Page 8 - RADC Bulletin 2019

OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENTS
Exercise SAIF SAREEA III
Capt James Williams RADC LCpl Sasha Marcus RADC
Saturday 18th August 2018 saw the main body of 5 Armoured Medical Regiment’s 35 Squadron ready and raring to leave
the UK on the much anticipated Exercise SAIF SAREEA III (Ex SS3). Packing and repacking bergens, tailoring floppy desert hats and copying travel documents a seemingly infinite number of times were the final preparations in what was the main focus of the squadron throughout 2018. Ex SS3 marked the largest joint exercise for UK forces in 15 years (since SAIF SAREEA II, coincidentally). Working alongside 60,000 Omanis and featuring all key assets the British forces have to offer it was a
real statement to the rest of the world of the UK’s current capability. 5 Armoured Medical Regiment worked alongside 22 Field Hospital to provide all real life role one and two support to land forces for the duration of the 4 month exercise.
On arrival into Duqm, a relatively pleasant
permanent camp just a stone’s throw from the port, acclimatisation was the first priority for the squadron. With reports of soaring temperatures nearing the 50s inland at Shafa camp, it seemed to make logical sense. Practice what you preach and all that. After the RSOM package the squadron moved up to Shafa in two groups. The first by bus to start erecting the tentage, and the
Week three proved to be the ‘enemy’ to our ‘plan’
second in a two-day convoy driving all the battlefield ambulances and Land Rovers. Neither appeared to be a good deal; tent building in 50 degree heat or two days in a
Land Rover with near non-existent air-con. The convoy option did at least afford its passengers the option of seeing some of the local customs and cultures. Even if some of them were somewhat misunderstood. Pte Fisher buying a camel muzzle and wearing
it as an Omani hat being the standout example. A hastily erected dental centre was soon put to good use in Shafa, as the RAF’s chicken fajitas on the flight over had already laid claim to and accounted for four fractured fillings.
“Maybe today maybe tomorrow”! With the mantra of ‘all good plans never survive first contact with the enemy’ ringing in our ears, week three proved to be the ‘enemy’ to our “plan”. Having promised so much - promises of the Med Troop flying the nest of Shafa camp to set up home down at the Convoy Support Centre (CSC); promises of the Medical Reception Station (MRS) declaring herself fully operational and capable of serving all the primary care illnesses and ailments that the battlegroup had to offer; promises of a shiny new Beaverfit gym for the rehab specialist, Sergeant Coleman; promises of battlefield ambulances being stocked and poised ready to be launched into action at a moment’s notice – all these promises unfortunately met with the same answer of, “tomorrow!”. Delays in the
supply chain getting vital equipment into
the country became our Achilles heel. The dental centre itself fell victim and at any one time we only had a maximum of six litres of de-ionised water to operate the autoclave. Luckily tools were never downed, much to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the SQ!
6 RADC BULLETIN 2019