In early May, US Marines from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO), I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, conducted Unit Enhancement Training (UET) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Presidential Guard at Camp Pendleton, California.

The joint exercise, part of Exercise Pacific Inferno 25, reinforced bilateral cooperation and operational interoperability.

UET traces its roots to the longstanding relationship between the US Marine Corps and the UAE Presidential Guard, the UAE's premier special forces.

The US Marines have been foundational to the creation, training and sustainment of the Presidential Guard, helping them build tactical skills and cohesion.

UET has evolved into bilateral training exercises that occur regularly at different US and Emirati bases.

At its core, UET fosters a closer military partnership between the United States and UAE.

It is designed to deepen ties, build trust, and boost joint effectiveness while advancing shared security interests in the Middle East and Gulf region.

Training objectives

UET aims to sharpen tactical proficiency and synchronize operational procedures.

The exercises focus on close-air support, indirect fire, and combined arms coordination, with particular emphasis on counterterrorism operations and regional security challenges.

Marines and Emirati soldiers train to align communications, target identification, and the management of aerial operations.

UET emphasizes integrated approaches to air and ground operations tailored to modern security threats.

Training activities during the May exercise included land navigation, day and night infiltrations, and integration of joint terminal attack controller capabilities within long-range reconnaissance teams.

The program followed a progressive "building block" approach, beginning with individual skills, advancing to team operations, and culminating in a final exercise that married all phases of urban reconnaissance and surveillance.

Beyond immediate combat training, UET advances long-term regional stability.

Through the Marine Corps Training Mission – UAE (MCTM-UAE), the United States continues its ongoing commitment to Emirati security.

UET offers more than just pragmatic training and battlefield skills. It reinforces shared procedures, enhances interoperability and strengthens cultural understanding.

Iterative collaborations between US Marines and the Presidential Guard serve to reinforce cohesion and demonstrate the United States' enduring commitment to partnerships in the Middle East.