An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Feb. 26, 2009

Kansas Guard trains with Saudi military in Friendship One

By Sgt. Nathan Hutchison Kansas National Guard

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Friendship One 2009, one of the first missions involving the movement of troops into Saudi Arabia in more than 15 years, officially began Feb. 19, when Kansas National Guard Soldiers and their equipment traveled from Camp Arifjan, Kuwait to the training area in Saudi Arabia.

Lt. Col. Jack McLaughlin and the rest of his 1st Theater Sustainment civil affairs team were charged with coordinating the movement of the Guardsmen's more than 60 truckloads of equipment.

"We have a running relationship with the border police at the Iraqi border," McLaughlin said, "but we have had really no dealings with the border police and customs procedures on the Saudi side."

The team met with Col. Mohammad Al-Mutairi, chief of Convoy Security, first to provide the necessary escorts for this sizable convoy.

"We have a limited number of vehicles available, but this is an important mission, and we will do everything we can to help," Al-Mutairi said. "The Americans are our friends and the Saudis are our friends, so we will do what we can to improve their relationship as well."

After obtaining the appropriate paperwork to move the convoy across country lines, McLaughlin started touching base with each Kuwaiti official he knew.

"The thing about a mission like this is there is no room to adjust if something is not right," McLaughlin said. "I wanted to make sure there were no unexpected problems. There was a lot of people counting on this equipment being at the right place at the right time, every step of the way."

McLaughlin and his team headed to the border the day prior to the convoy movement to make last minute confirmations and to make sure the proper paperwork was in all the necessary hands.

"Both the border security and customs security on the Kuwaiti and Saudi side were a pleasure to work with," McLaughlin said. "I was a little worried because things were running so smoothly. When things start moving smoothly with this much paperwork you always expect something to go wrong."

Luckily McLaughlin and his team's diligence overcame any obstacles that could have delayed the mission.

"A lot of people really helped keep this mission on schedule, which is an indication in itself of the relationships between [the U.S. military] and our allies here in the Middle East," McLaughlin said.

 

 

Related Articles
Photo of medical training during a Port Subject Matter Expert Exchange at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, August 20, 2025. (Courtesy Photo)
Washington Guard Continues Strengthening Relationship at Thailand’s Port of Laem Chabang
By Joseph Siemandel, | Sept. 30, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Four members of the Washington National Guard partnered recently with more than 170 employees from the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, to continue improving the port’s all-hazard response as part of the...

Leaders and attendees from the Hawai‘i National Guard, Guam National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines gather for a group photo during the 25th anniversary celebration of the State Partnership Program between the Hawai‘i National Guard and the AFP at Clark Air Base, Philippines, Sept. 25, 2025. The Hawai‘i Guard and AFP launched the Indo-Pacific’s first State Partnership in 2000, marking 25 years of cooperation in training, disaster response and regional security.
25 Years Strong: Hawai‘i Guard and Philippines Celebrate Enduring Partnership
By Master Sgt. Mysti Bicoy, | Sept. 30, 2025
CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines — Cheers, handshakes and shared stories filled the air Sept. 23–25 as the Hawai‘i National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines celebrated 25 years of partnership — a bond that has endured...

Oklahoma National Guard leaders and Italian representatives unveil a plaque at the former headquarters of the 45th Infantry Division during WWII in Venafro, Italy, Sept. 8, 2025. A delegation of Oklahoma National Guard members and veterans toured key locations from the 45th Infantry Division’s campaign in Italy against German forces during World War II, continuing the development of the Thunderbird Trail. The initiative is aimed at preserving the Division's role in World War II through a memorial trail tracing its footsteps through Italy, France and Germany, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Danielle Rayon)
Thunderbird Trail: Preserving Sacrifice, Strengthening Connection for Oklahoma Guard
By Sgt. Danielle Rayon, | Sept. 29, 2025
ITALY – Standing among rows of white marble headstones at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Soldiers of the Oklahoma National Guard bent to place sand from the beaches of Anzio into the carved names of...