Anything But Regular: Commander FSG for XWB and XTD - LTC Benjamin Jonathan Tan

The Forward Support Group (FSG) for Exercise Wallaby (XWB) and Exercise Trident (XTD) 2024, led by Commander FSG, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Benjamin Jonathan Tan, was stationed at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) since August this year.

The 160-man strong FSG provided our Exercise participants with medical, logistics, maintenance, communications, and transportation support, while also coordinating training requirements in SWBTA, allowing our troops to achieve their training objectives effectively and safely.

This week, we speak to LTC Tan, to learn more about his role as Commander FSG. 

Commander Forward Support Group (FSG), Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Benjamin Jonathan Tan

As Commander FSG, what do you do?

As Commander FSG, I led a team of experts who brought with them specialised skill sets and expertise from all corners of our Army, to support the Exercises. Having expertise in domains such as communications, maintenance, additive manufacturing, medical care, we were able to support and sustain the various units that rotated in and out of XWB, to achieve their training objectives effectively and safely. 

LTC Tan at the daily coord meetings with his Command Team

We were also very deliberate in rotating the team members of the FSG, given that our deployment period of more than 3 months. Together with my Command Team, we made sure that the needs and welfare of our soldiers were well taken care of. Items such as vitamins, sunscreen and protective equipment were catered to protect our soldiers from the elements in the SWBTA, and to keep them healthy. We also planned for team members to take scheduled breaks, either locally in Rockhampton City or back home in Singapore, so that they remained sharp when supporting the various exercises over this extended period. 

The FSG was also deliberate in shaping the right conditions, so that our units could fulfil their training objectives in XWB24. Our preparations started in January 2024, and we designed our processes with a soldier-centric focus, to provide a smooth and seamless training experience for each soldier from start to finish. From chartering planes and buses to transport our soldiers from to Camp Tilpal, to making sure that basic and training needs were met - we aimed to provide our soldiers with a first-class training experience. We even created a Camp Tilpal Companion Web-App that allowed soldiers to receive daily announcements, report barrack damages and even find their way around Camp Tilpal!

Corporal First Class (CFC) Jia Zeyu from the FSG Manpower Team conducting a brief to incoming troops at Rockhampton Airport

How did you prepare the FSG for their mission?

Knowing that we would be the first ones operating at the newly built Camp Tilpal, the FSG core group began developing the various management plans for Camp Tilpal as early as December 2023. At the same time, given the scale and complexity of XWB 24, we also made preparations to secure adequate quantities of platforms and equipment for the exercise.

We were also very deliberate in building a cohesive and effective FSG, and that included establishing a good working processes our strategic partners, such as Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS), Primary Industries Queensland (PIQ), ST Engineering Synthesis (STES), and ST Engineering Land Systems (STELS). We forged good working relationships with our stakeholders, so that we could collectively achieve mission success efficiently and effectively.

The FSG24 Command Team with counterparts from PIQ and SATS

With the period of XWB 24 increasing from 6 to 9 weeks, and XTD 24 thereafter, how did FSG coordinate the requirements of various units across this extended period?

We did not achieve this alone; our collaboration with other stakeholders (i.e., Logisticians, C4 Experts, and Medical Personnel) from the training units was crucial. Recognising our place within a larger training ecosystem, we began meeting in February 2024 to establish the roles and responsibilities of each entity. These regular interactions fostered shared ownership and better understanding between the FSG and the training units, facilitating efficient resource coordinations for each training activity. Together, we truly exemplified #strongertogether.

I'm proud to share that together we sustained more than 7,300 troops over 97 days, transported 457 platforms, 275 containers, set up 2 Base Camps (Camp Tilpal and Samuel Hill), facilitated and coordinated close to 50 live firing activities, and have covered almost 1,000,000km of cross-terrain driving in SWBTA. XWB 24 is testament to our Army's ability to sustain operations at scale, effectively and safely, far away from home!

An overview of the newly operational Camp Tilpal

Our plans for Camp Tilpal were certainly not developed in a day – in fact, planning started more than a year ago. We could only establish this “Home away from Home” for our troops with the support of strategic partners such as the PIQ, and the Camp Tilpal Study Group, who laid the foundations to the plans and processes that we have today.

The Camp Tilpal Study Group, comprising experts from across the Combat Service Support Command (CSSCOM), was formed in September 2023 to study the new Base Camp. Harnessing the rich expertise of the various CSS Formations, as well as the experience from past FSGs, the Study Group developed a manual that provided useful reference for our FSG.

