In a recent incident that raised concerns during the ongoing Exercise Wallaby in Queensland, Australia, all 12 Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) servicemen involved in a collision received timely medical attention and have since rejoined their unit. This incident occurred on September 24, when a Hunter armoured fighting vehicle accidentally rear-ended another vehicle while returning to base at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

The SAF reported on September 25 that training has resumed, underscoring the importance of maintaining safety, especially under challenging visibility conditions. With the first leg of Exercise Wallaby concluding on September 26, troops will be rapidly transitioning in and out of training areas, ensuring that their operational momentum keeps up.

Major Raymeo Kuah, commander of ground-based air defense at the 3rd Divisional Air Defence Artillery Battalion, stated, "There have been minimal disruptions to our training programme. We assess that we are still able to achieve the objectives we set out for the exercise." He also emphasized the unit's commitment to safety, saying, "We continue to take a strong look at how we operate and ensure that safety is our top priority."

Following the accident, a safety pause was called to fully understand the circumstances leading to the collision. Commanders quickly shared vital safety information with every soldier involved, enhancing awareness of potential hazards during the exercise.

The Hunter armoured fighting vehicle, which made its debut in Exercise Wallaby, is designed and developed in Singapore. This advanced vehicle, equipped with a crew of three (vehicle commander, gunner, and driver), also has the capacity to carry an additional eight soldiers. The introduction of the Hunter marks a significant advancement in the SAF’s armored capabilities, also deployed alongside other formidable vehicles like the Leopard tank.

As Exercise Wallaby continues — anticipated to be the SAF’s largest unilateral overseas exercise with around 6,200 troops participating until November 3 — a thorough investigation into the accident's contributing factors is expected. The SAF’s ability to recover quickly and adapt will be crucial as they strive to meet their training goals while ensuring soldier safety remains the top priority.

Stay tuned as we monitor developments from Exercise Wallaby, and remember—safety in training is just as vital as success on the battlefield!