NAVCENT HOSTS INAUGURAL MULTINATIONAL COMBAT CASUALTY CARE ENGAGEMENT
Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class
Alec Kramer, AFN Bahrain
MANAMA, Bahrain – U. S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) hosted the inaugural Multinational Combat Casualty Care Engagement (CCCE) conference, July 1–3.
Seeking to strengthen relationships among senior regional medical leaders, the conference attendees discussed a range of topics, including preparing medical teams for combat missions; managing
common injuries in the field; utilizing telemedicine in a field setting; supporting a multinational fighting force; and providing ancillary support in combat.
More than 100 personnel from 12 countries participated.
“I'm grateful to all the 12 partner nations who come out and join us from around the globe, all in a unified commitment to do the best that we can within military medicine to improve survivability and provide care both from a
physical and a mental standpoint during times of crisis and even during times of peace,” said Capt. Jorge Brito, NAVCENT force surgeon and U.S. 5th Fleet surgeon.
Brito added that the universal language of medical care, which transcends every language barrier, aims for the same goal: to save lives and advance medicine on a global scale.
“The ability to present everyone's best practices and lessons learned from medical care,
whether it be trauma care for forces, U.S. forces, and partners allow us to achieve the understanding of cooperation and collaboration,” said Lt. Freddie Mawanay, the event’s coordinator.
“The ability to understand someone else's medical capabilities allows us to have that self-service support for any patient that presents in front of us,” said Mawanay.
NAVCENT/C5F is the maritime component commander of U.S.
Central Command in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, which encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse comprises more than 20 countries and includes three critical choke points: the Suez Canal, and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz.
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Task Force 51/5 Holds Change of Command Ceremony
Story by Sgt. Angela Wilcox, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade MANAMA, Bahrain – Brig. Gen. Matthew S. Reid concluded his two years of faithful and dedicated leadership by handing over command of Task Force 51, 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade to Brig. Gen. Stephen J. Lightfoot. The change of command ceremony, held aboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain on July 11, 2024, marked the official transfer of authorities and responsibilities to the new commanding general.
Under Reid’s leadership, TF 51/5 forces were actively engaged in a variety of operations, activities, and initiatives that spanned the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. These included Joint Task Force-Crisis Response
World Cup 22, International Maritime Exercise 23, iterations of the Intrepid Maven exercise series, and multiple Multilateral Maritime Engagements. These OAIs delivered lethal combat power against U.S. enemies, reassured American allies and partners, and deterred potential adversaries. Operations included contingency and crisis response planning efforts, multilateral theater security cooperation exercises, subject matter expert exchanges, key leader engagements, and amphibious sustainment exercises designed to sharpen warfighting proficiency.
“Working alongside exceptional individuals from various nations and branches of the United States military has been a privilege beyond belief,” expressed Reid. “Throughout my time at 51/5 we’ve faced numerous challenges with unwavering resolve and unmatched professionalism.”
Reid shared a quote from Jim Lovell, American retired astronaut, naval aviator, test pilot and mechanical engineer. “There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who
wonder what happened. To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen.”
“This resonates deeply with our personnel at 51/5… we have constantly made things happen despite the challenges,” said Reid. Before assuming command of Task Force 51/5, Lightfoot served as the director of Capabilities Development Directorate, Headquarters Marine Corps Combat Development and Integration. With extensive qualifications as a Weapons and Tactics Instructor, he has flown over 3700 flight hours across diverse fleet aircraft, including 900 hours in support of combat operations and 800 hours using night vision devices. His distinguished career includes authorization to wear the Presidential Service Badge and multiple personal decorations. Upon assuming command, Lightfoot addressed the Marines and sailors entrusted under him, and encouraged them to embrace the highest standards of excellence as his predecessor had done.
“Brigadier General Reid set the bar high,” said Lightfoot. “And in a very short period of time I’ve been able to see that we have a varsity team here. We will succeed together. Mission first, people always.”
Task Force 51/5 is an integrated Navy and Marine Corps amphibious force, serving as a Joint Task Force-Capable Headquarters. It plays a vital role in responding to crises and contingencies, coordinating and executing operations, conducting theater security cooperation, and advancing emerging Naval concepts at sea, from the sea, and ashore in support of U.S. Central Command, Fifth Fleet, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command theater objectives.
Pakistan Assumes Command of Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force 150
Story by NAVCENT Public Affairs
MANAMA, Bahrain – The Pakistan Navy assumed command of a multinational task force responsible for maritime security in the Middle East during a change-of-command ceremony at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, July 22.
Royal Canadian Navy Capt. Colin Matthews relinquished command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 to Pakistan Navy Commodore Asim Sohail Malik as the commander of Combined Maritime Forces, Vice Adm. George Wikoff, looked on. Matthews assumed command in January.
During Matthews’ time in command, CTF 150 conducted seven successful drug interdictions at sea, with more than 11,600 kg of illegal narcotics seized. These seizures prevented criminal and terrorist organizations from generating income for malign activities. He also met with key leaders from India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Pakistan and Tanzania to discuss about the importance of collaboration, information sharing and exchanging knowledge and best practices to address shared regional maritime security issues, including illicit trafficking and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
The CTF, established in February 2002, is one of five operational task forces under CMF and conducts maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf. The core staff of CTF 150 consisted of Australians, Bahrainis, Canadians, and New Zealanders.
