PEACE SUPPORT OPERATIONS The SAF Experience SAF

PEACE SUPPORT OPERATIONS The SAF Experience

SAF PARTICIPATION IN UN MISSIONS o o o SAF has sent over 900 personnel on 12 missions to date First mission in Namibia in 1989 Longest running - UNIKOM in Iraq / Kuwait, is into 12 th year

SAF SUPPORT FOR PSO o UNTAG • • Namibia, 1989 14 SAF Officers, 48 Police, 20 civil servants o OPS • • NIGHTINGALE Gulf War, 1990 -91 Medical Support in the Gulf War

SAF SUPPORT FOR PSO o UNIKOM • Military Observers at Iraq-Kuwait Border, 1991 to date (12 teams so far) • 5 officers per team o UNAVEM • Angola, 1991 -92 • 8 Officers

SAF SUPPORT FOR PSO o UNTAC • Cambodia, 1993 • 4 Super Pumas, 65 SAF personnel, 166 Police o UNOMSA • South Africa, 1994 • 2 SAF Officers and 3 Police Officers o MINUGUA • Guatemala, 1997 • 5 -man medical team

SAF SUPPORT FOR PSO o UNSMA • Afghanistan, 199798 • First peacemaking mission o Postings to UNHQ • Situation Centre • Training Unit • Medical Support Unit • Field Admin. & Logistic Unit • Mission Planning Department

SAF SUPPORT FOR PSO o INTERFET (UN sanctioned International Force in East Timor) • • • 4 -men Liaison Team 3 x LST for approx. 2 mths each 1 x C 130 for 2 x two weeks duration 26 -men Medical Team Cumulative total of 373 personnel involved

SAF SUPPORT FOR PSO o UNTAET (UN Transition Administration in East Timor) • 4 x PKO HQ staff, including the DCOS (CMA) • 61 -men platoon taskforce in Western Sector • 21 -men Medical Team • 40 x Civpols

SAF SUPPORT FOR PSO o First time the SAF deploy ground troops for UN mission o Singapore playing an active role to secure stability in the region

SAF SUPPORT FOR PSO o UNMEE (UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea) • 2 x military observers including Sector (West) Senior Military Observer

SAF’s CURRENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO PSO Military Observers - 4 - 2 in UNIKOM, 2 in UNMEE - 6 mths / 1 Yr tour UNMISET • Staff in PKF HQ • PL Task Force in Sector West UNMISET - By Oct 02 • PKF FC Sep 02 • CTF Oct 02 • Heli detachment Oct 02

UN STANDBY ARRANGEMENT SYSTEM o Singapore signed an MOU with the UN on 21 May 1997 o The UNSAS is only for UN planning purposes; the final decision to deploy any resources for each mission still lies with the Singapore government o Upon approval by Cabinet, SAF would need to deploy elements within a response time of 4 weeks

COMMITMENT TO THE UN STANDBY SYSTEM o Current commitment: • 2 teams of military observers (up to 8 officers) • 2 teams of up to 4 Planning Officers • 1 Super Puma Detachment (4 helicopters) • 2 x C-130 to assist in deployments • 2 x CASEVAC teams • 1 x Medical team • Medical staff attachments to other Medical units • Total of 143 personnel

Considerations for Participation o SAF largely a conscript force o Participate in areas where SAF can contribute • Staff /Planning Officers • Military Observers • Medical Teams o Clear Mission Objectives and End State o Legitimacy through host nation consent and collective international will

KEY LESSONS LEARNT Adequate and effective pre-mission training o Combined / Joint Training o National Logistic Support requirements o Cultural & Language training /awareness o Home front support o Force protection o Importance of Civil Military Relations o

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