News story: A visual guide to Exercise Saif Sareea logistics

The UK’s lead exercise of 2018, Exercise Saif Sareea 3 (SS3), is taking place this autumn in Oman. It has been years in the making, with Joint Forces Command at the very centre of the planning and organisational work. Delivering an expeditionary exercise on this scale brings a host of complex challenges for Joint Forces Command and the wider Ministry of Defence, from ensuring 24/7 medical cover to making sure drinking water never runs out.

These videos help to explain this monumental effort, outlining who is responsible for these kind of military exercises abroad, and how they are delivered safely and effectively.

‘Saif Sareea 3’ means ‘Swift Sword’ in Arabic. It is the name for the UK-Omani military exercise taking place in Oman from October to November 2018. The previous Saif Sareea exercises took place in 1986 and 2001.

What is Exercise Saif Sareea 3?

The Joint Force Logistics Component oversee and deliver the logistics for SS3. They are responsible for setting up the exercise, delivering support during it, and also responsible for returning equipment to the UK after the exercise has finished.

Who runs the logistics for Exercise Saif Sareea 3?

The Joint Force Logistics Component is made up of resources across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Using these combined resources the Joint Force Logistics Component are able to deliver the UK’s logistics capability for SS3 in Oman.

What do Exercise Saif Sareea 3 logistics look like on the ground?

SS3 will test the UK and Oman’s ability to deploy a ‘Coalition Joint Task Force’ to the Gulf region and operate in austere and challenging conditions together. Throughout the exercise there is a need to ensure the health and safety of the 5,000 deployed personnel. To achieve this the Joint Force Logistics Component coordinate the deployment of Defence Medical Service units during the exercise.

How do you keep 5,500 UK troops safe whilst on exercise in Oman?

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