Thailand, Singapore carry out Flash Thunder 2018 joint military drill

LOP BURI, June 4 (TNA) -- The Flash Thunder 2018 joint military drill between the Thai and Singapore armies to develop small unit and special forces battle competency has begun today. Deputy Spokeswoman for the Royal Thai Army, Col Sirichan Ngathong said that Flash Thunder 2018 was a joint exercise between the Thai and Singapore armies and will run from June 4-14 at the Royal Thai Army training grounds in Lop Buri province. Flash Thunder 2018 will focus on small unit and special forces training with the aim of a mutual exchange of ideas and experiences to develop technical and hands-on competencies for the benefit of both forces. This year the Royal Thai Army has sent 136 men from the 3rd Ranger Battalion, the Special Warfare Command supported by airborne assets to join with 55 men from the 1st Commando Unit from the Singapore Army. The priority of the exercises will be placed on individual weapons training, small unit tactics and skills and airborne assault which includes a joint parachute deployment. The exercises will be conducted under live fire conditions at the Erawan camp in Lop Buri which will be employed and tested in actual fieldwork later in Pra Phutthabat district in Sraburi province. On top of this, Col Sirichan also said that a joint parachute drop for friendship is being scheduled later at Lop Buri province from June 9 - 14 with troops from the Cambodian and Vietnamese Army alongside the Singapore Army and the Royal Thai Army as a conclusion to Flash and Thunder 2018. This will not only improve the skills of the soldiers involved but more importantly will foster closer relations among the soldiery of the different nations within the region. (TNA)