fighter aircraft and more than 100 personnel.



About 70 aircraft from Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the US were involved, with observers from Chile, Romania and Oman.

As a weapons systems officer, Capt Chia typically sits behind and works with the pilot to control the aircraft's weapon systems and navigate the flight. He said as a mission commander, he had to make decisions under pressure.

He added: "The award... is definitely a recognition and testament to our training standards, benchmarked with the rest of the participants in this exercise."

The Outstanding Aircraft Maintenance Unit award was presented to the RSAF ground crew for their efforts in ensuring that the F-15SGs were in tip-top condition throughout the entire exercise.



Detachment commander Lieutenant-Colonel Oon Kok Choon said: "The exercise provided a realistic training environment for both our air and ground crew, and I am proud that our RSAF team upheld the high standards and continued to perform well."

The RSAF, which has been taking part in the exercise since 1982, won three awards in 2015. Participants typically engage in air combat and strike missions to sharpen operational competencies.

Remains of all 10 sailors missing from USS John S. McCain collision found: US 7th Fleet



SINGAPORE - The remains of all 10 sailors lost from the USS John S. McCain after it collided with an oil tanker near Singapore on Aug 21 have been found within the vessel.

In an update on Monday (Aug 28), the US 7th Fleet said the US Navy and US Marine Corps divers have recovered the remains of all 10 sailors who had served on board the American guided-missile destroyer.

"The incident is under investigation to determine the facts and circumstances of the collision," the statement added.

Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said on Monday that recovery efforts on the vessel have now ceased, as the missing sailors have been recovered.

The fallen sailors are:

- Electronics Technician 1st Class Charles Nathan Findley, 31, from Amazonia, Missouri

- Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Abraham Lopez, 39, from El Paso, Texas

- Electronics Technician 2nd Class Kevin Sayer Bushell, 26, from Gaithersburg, Maryland

- Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jacob Daniel Drake, 21, from Cable, Ohio

- Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Timothy Thomas Eckels Jr, 23, from Manchester, Maryland

- Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Corey George Ingram, 28, from Poughkeepsie, New York

- Electronics Technician 3rd Class Dustin Louis Doyon, 26, from Suffield, Connecticut

- Electronics Technician 3rd Class John Henry Hoagland III, 20, from Killeen, Texas

- Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Logan Stephen Palmer, 23, from Decatur, Illinois

- Electronics Technician 3rd Class, Kenneth Aaron Smith, 22, from Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

The collision on Aug 21 between the McCain and the Liberian-flagged Alnic MC left 10 missing and five navy sailors injured.

The collision damaged the US warship's left side, near the stern, punching a hole that stretched above and below the waterline.

Following the collision, Singapore coordinated a search and rescue operation with the United States, Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia, covering 5,524 sq km, an area more than seven times the size of Singapore, MPA said.

It also involved more than 300 personnel from Singapore agencies, including MPA, the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Coast Guard and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

The Singapore-led search and rescue operation was suspended at 9pm on Aug 24 after the US Navy announced its suspension of search and rescue efforts to focus on recovery on the USS John S. McCain.

Singapore continued to support the US Navy in its search on the vessel at Changi Naval Base until all missing crew were accounted for, MPA added.

Mr Andrew Tan, MPA chief executive, said: “On behalf of all agencies involved in this search and rescue operation, MPA expresses (its) deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased US Navy crew. We hope they will find the strength to overcome this difficult time."

so who msian navy found?

Looks like all died in the sealed compartment. Same thing happened in the previous accident. All sailors found on board in the sealed compartment.

MY navy found a random body at sea. Could be illegal crew from some boat that was overboard but not reported.

Indonesian Army Leopard 2RI MBT firing while on the move.



This post has been edited by azriel: Aug 28 2017, 02:10 PM

[quote=KLboy92,Aug 25 2017, 08:29 PM]
Apparently its normal for US warships to turn off AIS.

The result of the initial inquiry establishing the sequence of events on board USS Fitzgerald has been published. Would like your opinion on it, if you have time to read it:

http://www.secnav.navy.mil/foia/readingroo...0Fitzgerald.pdf

A lot of navies keep their AIS powered off. It's their choice. But from logical point of view, the stretch of water is very busy. Wouldn't it help a bit of u switch on our AIS let ur presence be known thus making it a lot safer? I've done transiting the Singapore Strait countless times and well aware of the hazards. Every bit of information is very helpful.

This is the US Navy, YOU get out of the way!

fffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu they sealed the compartment when crews are not accounted for ?

maybe KO 1 of their electronics rooms? or at least the compartment where they all tidur.

don't know. wait for report, see what happened.
this is the initial report on USS Fitz incident, quite a good read: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/foia/readingroo...0Fitzgerald.pdf

in short: most of the action happened in the space of less than 10 minutes, and the crew did their best to save as many as realistically possible.

y some of it were censored ?

1 censored part I noticed has relation to electronics room, so that is obvious

another part relates to the specifics of the captain's injury, so that 1 for individual privacy.

i skimmed through the report...it only mentions the incident...not a word on what happened

they off IAS but no off radar right ?

the Crystal also got radar or 'watcher' right ?

its an initial report only covering what happened after the crash, in order to establish what actually happened and what were the actions of the crew after the event.

I linked to you because you wondered what efforts were taken to ensure the compartments were emptied before sealing them.

Dunno. Scary to know your own captain will sacrifice you for the ship to stay afloat. But I think it is accepted risk.

Also I noticed the US Navy called off the search and rescue on 24th, which is 4 days before they announced they found the bodies. I think maybe they already know all those are dead inside the sealed compartment.

This post has been edited by Skidd Chung: Aug 28 2017, 10:52 PM

Keel Laying Ceremony of Indonesian Navy new 124 M Landing Platform Dock (LPD) at PT PAL Shipyard. Delivery scheduled on October 2018.





http://amp.antarafoto.com/bisnis/v15039210...-pesanan-tni-al

This post has been edited by azriel: Aug 29 2017, 09:53 AM

normally any navy ships keep clear of all traffic, only USN ship kiasu enough to tell other ships off like tat.

even if it'a true or not, I especially liked the story of the US carrier group vs the Canadian lighthouse.