By Sr. Airman Michael Longoria, U.S. Central Command
Qatari Firefighters extinguish a fire May 4 at Doha International Airport in Doha, Qatar during a field training exercise.
DOHA, Qatar (May 7, 2009) – The Gulf Cooperation Council nations and the United States recently completed a two-day field training exercise here as part of Eagle Resolve 2009.
“The field training exercise was excellent,” said Capt. Khalifa Nassir Al Muslem, an operations officer from the Qatar Ministry of Interior. “We all have daily routines that we are use to. The Field Training Exercise allowed us to get out of that routine and work with different agencies.”
The Field Training Exercise (FTX), which began May 4, featured different scenarios ranging from a hostage situation to a chemical attack during a soccer game.
“We chose these scenarios based on current activities in the Gulf region,” Staff Brigadier (Pilot) Abdullah Juman Al Hamad, Head of National Defense and Crisis Management in Qatar.
The first day of the exercise started with a plane carrying radioactive materials crashing at Doha International Airport. After the crash, focus shifted to a missile attack. The day ended with a chemical attack during a soccer game at one of Doha’s premier stadiums.
“The entire field training exercise keeps us alert and improves our ability to deal with these types of crisis,” said Kuwait Army Medical Capt. Abdullah Al Sabah.
Day two began with a hostage situation at Alrazi School, where 20 students and three teachers where held hostage by four masked gun men.
“A situation like this could happen and we need to make sure we are prepared to respond,” said Col. Salim A. Al-Mohannadi, assistant director of training and courses department, Qatar Internal Security Forces. “We wanted to treat this as a real world event but at the same time use it as a learning experience. We accomplished that goal.”
The learning experiences continued throughout day two with exercise participants responding to a biological attack at a fruit market and air space infractions as well as vessel searches and seizures in the Arabian Gulf.
“It has been a very successful exercise but we still have a lot to learn,” said Brigadier Abdullah.
A review of the Field Exercise on May 6 marked the completion of all exercises for Eagle Resolve, which began in late-April and focused on promoting a common understanding of defense concepts and procedures, as well as exercising consequence management efforts. A senior leader seminar will be hosted next week to complete Eagle Resolve. Brigadier Abdullah, the Eagle Resolve exercise co-director, added, “By working together with the United States and the other GCC nations, we are helping to improve the region’s defense capabilities. This exercise demonstrated the spirit of collaboration between GCC countries and the United States."
This marks the 10th year that the U.S., Qatar and members of the GCC nations have participated in the annual exercise.
“I’m extremely happy with what we have accomplished here,” said Eagle Resolve Exercise Co-Director Air Force Maj. Gen. Tim Rush, Air National Guard assistant to commander, United States Central Command Air Forces. “It is exercises like Eagle Resolve that allow us to improve our skills and our joint defense efforts.”
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