VOLUME 19, NUMBER 509
NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN
November 29, 2023
NATION CELEBRATES NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH By David Vergun, DOD News The proclamation states: "Despite centuries of violence and oppression, Native peoples remain resilient and proud. Today, Native Americans are essential to the fabric of the United States. They serve in the United States armed forces at higher rates than any other ethnic group. "They continue to steward so many of our great lands. Their contributions to science, humanities, arts, public service, and more have brought prosperity for all of us. Their diverse cultures and communities continue to thrive and lead us forward." Ashish S. Vazirani, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said the Defense Department recognizes November as National American Indian Heritage Month. "This year's theme is 'Tribal Nations Soaring to New Heights.' American Indians and Alaska Natives have a long history of military service. During World War II, the legendary contributions of Navajo Code Talkers were critical for U.S. success. Similarly, Alaska Natives fearlessly defended U.S. territories from Japanese raids. "Many American Indians and Alaska Natives serving today cite a desire to follow in the footsteps of their family members and have a deep patriotism
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Jordan Assumes Command of Combined Maritime Forces’ Multinational Maritime Training Task Force
$27.9M BOS Contract Option Awarded for Naval Support Activity Bahrain
6 Sailor in the Spotlight 3- IKE Strike Group Transits the Strait of Hormuz 6 - Cinema
for protecting and serving their homeland," he said. Alicia Madalena Sylvester, from the Pueblo of Jemez tribe, is the Defense Department's senior tribal advisor and liaison for Native American affairs. She and others spoke today at the Pentagon's National Native American Heritage Month celebration.
Native American men and women serve in the armed forces at five times the national average, Sylvester said. They have served with distinction in every conflict since the birth of this country. "As Native American veterans have pledged their service to the nation, the Department of Defense is also committed to fulfilling its legal and moral responsibilities," she said. "I want to assure all tribal leaders present here that DOD is committed to ensuring that government-togovernment consultation with American Indian and Alaska Native tribes are consistently timely, respectful, meaningful and robust." The Pentagon event included tribal dances from different Native American tribes. "It is truly a blessing to hear the songs, the native language, and drumbeats throughout the Pentagon courtyard and within our corridors," she added. According to the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, the 2023 National American Indian Heritage Month poster depicts America's landscape interspersed with symbols that depict American Indian and Alaskan Native achievements and contributions. The poster is also an ode to the "Skywalkers." Iroquois ironworkers, especially Mohawks, are legendary for their dizzying work in erecting skyscrapers and steel bridges. Mohawk men have walked and worked on nearly all of New York City's towering buildings, including the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and Rockefeller Center. In Pittsburgh, they worked on the U.S. Steel Building, the Civic Arena, and the Fort Pitt Bridge, among other structures.
USS Stethem, Task Force 59 Put More Eyes in the Sky, Expanding Maritime Domain Awareness By NAVCENT Public Affairs The Arleigh Burke-class guidedmissile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) recently demonstrated expansive maritime domain awareness, utilizing Flexrotor unmanned aerial vehicles during operations in the Gulf of Oman, Nov. 8-9. The UAVs, part of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force 59, put a highly capable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability in the hands of Sailors at sea. Flexrotor’s high endurance and vertical takeoff-and-landing capabilities make them particularly well suited for the task of building an accurate maritime picture, said Capt. Colin Corridan, Task Force 59 commodore. “Our warfighters require innovative methods for gaining a deeper understanding of the operating environment,” Corridan said. “The ISR capabilities of these UAVs greatly expand our sight picture and help us better monitor what’s happening in the region.”
Flexrotor provides complete autonomous flight following takeoff, with a wide communication range and the ability for aroundthe-clock ISR coverage. It can be used day or night by U.S. and coalition partners for a wide range of intelligence, surveillance, target
acquisition and reconnaissance operations over land and sea. Flexrotors played an integral part in recent operations where it integrated with 12 different unmanned platforms for “mannedunmanned teaming” operations, tracking Iranian Navy and Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) ships and small boats over several days during routine patrols in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The operations aboard Stethem built on the strength of that operation, Corridan noted. “The Sailors aboard Stethem and from Task Force 59 are strengthening maritime security and stability through the use of Flexrotor, deterring malign activity by bad-faith actors,” he said. “As these capabilities expand, we’re going to be able to gain more information more quickly to be able to make faster, smarter decisions.” U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprising 21 nations, includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb.
