NSA Bahrain Completes FEP, Earns Force Protection Certification
Story by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class MacAdam Kane Weissman, NSA Bahrain Public Affairs
MANAMA, Bahrain— Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain earned its force protection certification following the Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) Final Evaluation Problem (FEP) evaluation, Nov. 21.
FEP is a requirement for all U.S. Navy installations, consisting of three phases: Command Assessment Review and Training (CART), Regional Assessment (RASS), and FEP. NSA Bahrain completed RASS in May 2024, with an overall 97 percent, the highest score ever recorded across Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central.
With an overall 98 percent, NSA Bahrain achieved the highest overall FEP score in CNIC history.
“NSA Bahrain is the only forwarddeployed Navy installation in the most dynamic area of operations on the planet, and that comes with an inherent set of challenges,” said Capt. Zachariah Aperauch, commanding officer, NSA Bahrain. “Our team meets those challenges head on, and by consistently performing at a historically-high rate, we have shown the rest of the Navy and our host nation partners that we are always mission-ready. I couldn’t be prouder of this team, and though the nametapes on the uniforms will change over time, our standard of excellence remains the same.”
Multiple drills and exercises are conducted over the four-day assessment, and Naval Security Forces (NSF) personnel are scored on procedure, efficiency, communication and response to different scenarios. Evaluators process and score the events individually before adding them together on the final day to calculate an overall percentage of success.
“The grading criteria largely remains the same year to year; it does evolve as requirements do,” Lt.
James M. McFetridge, CNIC Security Assessments and Training Team.
“Public safety is a ‘no fail’ mission and that philosophy has been applied to each echelon to ensure everyone at every level takes ownership in the product the installations can employ. During the exercises, I observed young men and women executing at a high level with a team mentality on full display. Watching the NSF handle complex situations with a level of confidence I don't get to see very often reinforced my pride in our community and confidence in its future.”
NSA Bahrain has the largest NSF team in the Navy with more than 600 Sailors supporting security efforts for 147 tenant commands.
NSF incorporates a wide variety of problem sets into a regular training regimen, and Master Chief Masterat-Arms Jeffrey J. Harris, NSF Bahrain senior enlisted advisor, believes their high-level training produces high-level results.
“We are extremely proud of our defenders and their year-round efforts cultivating a winning attitude, increasing competency and fostering a culture of excellence,” said Harris. “Despite the many challenges of being in the Middle East, their resiliency, combat mindset and perseverance manifested the highest standard ever achieved in the CNIC enterprise…[but] it was never about a score - the goal was always to be coachable, to trust the process and to give 110 percent day in, day out.”
NSA Bahrain’s mission is to support U.S. and coalition maritime operations throughout the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations by providing security for ships, aircraft and tenants on board NSA Bahrain and assigned detachments. NSA Bahrain provides efficient and effective shore services to sustain the fleet, enable the fighter and support the family with honor, courage and commitment.
AFCENT Showcases Coalition Airpower at Bahrain Airshow
Story by Story by Tech. Sgt. Philip Bryant, Ninth Air Force (Air Force Central) Public Affairs
SAKHIR AIR BASE, Bahrain – U.S. aircraft and servicemembers assigned to U.S. Central Command participated in the 2024 Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS24) alongside coalition and partner nations at Sakhir Airbase, Bahrain, Nov. 13-15, 2024.
During this year’s airshow, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Derek France, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) commander and Combined Forces Air Component commander, met with several senior leader counterparts from other partner air forces. Since the start of the BIAS in 2010, U.S. military support and participation have continued to build enduring relationships in the region.
“Our military relationship with the Bahrain Defense Force spans decades, a testament to our enduring commitment and shared resolve,” said France. “Over that time, security threats have become increasingly complex making this partnership more crucial than ever. AFCENT must work together with our regional partners to ensure peace and stability in the region.”
This year marked the first time the B-52H Stratofortress was a part of the BIAS. The Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa alongside the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Steven Bondy and Lt. Gen. France were given a tour of the aircraft. Shortly after, the airshow opened the aerial demonstrations with a flyover of two B-52s in formation.
