(Main photo: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean placing the Peace Carvin V detachment badge on MAJ Mark Tan at the inauguration of Peace Carvin V in Mountain Home, Idaho.)

By Adrian Tay

The pilots and crew of Singapore's newest fighter jets, the F-15SG, will have their training based in the US Air Force's (USAF) Mountain Home Air Force Base (MHAFB) in Idaho.

The detachment of about 250 Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) personnel comprising pilots, Weapons System Officers (Fighter) and ground crew will undergo air-to-air and air-to-ground training and development programmes.

This is to operationalise the F-15SG fighter aircraft, and set up a core group of fully qualified F-15SG air and ground crew.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, who officiated at the inauguration ceremony of the RSAF's Peace Carvin (PC) V F-15SG fighter detachment at the Mountain Home Air Force Base, said "The F-15SG represents a new capability that will enhance the SAF's ability to deal decisively with security challenges and contribute to the peace and stability of our region."

While there, they will also participate in USAF exercises to hone their professional skills and enhance their combat readiness.

DPM Teo said that the RSAF detachments in the US "have provided realistic, rigorous and demanding training for our airmen to build up their combat readiness.

"The training that the SAF has been able to conduct in the United States, and the invaluable support and assistance rendered by the US Government and the US military, are a reflection of the strong and warm bilateral relationship that our two countries enjoy. This is a relationship based on shared strategic perspectives and common interests. Singapore's position has always been that the United States' presence in the Asia-Pacific is vital for the region's continued peace and security," he added.

The PC V detachment was established in October 2008 as part of the US Air Force's (USAF's) 428th Fighter Squadron, and will operate up to 12 F-15SG fighter aircraft at the MHAFB for the next 25 years.

In his speech, DPM Teo encouraged the servicemen to not just do their very best to acquire the skills and knowledge to operate these new platforms, but to take the opportunity to make not just new professional contacts, but new friends.

To the families of the servicemen who have moved there, DPM Teo thanked them for their strong support and understanding, "Your presence here gives our servicemen the ease of mind that is necessary for them to do their job well. Their success is yours as well."

Besides the PC V detachment, the RSAF has another ongoing F-16C/D fighter detachment (PC II) at the Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, which was established in 1992 under the PC Programme. In addition, the RSAF has two other training detachments in the US: Peace Prairie CH-47 Chinook helicopter detachment in Grand Prairie, Texas, and Peace Vanguard AH-64D Apache helicopter detachment in Marana, Arizona.