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Jordan Assumes Command of Combined Maritime Forces’ Multinational Maritime Training Task Force
By NAVCENT Public Affairs The Royal Jordanian Naval Force assumed command of a multinational maritime training task force during a change-ofcommand ceremony Nov. 22 at the U.S. Navy base here. U.S. Navy Capt. Oliver Herion turned over command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 154 to RJNF Capt. Ayman Salem Alnaimat. CTF 154 was established this past May, and is one of five operational task
forces under Combined Maritime Forces, a multi-national naval partnership of 38 nations, which promotes security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes. During Herion’s tenure, CTF 154 completed nearly 30 training serials across three major training events: Compass Rose in Bahrain;
Southern Readiness in the Seychelles, and Northern Readiness in Jordan. This is in addition to numerous key partner engagements and working alongside other maritime organizations, such as the European Union Naval Force. “Being CMF’s newest task force, we hit the ground running with CTF 154 to deliver maritime security enhancement training to and with partners” said Herion, who also commands Task Force
56, expeditionary combat forces, under U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. “Through CTF 154, we truly are better, stronger and ready together to deter and counter unlawful activity from non-state actors.” CTF 154 conducts multinational maritime training at locations across the Middle East, enabling more CMF partner-nations to participate in training opportunities without ships or
aircraft, particularly during courses that are facilitated ashore. It organizes training events around five core areas: maritime awareness, maritime law, maritime interdiction, maritime rescue and assistance, and leadership development. Each training opportunity is tailored to meet partner requests ranging from basic to advanced levels. CTF 154’s core staff consists of members from Canada, Egypt, Jordan, Seychelles, Türkiye, and the United States. Alnaimat recently completed a tour at the Royal Command & Staff College. He previously served as the intelligence officer in CTF 152, and as a planning staff officer for CMF. He has also commanded the Combat Boat Group. “I look forward to continue the CTF 154 mission and expand our information sharing among our partner nations,” Alnaimat said. “Our shared mission between countries proves that no one nation can do it alone.” Combined Maritime Forces, headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet, is the largest multinational naval partnership in the world, with 38 nations committed to upholding the international rules-based order at sea. CMF’s other task forces include CTF 150 that focuses on maritime security in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean; CTF 151, which leads regional counter-piracy efforts; CTF 152, dedicated to maritime security in the Arabian Gulf; and CTF 153 in the Red Sea.
Combined Maritime Forces, U.S. Coast Guard Make $21 Million Drug Seizure in the Gulf of Oman By NAVCENT Public Affairs A U.S. Coast Guard cutter crew seized about $21 million worth of illegal drugs from a stateless vessel while operating in the international waters of the Gulf of Oman, Nov. 14.
Coast Guardsmen from the Sentinelclass fast response cutter USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC 1145), working under the command of Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, seized 2,000 kilograms of hashish and 384
kilograms of methamphetamine from the vessel during an interdiction operation. “This new seizure shows once again the operational effectiveness of Combined Maritime Forces assets and nations,” said French navy Capt. Yannick Bossu, CTF 150
commander. “It illustrates that nations from all around the world are committed to regional maritime security in the Indian Ocean alongside their regional partners.” This event marks the fifth time in recent months the French-led CTF 150 has interdicted illicit narcotics at sea. In those previous operations, CTF ships seized more than 4,522 kilograms of methamphetamine, heroin, and hashish from stateless vessels during interdiction operations, with a street value of more than $94 million. CTF 150 is one of five task forces under Combined Maritime Forces, the largest multinational naval partnership in the world. CTF 150 focuses on maritime security operations in the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. Since 2021, Combined Maritime Forces has seized more than $1 billion in illegal drugs while patrolling waters across the Middle East. The 38-nation naval partnership upholds the international rules-based order by promoting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
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$27.9M BOS Contract Option Awarded for Naval Support Activity Bahrain By Anthony Cage, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Europe Africa Central Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Europe Africa Central (EURAFCENT) awarded a $27.9 million modification to previously-awarded firm-fixedprice, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract, Nov.16, 2023 to Kellogg Brown & Root Services, Inc., for Base Operations Support (BOS) services at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain. The contract modification provides an additional 12 months of BOS services under the basic contract and brings the total cumulative face value to $171,433,423 million. “Overall, BOS contracts are critical to the success of military
operations,” NAVFAC EURAFCENT Director of Public Works Juan Jimenez Arocho said. “BOS contracts include a wide range of services, such as utility system operations, facilities management and repairs, and transportation.” 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, 2023 to Nov. 30, 2024. 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/3591600/ About Naval Facilities Engineering Command Europe Africa Central NAVFAC EURAFCENT manages facility project planning and design, including all related acquisition, construction,
leasing, environmental, maintenance, and contingency support required by the Navy and Department of Defense commands where the Navy is designated as the lead agent in Europe, Southwest Asia, and the Gulf of Guinea, Africa, and the Horn of Africa. Subordinate Public Works Departments in Bahrain; Devesulu, Romania; Djibouti; Naples, Italy; Redzikowo, Poland; Rota, Spain; Sigonella, Italy; Souda Bay, Greece, provide facilities support service to each installation throughout the area of responsibility, and employs approximately 1,200 military, government civilians, local nationals and contractors. For more information, contact NAVFAC EURAFCENT public affairs at +39 366.695.8800 or NAVFACEAC-PAO@us.navy.mil.