Our Camp Tilpal Study Group receiving a brief on Camp Tilpal in September 2023 – CPT Benedict Lau (2nd from left) who was part of this Study Group, became the FSG Supply Team Overall-in-Charge (OIC) for XWB 24

What was it like when you saw Camp Tilpal in operation?

It was very surreal to see the plans we had worked on come to life. We were also very heartened when we received good feedback, not only from our Army Leadership, but also from the training troops. This was only possible because of strong and capable soldiers in the FSG, all of whom supported one another and worked hard towards the larger mission of enabling our soldier’s training and providing them with a first-class training experience.

Flags raised at Camp Tilpal, signifying that both the FSG and Camp Tilpal were ready for our troops 

Chief of Army (COA), Major-General (MG) David Neo (centre right) with LTC Tan (centre left) during his visit to XWB 24 and Camp Tilpal

How did your previous job experiences help you in your appointment as Commander FSG?

I've had the opportunity to serve in different roles in XWB throughout my career - as Frame Logistics Officer for 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade (7 SIB) during XWB 15; Unit Logistics Officer (S4) for 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards (3 Gds) in XWB 17; and the Ops & Training Officer (S3) for 3rd SAF Transport Battalion (3 Tpt Bn) in XWB 19.

Then-Captain (CPT) Benjamin Tan (centre) as S3 of 3 Tpt Bn in XWB 19

Through these appointments, I understood quite intimately the needs of our soldiers and units at various levels. This put me in a good position not only to support the requirements of our training troops, but to provide guidance to my soldiers, some of whom were serving in the FSG for the first time.

What were some notable achievements of the FSG?

As the FSG Command Team was developing our plans at the beginning of this year, we recognised that it would not be enough for us to define ourselves as #TheFirst at Camp Tilpal – as we would have achieved that by default.

Instead, we aimed to achieve even more, and I am proud of our successes.

First, our FSG C4 Team established telecommunications services that supported the digital processes within Camp Tilpal. These telecommunications services also kept our soldiers connected to their loved ones back home. 

FSG C4 Team setting up telecommunication services across Camp Tilpal

Our FSG Maintenance Team also introduced 3D & Additive Manufacturing, and tele-maintenance capabilities. With 3D printing available at Camp Tilpal, the team could produce plastic-polymer and metal spares on demand, to provide responsive maintenance support to meet our training needs. This also reduced the need for air-freighted spares and reduced our spares inventory. Tele-maintenance allowed the FSG Team to reach back to other experts in HQ MES back in Singapore, to provide advice for more complicated platform faults encountered during XWB.

The FSG Maintenance Team working alongside engineers from ST Engineering to develop maintenance solutions through 3D Printing capabilities.

Our FSG Supply Team also digitised barracks damage submissions, improved out-ration packaging and developed innovative transportation solutions in XWB 24. Responding to feedback from previous XWB frames, Supply OIC, CPT Benedict Lau collaborated with SATS to develop a better ration box, that preserved the quality of the food during long resupply runs. 

As the Supply OIC, CPT Lau (right) worked closely with the SATS counterparts

CPT Lau also worked with STES to design better ops boxes, that could withstand the arduous journey from Singapore to Australia, and back. Our Transport Team also developed a digital app that tracked the mileage of each individual vehicle instead of the traditional Vehicle Log Book. Overall, the Camp Tilpal Companion Web-App to enhanced the training experience of our troops in XWB 24.

Screenshots of some of the features in the Camp Tilpal Companion Web-App

Do you have any reflections or thoughts that you would like to share?

Words cannot fully describe the gratitude and respect that I have for every member of our FSG.

I'm so grateful for the relationships that we've built and I do hope that these will last for years to come. Each of our sub-units within the FSG brought to the table their respective domain expertise, which allowed us to overcome the challenges that came our way. Our strong interpersonal relationships and clear sense of mission, has fuelled us to go above-and-beyond and provide #first-class training support to all our training troops. 

It was a team effort from start to finish. I cannot be prouder of everyone in our FSG — for their commitment, amazing work and sacrifices. They made all the magic happen in Camp Tilpal this year.

Members of FSG at the Camp Tilpal commemorative stone

✍🏻  : CFC Hong Soo Yong (Army News)

📷 : LCP Ong Hong En and CFC Hong Soo Yong (Army News), Contributed by LTC Benjamin Jonathan Tan