Episode 1 - Defence Hub Duqm, Oman

Marhaba and welcome to the first episode of #EnduringFriendship. In this episode British Soldiers arrive at the UK’s Defence Hub in Duqm. This hub has been developed to support the UK Governments Global Britain agenda and is one of number of Global Hubs, where UK Defence will spend more time overseas to train and persistently engage with allies and regional partners. The Defence Hub in Duqm provides modern facility supporting joint training and a host of benefits including great amenities, and local investment and development in Oman. Here British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy personnel will be training intensively together with Omani land, sea and air forces in the challenging and varied terrain of Oman. In this episode British Army soldiers, from units including The Royal Irish Regiment, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and Army Air Corps, arrive in Duqm through the airport and their equipment at the seaport and undertake training and acclimatisation, before moving onward to the training area to conduct exercise KHANJAR OMAN.
Some of the Defence Hub in Duqm facilities include; the Joint Logistics Support Base, where material and equipment for exercises and operations can be stored, maintained and moved forward when and where it is needed; an accommodation village with modern feeding and recreation facilities; and Ras Madrakah Joint Training Area, which provides a vast and austere training area larger in size than all of the defence training areas in the UK combined. Units providing logistics and maintenance capabilities include 5 FS Bn REME from 104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade and 7 Avn CS Bn REME.
In episode 2, British soldiers undertake basic training and integrate with Oman colleague, learning crucial skills to live and operate in a desert environment.