ADMM-Plus 2nd Expert Working Group on Military Medicine (EWG-MM)

By Capt Dr Fetty Aliuddin

TOKYO, JAPAN – 17-20 June 2012 - The 2nd ASEAN Defence Minister’s Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Military Medicine (EWG-MM) meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan co-chaired by the Singapore and Japan. RBAF’s delegates were lead by Lt Col Mohd Hafizul bin Mohd Hassan, Chief Medical Officer.

The meeting was jointly officiated by Permanent Secretary for Defence Mr Chiang Chie Foo and Japan's Administrative Vice Minister of Defense Mr Hironori Kanazawa. The theme of EWG-MM is strengthening the co-operability of the Military Medicine of member states, enhancing regional peace and stability, thus sustaining health of the region. Mr Chiang Chie Foo also announced Brunei Darussalam as the host of ADMM-Plus HADR/MM Exercise for all the 18 member states in June 2013.

A Table-Top Exercise (TTX) based on a scenario of an earthquake was conducted during the meeting. Recommendations were made on the existing SOP and templates, which will be used and validated during the live ADMM-Plus HADR/MM Field Troop Exercise (FTX) in Brunei Darussalam in 2013. The Joint Force Commander, First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Hj Mohd Tamit, also present at the meeting, briefed all delegates on the ADMM-Plus HADR/MM FTX Exercise in 2013 and hoped for the full cooperation and involvement from all member states to make the Exercise a useful learning platform for all member states.

The RBAF delegates also had the opportunity to visit Japan’s Self Defense Force Central Hospital, Shokokan (The Military Medical Museum) as well as some of Japan’s Ground Self Defense Force Deployable Medical Assets.

Closing remarks by both co-chairs appreciated the active participation and enriching discussion by all member states. The next meeting, Initial Planning Committee (IPC), will be held in Brunei Darussalam in August 2012, in preparation for the live ADMM-Plus HADR/MM Exercise in 2013.

Head of Delegations during 2nd EWG-MM Meeting in Tokyo

Lt Col Mohd Hafizul bin Mohd Hassan presenting on RBAF’s First HADR deployment
to Tsunami Aceh 2004.

RBAF delegates during the visit to Japan’s Self Defense Force Central Hospital

Japan Ground Self Defense Force’s Field Operation Unit