1st Sustainment Command (Theater) Public Affairs

Story by Sgt. Nathan Hutchison

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Countries collided in a two week force on force field training exercise hosted in Saudi Arabia, Feb. 22.

Friendship One 2009 was the first mission involving the movement of American troops to and from Saudi Arabia in more than 15 years, and the 1st Theater Sustainment Command was tasked with making that movement a successful one.

Equipment and Kansas Army National Guard Soldiers were moved from their temporary billeting at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, to their two-week destination in Saudi Arabia, and immediately returned once the exercise was completed.

"We had a total of three border crossing operations to manage during operation Friendship One," said Army Lt. Col. Jack McLaughlin, 1st TSC civil affairs officer. "This involved a movement of 38 [heavy equipment transport] vehicles, loaded with armored and heavy wheeled vehicles; and 20 flatbeds, loaded with containers and light vehicles."

Security also needed to be provided along with equipment transport. The task fell on those 1st TSC associates with convoy security experience to accomplish this task.

"The convoy departed Feb. 19th for the beginning of the exercise and the exercise ended on March 9," said 1st Lt. Sean Smith, a 1st Squadron, 299th Calvary Regiment Convoy Escort Team Leader. "The trip to the Saudi Arabia border took approximately 4 hours allowing for the slower speeds necessary to move the trucks with the equipment on it."

Kuwaiti police also provided escorts through the convoy's travels to the border. McLaughlin was very appreciative for the Kuwait Ministry of Interior Police Convoy Escort, General Patrols, and their willingness to support this mission.

"The Kuwait government, police, customs and immigrations were all a huge help, and we couldn't have been successful without their help and cooperation," McLaughlin said. "They bent over backwards to help us."

McLaughlin said the Saudi officers he spoke to during the final convoy mission spoke highly of the exercise.

Further exercises are planned with Royal Saudi Land Forces, with a proposed second Friendship One operation as early as 2011.

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