U.S. Hosts Two Major Multilateral Maritime Engagement Forums in Middle East

By

NAVCENT Public Affairs

The United States hosted two major multilateral meetings on maritime security with regional partners in Bahrain, June 25-26, involving nearly 200 participants who discussed opportunities for enhancing collaboration at sea.

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) hosted a two-day multilateral maritime security meeting for 90 senior military officers and diplomats from 22 nations as well as senior representatives from the Gulf Cooperation Council at the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain. Officials discussed the current maritime security environment and ways to further enhance maritime security in the region, according to a joint statement released June 26.

“Participants reiterated commitment to uphold navigational rights and operate consistent with international law, as well as pursue collective efforts to prevent threats to vessels traveling through regional waterways that are critical to international trade and the global economy,” the statement read.

Separately, NAVCENT’s naval amphibious task force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, hosted a multilateral maritime engagement conference in Bahrain for the second time this year, with 100 international staff officers from 10 nations. Representatives from Bahrain, France, Jordan, Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, United

Kingdom, and United States held discussions to identify future collaborative training opportunities across the Middle East.

“One of the best ways to remain ready to respond to a contingency is to listen to and work with our partners,” said U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Matthew S. Reid, the Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade commander. “Understanding their security challenges and learning how we can best integrate with them during a crisis or contingency response – especially one that occurs in an amphibious domain – is important.”

Conference participants conducted a series of briefs and breakout sessions on air, ground and maritime operations, continuing discussions last held in January. Participants also toured RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009), a United Kingdom Royal Navy landing-ship dock, while the ship was pierside in Bahrain.

In addition to the UK’s regional maritime forces, Bahrain hosts the headquarters for NAVCENT and two major multinational naval partnerships, Combined Maritime Forces and the International Maritime Security Construct. Combined Maritime Forces includes 38 nations that form the world’s largest military partnership at sea. The International Maritime Security Construct is an 11-nation coalition that focuses on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb.

439-4520 www.cnic.navy.mil/bahrain

Commanding Officer

Naval Support Activity Bahrain

Capt. William Lane

NSA Bahrain Executive Officer

Cmdr. Ernesto Rivera

Public Affairs Officer

Chief Editor

Lt. Nicolas Mahone

Deputy Public Affairs Officer

Mark C. Mosher

Mass Communication Specialist

1st Class Sean Gallagher

Host Nation Public Affairs Director

Ameera Al-Kooheji

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SUMMER TIME, SUMMER MEMORIES AND VBS

Most students, teachers and parents can’t wait for summer. It’s a time of transition for some as they move from the next grade or school to another. For some, it is the end of a stage in life celebrated with graduations or the start of a new job and trips that have been planned all year. Its summer time, the opportunity to make memories at summer camps, visiting relatives and taking trips, or just finding your spot or place where you have lots of fun which become lasting memories. For me, as a teenager, they were my summer jobs, when I was old enough to get my working papers and Vacation Bible School (VBS).

So, this year, 11-15 June, the NSA Bahrain Command Religious Team continued to help make summer memories with our annual VBS. The fifty registered Elementary and Middle School children and volunteers gathered at various locations through the base starting at building 100 under the theme, “Twist and Turns” Psalms 25:4., where they engaged in activities such as singing (Praise and Worship), Bible Study, Missions, Crafts Arts and Music, P.E. and Recreation as well as being treated to Breakfast and Lunch.

Some of the highlights of Vacation Bible School were the games that were played in P.E. and Recreation, such as red light- green light, racing and basketball. The highpoint was the “Bible Scholars Challenge”, which encouraged the children to learn the 66 Books of the Bible, Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer. There were several winners that won some great gifts in each category of the Bible Scholars Challenge.

It is the start of summer for all the children who attended VBS at NSA Bahrain. According to Mrs. Wanda Connor, “All the children had an enjoyable week of learning about God and helping with missions, making beautiful Arts and Crafts, building relationships and playing games with friends in P.E. and recreation. This summer some children made new friends, while VBS attendees found their voice and courage to stand up to express themselves in front of peers, families and others through public speaking. These children made memories through their relationship with classmates, teachers and God, which cultivates the foundation for life beyond this summer and VBS. They learned how to use art to share, see, feel, and think as a reflection of themselves and the divine. VBS classes gave them the opportunity to build on teamwork, work under pressure, the courage to try something new, and to have fun. Other students of VBS build on their fundamentals of reading and writing as well as the leadership while figuring out how and what do for their presentation and the challenges. VBS this summer time, though early made some memories of how to trust God to manage the “twist and turns” of their young life by putting God first. Like them, these memories have shaped some of us and continue to make us the men and women we are. Let these summer time memories through our VBS children renew our resolve to look to our faith and to God through the twist and turns of life challenges with peace and blessings always!

Special thanks to Mrs. Wanda Connor, the Protestant Denomination Director of Religious Education and all the volunteers (Patsy Bell, Devoya Morris, Janice Johnson, Melissa Gomes, Sarah Peters, Aurelia Kone’, Yoonsun Choe, LaTonya Groves, Nyssia Stokes, Larry Ward, Mr. Kone’, C’Erika Williams, Ms. Alice Dyson and Ms. Beverly Woods).

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