IKE Strike Group Transits the Strait of Hormuz By NAVCENT Public Affairs The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKECSG) completed a scheduled transit through the Strait of Hormuz into the Arabian Gulf, Nov. 26. “Our passage through this important strait and continued presence in the area plays a critical role in maintaining the freedom of navigation that is key to regional security and stability,” said Rear Adm. Marc Miguez, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2, IKECSG. “I am incredibly proud of the sustained professionalism of each IKECSG Sailor, especially in evolutions like a strait transit, where detailed planning, precision navigation and the proficiency of our warfighting teams are on full display.” The Strait of Hormuz is one of the busiest shipping lanes, with one-fifth of the world’s energy supply transiting through the strait annually. This waterway is critical to ensuring and safeguarding the stability of global commerce. More than 500 ships sail through the Strait of Hormuz in a typical week, a steady flow of maritime traffic crucial to the vitality of the nations in the Middle East region. The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (IKE) passed through the strait with the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), guided missile destroyers USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Stethem (DDG 63), and French Navy
destroyer FS Languedoc (D 653) along with air support from a French Navy E-2C Hawkeye and French Air Force Rafale strike aircrafts. “The Mighty IKE brings unmatched
capabilities wherever it goes,” said Capt. Christopher Hill, commanding officer of IKE, flagship of IKECSG. “We place ourselves where our nation’s leaders need us to be and on time, in order to meet the full range
of maritime security requirements of the mission at hand.” The IKECSG’s transit through the Strait of Hormuz marks the first aircraft carrier to operate in the Arabian Gulf since the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in September 2020. IKECSG presence in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, where it has operated since Nov. 4, demonstrates the U.S. and its partners’ commitment to the free flow of commerce, regional security and freedom of navigation. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Middle East Region. Along with IKE, deployed strike group assets include staffs, ships and aircraft of CSG 2, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22, USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3. IKECSG units departed their homeports of Norfolk, Virginia, and Mayport, Florida, on Oct. 13 and 14 for a scheduled deployment. U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprising 21 nations, includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb.
For more information on visas and CPR cards contact Immigration at 1785-4258
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439-4520 Public Affairs Officer www.cnic.navy.mil/bahrain Lt. jg. Bryan Blair Commanding Officer Naval Support Activity Bahrain Capt. Zachariah Aperauch NSA Bahrain Executive Officer Cmdr. Jimmy Harmon
Deputy Public Affairs Officer Mark C. Mosher Host Nation Public Affairs Director Ameera Al-Kooheji Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sean Gallagher
The Bahrain Desert Times is an authorized publication primarily for members of the Navy and Marine Corps military services in Bahrain. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps and do not imply endorsement thereof. All editorial content is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the staff of the Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain Public Affairs Officer. The appearance of advertising in this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD, the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps, or the NSA Bahrain Commanding Officer for the products and services advertised. Everything advertised in this newspaper shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. A confirmed violation of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source. The Bahrain Desert Times is published bi-weekly by Red House Marketing, P.O. Box 20461, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, a private firm in no way connected with DoD, the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. Red House Marketing, is responsible for commercial advertising, which may be purchased by calling: (973) 1781 3777 or send in a Fax to (973) 1781 3700.
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New MOVIES at the MWR Cinema The Marvels (PG-13) – 1h 45m Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. However, unintended consequences see her shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with two other superheroes to form the Marvels. | Cast: Brie Larson, Park Seo-joon, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton
Wish (PG) – 1h 35m Young Asha makes a wish so powerful that it's answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star. With Star's help, Asha must save her kingdom from King Magnifico and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen. | Cast: Ariana DeBose, Chris Pine, Alan Tudyk, Evan Peters
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (PG-13) – 2h 37m Years before he becomes the tyrannical president of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow remains the last hope for his fading lineage. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow becomes alarmed when he's assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird from District 12. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and political savvy, they race against time to ultimately reveal who's a songbird and who's a snake. | Cast: Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage
Five Nights at Freddy’s (PG-13) – 1h 49m A troubled security guard begins working at Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria. While spending his first night on the job, he realizes the late shift at Freddy's won't be so easy to make it through. | Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Matthew Lillard, CoryxKenshin
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