UAE survival training taps into Bedouin skills

Military personnel have seized a chance to enhance their skills through a one-of-a-kind tactical desert training course.

CAPTION: The Foreign Forces Desert Immersion Course instructs military personnel in Bedouin culture and desert tactics, techniques and procedures. Story by Flight Lieutenant Sharon Aldrich.

Eleven members from the ADF and one from the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) stationed at Headquarters Middle East (HQME) took part in a Foreign Forces Desert Immersion Course, facilitated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces at the Saeed Bin Tahnoon Desert Survival School, about 80km south of Abu Dhabi.

Over the course of four-and-a-half days, all 12 participants were fully immersed in the harsh Arabian Desert environment, learning specialised survival skills from experienced local Bedouins.

The knowledge imparted by these instructors is invaluable, given their years of experience overcoming the unique challenges posed by desert conditions.

CAPTION: ADF members are shown the customs involved in making Bedouin coffee.

The Saeed Bin Tahnoon Desert Survival School offers a range of survival training programs, primarily focusing on survive, evade, resist and escape (SERE) techniques.

This curriculum is comparable to the RAAF’s Combat Survival Training School at RAAF Base Townsville.

Among the attendees was Wing Commander Simon Longley, a former commanding officer of the survival school at Townsville, who spoke highly of the experience.

“This was a great opportunity to gain some valuable training with our Emirati colleagues and strengthen our friendship with the UAE military on a different level,” Wing Commander Longley said.

CAPTION: ADF members are shown the customs involved in making Bedouin bread.

“It was fantastic to immerse ourselves in the local Bedouin culture and apply what we learnt to our roles on Op Accordion.”

This course is vital for fostering key leader engagement with local partners in the UAE and has welcomed participants from various countries in the past, including the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mauritania and the United States.

The Foreign Forces Desert Immersion training is specifically designed to acclimate military personnel to UAE military customs, cultures and traditions.

CAPTION: ADF members are shown the tactical use of camels in the desert environment.

Focusing on practical applications, training includes celestial navigation techniques, military camel handling and desert driving skills, essential knowledge for operating effectively in extreme desert environments.

This unique training opportunity highlights the importance of fostering cooperation among international military forces and the value of understanding diverse cultures, ensuring that participants return with enhanced skills and a deeper appreciation of their allied counterparts.

CAPTION: As the sun sets, a camp is set up for the Foreign Forces Desert Immersion Course participants.

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