Story and PHoto by STAFF SGT. GRADY JONES/U.S. ARMY
Members of Kuwait’s Emiri Guard partnered with U.S. forces for an urban operations training exercise in May 2015. The Guard is the equivalent to the U.S. Secret Service in regard to its primary mission of protecting Kuwait’s leadership.
“It’s an honor to safeguard our national leaders,” said Capt. Jamal al-Obaidi, a tactical team leader in the Guard.
U.S. Soldiers were deployed to Kuwait as part of defense cooperation with the important Arabian Gulf nation. U.S. and Kuwaiti forces shared tactics and techniques to promote partnership between the units.
“Partnership means sharing of information,” al-Obaidi said. “It’s good to know different methods of protecting VIPs.”
During the training, hybrid teams were formed with members from each force working together to clear rooms to enhance capabilities and increase interoperability between forces.
“Joint operations help us work together better,” said U.S. Army Spc. Edward Meredith. “We’re making ourselves better as they are making themselves better.”