Singapore — U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South East Asia Rotation (MRF-SEA) held an opening ceremony at Bedok Camp, Singapore on Monday, March 17, to commence Exercise Valiant Mark 2025 with the Singapore Guards 3rd Battalion (3 GDS) and the Singapore Infantry Brigade 7th Brigade (7 SIB). Established in 1991, Exercise Valiant Mark marks its 27th iteration this year.

Capt. Lewis Collins (left), with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, U.S. Marine Corps, and Lt. Col. Mohammad Fahrul Bin Said, commanding officer of the Singapore Guards 3rd Battalion, pose for a photo during the Valiant Mark 25 opening ceremony at Bedok Camp, March 17, 2025.

The ceremony was presided over by Lt. Gen. Michael S. Cederholm, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, and Col. Wong Pui Chuan, Chief Guards Officer (CGO) and Commander 21st Singapore Division. Exercise Valiant Mark 25 will continue until March 26.

This year, approximately 800 Singapore Guardsmen and U.S. Marines will conduct small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) operations, expert-led subject matter expert exchanges, live-fire training, and a culminating field training exercise focused on air assault operations and military operations in urban terrain. During the field training exercise, Marines and Guardsmen will conduct platoon exchanges, placing a Guards platoon under the operational control of a Marine company, and vice versa, to enhance U.S.-Singapore combined interoperability and build interpersonal relationships. Adding a new level of complexity to Valiant Mark, Marines and Guardsmen will conduct a combined assault in SAFTI City, the Singapore Armed Forces’ newest and most advanced urban training facility. SAFTI City is equipped with cutting-edge technology to better simulate real-world urban environments. MRF-SEA will be the first partner nation force to train in the SAFTI City facility.

MRF-SEA conducted Valiant Mark 24 with 3 GDS Guardsmen in December of last year. Rapidly returning to Singapore for more training, the rotational force is ready to build upon the success of last year’s training with their Singaporean partners to enhance combat readiness through increased interoperability and partnership. This training reinforces the U.S. and Singapore’s commitment to regional stability and security by ensuring the Indo-Pacific region remains stable and secure through strong partnerships and cooperation.

“Conducting back-to-back Valiant Mark exercises with the Singapore Guards is a unique opportunity to increase our collective lethality and interoperability as a U.S.-Singapore combined force,” said Col. Stuart Glenn, commanding officer of MRF-SEA. “The strong relationships between our units and 3 GDS and 7 SIB will serve as a catalyst to ensure this year’s exercise is more beneficial than ever. We will tackle new challenges, strengthen our combined capabilities, and set the stage for future Valiant Mark exercises and a secure region for years to come.”

The U.S. and Singapore enjoy a strong defense partnership built on cooperation and mutual benefit. This partnership enhances interoperability between our forces, enables seamless collaboration, and underscores our commitment to the region.