The three-day show included U.S. aerial demonstrations, static aircraft on display, and musical performances by the AFCENT band, highlighting the wide range of capabilities inherent to the U.S. military. This year, the U.S. showcased a variety of military aircraft including a C-130J Hercules, B-52H Stratofortress, A-10C Thunderbolt II, F-16 Fighting Falcon and U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter.
Day two of the airshow featured a joint performance between the AFCENT Band and the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) Band that drew hundreds of patrons. Engagements like these drive future interconnectedness and relay our shared vision for enduring peace and stability in the region.
The regional defense exposition and airshow also provides coalition allies and regional partners the opportunity to explore some of the most advanced and capable defense platforms in the world, which can further regional security and defense cooperation initiatives.
The latest exposition reported $1.85 billion in sales and included 59 nations, which were represented across more than 46,000 visitors.
“Our show is at the heart of one of the world’s fastestgrowing aerospace markets, with a surge of aviation infrastructure investment having taken place in recent years,” said Shaikh Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, BIAS Supreme Organizing Committee chairman.
The Office of the Secretary of Defense approved participation in the event to advance and strengthen U.S. defense ties with its allies and partners in the Middle East. Approximately 100 U.S. military and civilian personnel supported BIAS24.
$26.9M BOS Contract Option Awarded for Naval Support Activity Bahrain
Command (NAVFAC) Europe, Africa, Central (EURAFCENT) awarded a $26.8 million modification to previouslyawarded firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinitequantity contract, Nov.21, 2024 to Kellogg Brown & Root Services, Inc., for Base Operations Support (BOS) services at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain.
“Overall, Base Operating Service contracts are essential to the success of military operations," NAVFAC EURAFCENT Director of Public Works Juan Jimenez Arocho said. "BOS contracts include services, such as utility system operations, facilities management and repairs, transportation and many other services that keep the installation operating on a daily basis.”
BOS provides the resources to operate the bases, installations, camps, posts, and stations of the Military Departments and the Defense Health Program. These resources sustain mission capability, ensure quality of life, enhance workforce productivity, and fund personnel and infrastructure support.
Facilities management is a crucial aspect of BOS. It involves the maintenance and upkeep of the physical infrastructure of the installation. This includes everything from repairing buildings and roads to managing utilities and waste disposal.
BOS services to be performed, but is not limited to all management and administration, facilities management and investment, janitorial, pest control, integrated solid waste, grounds maintenance, and environmental services to provide base operations support services.
The base contract was awarded on May 23, 2017, to Kellogg Brown & Root Services, Inc., as a result of full and open competition using best-value source selection procedures.
This option year six period will be executed from Dec. 1, 2024, to Nov. 30, 2025. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Work will be performed at NSA Bahrain.
The Department of Defense contract announcement can be read at https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/ Contract/Article/3974996/
The contract modification provides an additional 12 months of BOS services under the basic contract and brings the total cumulative face value to $183,336,550 million.
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command is the naval shore facilities, base operating support, and expeditionary engineering systems command delivering life-cycle technical and acquisition solutions aligned to fleet and Marine Corps priorities. NAVFAC EURAFCENT supports fleet commanders by providing engineering assessments and agile acquisition strategy, constructing and maintaining shore infrastructure, and maximizing force readiness to enhance warfighter capability. NAVFAC EURAFCENT serves as the engineering link between the shore and the Fleet in the European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility.
For more information, contact NAVFAC EURAFCENT public affairs at +39 366.695.8800 or NAVFAC-EAC-PAO@ us.navy.mil.
Story by Anthony Cage, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Europe Africa Central BAHRAIN, Bahrain - aval Facilities Engineering Systems
Kickin’ it with Shaun: Avast! Avast! Avast!
By: Shaun Gillespie, NSA Bahrain MWR Fitness Specialist
Let’s set the scene. A blue-gray haze seems to hang over the ocean. It’s freezing and visibility is low. The command comes loud and clear from the Captain to the helmsman. Avast, Avast, Avast! The call for full stop is repeated three times loud and clear so there is absolutely no denying it.