“During the past six months I had the privilege to be the CTF 150 Commander and lead a highly competent
multinational team. Today marks the end of the 6th Canadian Command of CTF 150, but not the end of this endeavor as Pakistan assumes command of CTF 150,” Matthews said, “I am grateful for Vice Adm. Wikoff’s leadership and for the support of the CMF team. I would like to extend my appreciation of all the nations who contributed to CTF 150’s successes. CTF 150 relies on the ability of CMF nations to work together toward the same goal and I am thankful for having being part of this worldclass organization.”
Malik has held numerous key appointments in the Pakistan Navy, most recently as Chief Staff Officer to Commander Pakistan Fleet at Fleet Headquarters. As the new commander of CTF 150, he brings extensive experience having worked with the task force previously. This change of command marks the thirteenth time Pakistan has commanded CTF 150.
Malik said his country’s frequent command of CTF 150 is a manifestation of the trust reposed in Pakistan Navy by
coalition partners.
“It is an honor and a privilege to take command of Combined Task Force 150,” Malik said. “My team is fully geared up to efficiently shoulder this prestigious responsibility to contribute towards Maritime Security and stability in the region. I praise Capt. Matthews and his team for their stanch commitment and commendable services to achieve the set objectives of CTF 150.”
CTF 150 is one of five task forces under CMF, the world’s largest international naval partnership. CTF 150’s mission is to deter and disrupt the ability of non-state actors to move weapons, drugs and other illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.
Combined Maritime Forces is a 44-nation naval partnership upholding 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.
U.S. NMRTU Bahrain Welcomes New OIC
U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit (NMRTU) Bahrain held a change of charge ceremony at Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain where Capt. Stacie Milavec relieved Cmdr. Joseph Reardon as U.S. NMRTU Bahrain’s officer in charge, July 15.
Chaplain Bawa A. Lengani, CTF-52
The Artist and the Apprentice
Once upon a time, a little boy was sent to the master painter of his community to learn that trade. Over the years, this boy developed amazing painting skills. One day, the master sat with him and said, “Young man, I am done teaching you everything that I possibly can. It is time for you to go out into the real world.” The boy looked at him confused and said, “How do I know if I am that good to be on my own out there?” So, he asked the young apprentice to get a canvas and paint his most spectacular masterpiece and bring it to him. The boy did just that. The master asked him to get an easel and take the art work to the market place (the mall) with additional instruction that he should take a can of black paint, a paint brush, and a blank sheet of paper on which he will write certain key instructions. The boy placed the masterpiece at the entrance of the mall and placed the paint brush and the can of black paint next to it. He was instructed by his master to write the following message on the blank sheet, “If you see anything wrong, or if you dislike any part of this artwork, put a black dot on it.” At the end of the day, the young apprentice went back to the mall, and to his shock and dismay, the entire drawing was covered with black dots. This young man felt very deflated and upset, so, he went back to his master in tears and said, “They hate my work, I am not that good.” The master asked him to calm down. The boy was then instructed to recreate the same masterpiece but this time round, he should place a can of white paint next to it, and the message on the blank paper should read “If you like any part of this painting, put a white dot on it”. At the end of the day, he went back to the mall, and to his shock and disbelieve, the entire artwork was dotted white. He was very excited but at the same time, a bit confused.
He took it back to the master painter and said, “I don’t understand, some really like my work, but some dislike it. He then asked the young apprentice to do one more assignment, and that was to create another masterpiece, just like the previous two, but this time round, he should get a blank canvas, a 2nd easel, and the materials that he used in his drawings and place them next to his beautiful master piece. The instruction on the blank paper should now read, “If you don’t like any part of this artwork, please create your own on the blank canvas”. And at the end of the day, this young apprentice went back to the mall and was quite surprised because, his masterpiece was intact, and the 2nd canvas was totally blank. So, he went back to his master and said, “I did what you instructed me to do however, no one seems to be able to replicate my work. The master said, “Son, I want you to keep this in mind: In life, there are people who will like what you have to offer, and there are people who will dislike what you have to offer, however, if you are authentic, and if you make sure each and every time, in everything you do, you produce your masterpiece, then you have nothing to worry about, so focus on creating your best masterpiece each and every time.”
We should be focused and always ask ourselves certain key questions: Am I doing the right thing? Am I positively impacting society? Am I uplifting even one person? Is my intention authentic? Am I passionate about what I do? And most importantly, am I growing.
JULY 2024 CALENDAR
Despicable Me 4 (PG) – 1h 35m
Gru, Lucy, Margo, Edith, and Agnes welcome a new member to the family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad. Gru faces a new nemesis in Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend Valentina, and the family is forced to go on the run. | Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin
A Quiet Place: Day One (PG-13) –1h 39m
A woman named Sam finds herself trapped in New York City during the early stages off an invasion by alien creatures with ultra-senstive hearing. | Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff
a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
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The Watchers (PG-13) – 1h 42m
A young artist gets stranded in an extensive, immaculate forest in western Ireland, where, after finding shelter, she becomes trapped alongside three strangers, stalked by mysterious creatures each night. | Cast: Dakota Fanning, Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré
Twisters (PG-13) – 2h 2m
A retired tornado-chaser and meteorologist is persuaded to return to Oklahoma to work with a new team and new technologies. | Cast: Daisy EdgarJones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos
