Defence Services Command and Staff College

PURPLE TURTLE CONCLUDES IN MARKING EXCELLENCE IN JOINT AMPHIBIOUS PLANNING

Exercise Purple Turtle was conducted from 8 to 13 July 2026, enabling the Course Participants of DSCSC Course No 20 to transform their theoretical understanding of amphibious and joint operations into practical operational planning. As one of the principal joint exercises of the second term, the exercise provided Course Participants with the opportunity to develop and coordinate a large-scale amphibious operation using operational-level planning processes in a realistic and demanding environment.

Throughout the exercise, Course Participants were required to apply the principles of mission command, operational art and operational design while addressing a range of complex scenarios across multiple domains. The training encouraged critical thinking, sound decision-making and effective coordination, enabling participants to appreciate the challenges associated with planning and executing joint operations.

Exercise Purple Turtle also strengthened Course Participants’ understanding of the complementary capabilities and limitations of the three Services, fostering greater interoperability and enhancing their confidence in delivering operational briefings. The active involvement of the foreign Course Participants, who undertook key appointments through role-playing, further enriched the exercise by promoting multinational cooperation and professional collaboration. The exercise effectively demonstrated the value of synchronised military action across land, sea and air domains.

The successful conduct of the exercise was greatly supported by the continuous guidance and mentorship provided by the Commandant and the Faculty throughout the planning process. The exercise concluded with a comprehensive final debrief presented by the Chief Instructors of all three Wings, reinforcing the key lessons of joint operational planning and providing valuable insights into the complexities of conducting operations in a joint environment. The successful completion of Exercise Purple Turtle marked another significant step in developing future military leaders capable of planning, coordinating and executing joint operations with professionalism, confidence and a shared commitment to operational excellence.

PURPLE TURTLE CONCLUDES 2026