This is exactly how you feel at times with your diet and fitness routines – with everything feeling like it has come to a screeching halt. Work is crazy with last minute deadlines and pressure to complete, organize, arrange, fix and manage everyone and everything, before the holidays start. The family needs you around more so you can help plan and be a part of the festive season (which means you don't have much time for yourself).
With your routine trashed and consistency out the window, how do we minimize the damage on our waistlines during the festive season? Here are a few bulletproof ways to brace for impact:
1. Most of the problem really comes down to routine. We usually don't do well out of routine, but that’s simply human nature. Stay as close to your current routine as possible or adapt to a new temporary workout plan. Calisthenics is one of the easiest ways to maintain strength and it requires little space and no equipment depending on your current level of ability.
2. Use the hand/eye measure to calculate food quantity, try to make the best food choices you can based on your schedule. Below is a rough guide to see you through - because everyone knows it's all about the amount you eat right?
• Start by making a fist, this is the amount of carbs to have on your plate.
• Next, open your hand and look at your palm, this is the amount of protein you need.
• Now do a thumbs up then bend it at the first joint, this is the quantity of fats you should consume. Seems small doesn't it? That's because the rest of your plate should be filled with greens and vegetables.
3. Walking is a great way to keep moving, maintain steady state cardio and help maintain a base activity level while away. Walk everywhere you can – and take the stairs instead of the elevator!
Let's be real. Like for real, for real. As discussed in the last article, there really isn't anything to worry about in the festive season and weight fluctuations are normal. But if you are one of those people who are serious about maintenance or know that if you put on excess weight it might spiral out of control. DON’T PANIC. In the modern age, it's really important to take a break from most things for mental and physical health. The holidays are the perfect time for that – so allow yourself the grace to enjoy the season with family and friends, do a little preventative maintenance along the way, and hit the New Year hard with a clear mind and recharged batteries!
“Tu Certa Salutis Anchora“
THANKSGIVING POEM
I read a book a while ago called “The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession, and the Search for the Lost Colony of Roanoke” by Andrew Lawler chronicling one of the earliest English settlements in North America. English settlers arrived and established a colony in the Outer Banks area of North Carolina decade before Jamestown in Virginia. They struggled for years before the governor of the colony decided to go back to England for supplies and return as soon as possible. It took 2 years before he returned: delayed by all sorts of reasons. When he finally did return, the colony disappeared. No trace that anyone ever been there. It remains a mystery to this day.
Not too many people want to build something that disappears forever without a trace, lost to the depths of history. We hope our legacy, even in the smallest ways, can live onward so we can be remembered. It’s a sacred calling to carry a legacy forward and that is what we all are doing here. Stewardship is a virtue that propels us to care for the things in life we love the most, caring for people they will never meet. The engine of stewardship is love, which leads everything we do for the good of family and community. On Thanksgiving, gratitude lifts our spirits, as we are grateful for the legacy that was passed down to us. We hope to no abandon it to long-forgotten memories.
Thanksgiving Poem
The Harvest Moon brightly shines seared into our heart.
Sun’s warmth fades away like a thief running into the shadows.
Thoughts ablaze of food, friends, and family in multitude.
Prayers filled for those in solitude, alone, far from home.
Trusting hope is found in the one who won’t be confined.
Giving thanks for those beyond the horizon we will never leave behind.
Knowing words are not enough to show our true gratitude,
Where giving thanks is made perfect; never falling like autumn leaves
NSA BAHRAIN MENTAL HEALTH ROADMAP
There’s no wrong door to start—we’ll get you to the right place!
New
MOVIES at the MWR Cinema
White Bird (PG-13) – 2h 1m
Struggling to fit in at his new school after being expelled for his treatment of Auggie Pullman, Julian is visited by his grandmother and is transformed by the story of her attempts to escape Nazi-occupied France during World War II.
Wicked (PG) – 2h 40m
Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman because of her green skin, and Glinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads.
Gladiator II (R) – 2h 28m
After his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now lead Rome, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum and must look to his past to find strength to return the glory of Rome to its people.
Smile 2 (R) – 2h 7m
About to embark on a world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her past.
