US, Singapore Forces Strengthen Ties in Valiant Mark

Exercise Valiant Mark 2025 concluded on 26 March at SAFTI City training facility in Singapore, demonstrating the partnership between U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA), and Singapore Guardsmen with 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards, 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade. The 10-day exercise focused on interoperability between forces and military operations in urban terrain.

U.S. Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, attached to MRF-SEA, trained alongside their Singaporean counterparts, participating in operational planning, intelligence integration, and live-fire training. A key component of the exercise was a platoon exchange, integrating U.S. and Singaporean forces at the platoon level during the field training exercise.

“Our partnership has developed over nearly 60 years and has been built on shared values of peace, security, and stability,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael Cederholm, the commanding general for I Marine Expeditionary Force.

This year’s exercise culminated in a combined assault on SAFTI City, a newly commissioned, technologically advanced urban training facility. The combined force successfully cleared the facility, demonstrating their ability to operate effectively in a complex urban environment.

“It was very natural for us to work together; it seemed as if we had been rehearsing together for years,” said Singapore Guardsman Capt. Zane Chi, commanding officer of Charlie Company, 3 GDS.

The next iteration of Exercise Valiant Mark is scheduled to take place at Camp Pendleton, California, continuing to build upon the interoperability achieved during this year’s exercise.