Personnel at RAF Brize Norton have been supporting Exercise Saif Sareea 3 (SS3), the UK Armed Forces’ lead exercise this year and the largest in 17 years. This multi-national, tri-service exercise is the third of its kind, with the previous two taking place in 1986 and 2001.
The three-week long exercise which starts in October 2018, will see the deployment of almost 4,500 military personnel from across all three UK services, approximately 900 of which are from the Royal Air Force. During the exercise the UK Armed Forces and the Sultan’s Armed Forces will be working alongside each other in Oman, and the broader Middle East. Demonstrating the UK and Oman’s ability to operate together in austere conditions through the deployment of a Coalition Joint Task Force.
Since July this year, defence equipment required for this huge exercise has been arriving into the Middle East. Tactical Medical Wing (TMW) here at RAF Brize Norton have also been involved, coordinating and deploying 19,200kgs of medical equipment.
“The build-up to SS3 started nearly 18 months ago for us at TMW. We have provided a full Role 2 Medical Treatment Facility (MTF), this facility also incorporates an Air Staging Unit (ASU) to allow the movement of patients intra and inter-theatre. In addition to this facility, we have sent teams of medical personnel and equipment to the Convoy Support Centre (CSC).
The MTF in Oman has a mix of TMW personnel as well as personnel from Defence Primary Healthcare (DPHC) across the country. The RAF footprint is part of a much larger joint medical capability in the region to provide overall support to the exercise. To enable a sustained medical footprint for up to four months of medical cover, it has been one of the biggest logistical operations that we have enabled since the height of the Op HERRICK and the previous Saif Sareea exercise. We still maintain a capability to deploy an MTF anywhere in the world and are currently poised to deploy on Op CARIBBEAN.”
Flight Lieutenant Rob Willcocks
Officer Commanding Logistics Squadron, TMW
It’s been a whole team effort for RAF Brize Norton, from the Movers that have been coordinating the freight and building the pallets to the Air Loadmasters loading it onto the aircraft, and the Pilots transporting the equipment to the Middle East. The Air Movements Staff within the Passenger Terminal have also been involved, ensuring a smooth transit for the thousands of personnel deploying on the exercise, as well as continuing their daily tasks in support of Defence Operations worldwide.
“Saif Sareea 3 is a critically important exercise because it demonstrates the UK’s resolve and commitment to security in the Arabian Gulf region. RAF Brize Norton’s part in Saif Sareea 3 is vital because, without us, UK Defence would not be able to deploy, sustain and recover over 4500 exercise personnel and their equipment. A well-executed deployment plan, utilising C-17, A400M and Voyager across 40 separate airlift missions, sends a strong signal to other nations about our effectiveness and capabilities."
Group Captain Dan James
Station Commander RAF Brize Norton
