'A warm bowl of soup': How the SAF keeps troops going at Exercise Wallaby 2026

ROCKHAMPTON, Australia — Months of planning go into moving personnel, vehicles and equipment thousands of kilometres from Singapore to Australia for Exercise Wallaby, but keeping the training going requires an equally extensive support system on the ground.

The Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) largest overseas unilateral exercise takes place at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland from Sept 6 to Nov 2, where troops conduct large-scale training in an environment that cannot be replicated back home.

Behind the scenes, the Forward Support Group (FSG) coordinates logistics, transportation, maintenance and medical support to sustain personnel throughout the exercise.

Taking care of the troops

One factor that is often overlooked in the preparation and execution of the exercise is the food for the troops.

Lieutenant Colonel Wong Meng Kit, commander of the FSG supporting Exercise Wallaby 2026 highlighted meal provision as another important part of sustaining personnel, particularly for those returning to camp after multi-day outfield exercises.

"I think what will actually motivate them to continue is a warm bowl of soup when they reach camp itself after completing their mission," he said.

He added that the cookhouse would rotate the menus, serving local meals such as Laksa and bee hoon soup.

"Feeding is one of these key enablers that we think that might be easily overlooked, but actually plays a part in supporting our training."

The FSG's work involves regulars, full-time national servicemen, national servicemen and Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps (VC) volunteers, many of whom spend extended periods away from their families to support the exercise.

This year, the number of VCs increased, with additional nurses and radiologists deployed to further expand the range of medical services available at the camp’s medical centre.

"So I think from the commitment angle, I just want to thank my team as well for taking time off and to participate in this exercise as part of FSG," Lt Col Wong said.

Moving more than 200 vehicles across Australia

Preparations begin almost a year before the exercise, with the FSG securing budgets and resources needed for deployment.

LTC Wong leads a team of about 150 personnel providing logistical and administrative support to move troops and platforms from Singapore to Australia.

One of the biggest challenges is transporting more than 200 vehicles and other platforms by sea, then moving them from the port to the training area.

"We take approximately about 10 days to ship the vessels, ship the platforms over through the vessels to the port itself, and then we will take another week or so to transload all the equipment from the port to Camp Tilpal," LTC Wong said.

Maintenance teams are deployed at both the port and camp to receive the platforms and support the operation.

New gym to help soldiers stay fit

At Camp Tilpal, a new outdoor gym gives troops more options to maintain their fitness between training activities.

The facility is the first of its kind at Camp Tilpal, although other gym facilities had been used at other camps during previous iterations of Exercise Wallaby.

Equipped for activities including weight training and tyre flips, the gym allows soldiers to combine strength exercises with running instead of relying solely on running routes around camp.

LTC Wong said the facility had been well received, particularly by soldiers from manoeuvre units who return from outfield training and use their time between deployments to maintain their muscle mass.

"Just giving a running route within the camp itself is insufficient," he said, adding that the gym supports soldiers who prefer hybrid workouts combining running and strength training.

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com

澳大利亚罗克汉普顿——为了参加“袋鼠演习”，需要数月的计划才能将人员、车辆和设备从新加坡运送数千公里到澳大利亚，但要维持训练的进行，还需要同样广泛的地面支持系统。

新加坡武装部队（SAF）规模最大的海外单边演习于9月6日至11月2日在昆士兰州的肖尔沃特湾训练区举行，部队将在那里进行大规模训练，而这种训练环境在国内是无法复制的。

在幕后，前沿支援小组（FSG）协调后勤、运输、维护和医疗支持，以保障人员在整个演习期间的正常运作。

照顾部队

在演习的准备和执行过程中，经常被忽视的一个因素是部队的伙食。

支援“袋鼠2026”演习的后勤支援小组指挥官黄孟杰中校强调，膳食供应是维持人员生存的另一个重要方面，特别是对于那些在多日野外演习后返回营地的人员而言。

他说：“我认为真正能激励他们继续前进的，是完成任务回到营地后能喝上一碗热汤。”

他还补充说，这家小餐馆会轮换菜单，供应叻沙和米粉汤等当地美食。

“喂养是我们认为很容易被忽视的关键因素之一，但实际上它对我们的训练起到了支持作用。”

FSG 的工作涉及正规军、全职国民服役人员、国民服役人员和新加坡武装部队志愿队 (VC) 志愿者，其中许多人长时间远离家人来支持这项演习。

今年，医疗队人数有所增加，增派了护士和放射科医生，进一步扩大了营地医疗中心可提供的医疗服务范围。

“所以从承诺的角度来看，我也要感谢我的团队抽出时间参加这次FSG演习，”黄中校说。

在澳大利亚境内运输超过200辆汽车

演习准备工作几乎在演习开始前一年就开始了，FSG 会确保部署所需的预算和资源。

黄中校率领一支约 150 人的团队，为将部队和平台从新加坡转移到澳大利亚提供后勤和行政支持。

最大的挑战之一是通过海运运输 200 多辆车辆和其他平台，然后将它们从港口运送到训练区。

“我们大约需要 10 天时间将船只运送到港口，再通过船只将平台运送到港口，然后我们还需要大约一周时间将所有设备从港口转运到蒂尔帕尔营地，”黄中校说。

维护团队部署在港口和营地，负责接收平台并支持运营。

新建健身房，帮助士兵保持体能

在蒂尔帕尔营地，新建的户外健身房为士兵们提供了更多在训练活动间隙保持体能的选择。

该设施是蒂尔帕尔营地首个此类设施，尽管在之前的“袋鼠行动”中，其他营地也曾使用过其他健身设施。

该健身房配备了举重训练和翻轮胎等活动所需的器材，使士兵能够将力量训练与跑步结合起来，而不是仅仅依靠营地周围的跑步路线。

黄中校表示，该设施受到了热烈欢迎，尤其是来自机动部队的士兵，他们从野外训练回来后，利用部署间隙的时间来保持肌肉质量。

“仅仅在营地内提供跑步路线是不够的，”他说道，并补充说，健身房支持那些喜欢跑步和力量训练相结合的混合锻炼方式的士兵。

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com