Bahrain Desert Times (498) - June 2023

NSA Bahrain Hold Change of Command

NSA Bahrain

Capt. Zachariah Aperauch relieved Capt. William Lane as Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain’s commanding officer during a change of command ceremony June 15.

Capt. Lane, a 1999 Officer Candidate School (OCS) graduate, became commanding officer of NSA Bahrain in June 2021. During the ceremony, Lane extended words of gratitude to those who helped him achieve success during his time as commanding officer.

“I am super proud of everything this team accomplished,” said Lane. “As for me personally, I am confident they helped me be better as I hand the reins off to Zach.”

Rear Adm. Brad Collins, commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central, presided over the ceremony, and spoke highly of the accomplishments of NSA Bahrain under Capt. Lane’s command.

“Your steadfast leadership, attention to detail, and expectation for excellence have served you and the personnel and families of Bahrain well. So well in fact, the installation won the Golden Anchor Award for Retention Excellence in 2021 and 2022,” said Collins. “Under your leadership, NSA Bahrain maintained a 5-star accredited MWR Program and won several awards for

installation safety, fire services, and their galley. Your time here has been a whirlwind and I’m so glad that I was able to be here today to send you off to be the new Chief of Staff of Navy Region Southeast.”

After the ceremonial reading of orders, Capt. Lane thanked his family and colleagues for their support during his time at NSA Bahrain.

Capt. Aperauch, from Tallahassee, Florida, assumed command of NSA Bahrain following a tour as Chief of the Future Capabilities Division in the J8 Directorate of U.S. European Command.

During his speech, Capt. Aperauch’s speech, spoke of his drive and commitment to continue improving upon the successes of his predecessor.

“As we look to the future, I want to assure each of you that my primary goal will be to support you as we work together to further the mission of Naval Support Activity Bahrain,” said Aperauch. “I am here to serve you, as you support the fleet. Together, we will ensure that this base continues to be a beacon of American resolve in the Middle East.”

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.

Register your “Two Wheeled Things” (i.e. Bikes & E-Scooters)

In February, the Installation CO, CAPT Lane authorized the use of E-scooters on NSA public roadways. This use is subject to specific regulations and guidelines, to ensure the safe operation of these devices. This policy added another option for those who rely on “two wheeled things” for their daily commute and inter-base transportation.

All requirements applicable to bicycles apply to e-scooters such as registration at the Pass & ID office, PPE, parking in designated bicycle racks etc. It’s mandatory to comply with ALL of the safety and administrative requirements to operate “two wheeled things” on base AND off-base for Uniformed Military (Active and Reserve). It’s essential that operators are aware of the rules and regulations that apply to their use. This is why registration of your “two wheeled things” is important. When you register, you are given a copy of the rules, mandatory PPE and safety equipment.

We realize that “two wheeled things” can be a great tool for our base population, and we encourage their use when appropriate. However, it is important that we balance this with the need to maintain a safe and secure environment for all of our personnel.

It is essential that “two wheeled thing” riders operate them in a safe and responsible manner, (in accordance with the regulations and guidelines). This way, we can ensure that everyone can enjoy the benefits without compromising the safety of themselves or others.

DOD Committed to Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence

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The Defense Department is prioritizing ethical considerations and collaboration in its approach to developing and fielding military applications of artificial intelligence, a top Pentagon technology official said today.

Michael C. Horowitz, the director of the emerging capabilities policy office in the office of the undersecretary of defense for policy, underscored the U.S.' commitment to leading the international conversation surrounding artificial intelligence during a panel discussion in Washington on setting rules and expectations for emerging technologies in national security.

Underpinning this commitment, Horowitz said, is a comprehensive set of policy decisions within DOD that governs the development and fielding of autonomous weapon systems, ethical artificial intelligence strategy, and the development of responsible artificial intelligence strategy and pathways.

U.S. leadership, in codifying these principles, is now driving responsible artificial intelligence policy formulation among international partners, he said.

"If you look at NATO's ethical AI principles, for example, they're very similar to the Defense Department's ethical AI principles and that's not that's not an accident," Horowitz said. "It reflects in many ways the sort of common values and perspective on how we're thinking about... when we would want to use AI and how."

He said U.S. also led on the international stage by issuing its Political Declaration of Responsible Military use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy in February.

"That's a set of strong norms that lay out principles of what responsible use looks like that we're now working to bring other countries on board to endorse since

we think that bringing the international community together on this issue, that there is a lot of possibility for cooperation and we want to encourage the rest of the world to take these issues as seriously as the department has," Horowitz said. "And in looking at our allies and partners, we're really encouraged by that."

That commitment to the responsible development of artificial intelligence, and its transparency concerning the development of policy surrounding emerging technologies, is also how the U.S. has distinguished itself from its global competitors, he said.

He said all DOD policy surrounding artificial intelligence and emerging technology is publicly available.

"That's in contrast to some of the competitors of the United States who are a lot less transparent in what their policies are concerning the development and use of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, including autonomous weapons systems," Horowitz said. "And we think that there's a real distinction there."

At the same time, the U.S. has remained committed to being at the leading edge of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, Horowitz said.

He said the rapid advance of the technology has opened up a wide array of use cases for artificial intelligence beyond defense. The U.S. continues to be "an engine of innovation when it comes to AI."

"The Defense Department does lots and lots of different experimentation with emerging technologies," Horowitz said. "And we both want to do them in a safe and responsible way, but also want to do them in a way that can push forward the cutting edge and ensure the department has access to the emerging technologies that it needs to stay ahead."

NSA Bahrain Safety

Egypt Turns Over Command of Multinational Red Sea Task Force

The Egyptian Navy turned over command of a multinational Red Sea task force to the U.S. Navy, June 12, six months after Egypt began leading the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) operational staff for the first time.

U.S. Navy Capt. Anthony Webber relieved Egyptian Navy Rear Adm. Mahmoud Abdelsattar as the commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 153 during a ceremony in Bahrain where CMF his headquartered.

Established in April 2022, CTF 153 is one of five CMF task forces responsible for conducting maritime security and training operations across the Middle East. The multinational staff supporting CTF 153

specifically focuses on international maritime security efforts in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden.

“It was a great honor to be the commander of CTF 153,” said Mahmoud. “For the last six months, we have worked closely with partner nations, maintained stability in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden, and proved once again that Egypt is committed to maintaining maritime security and enhancing our capabilities through trust, training and working together.”

Webber assumes command of CTF 153 while still serving as commander for Task Force 55, U.S. 5th Fleet’s operational staff overseeing U.S. Navy surface assets employed in the Middle East.

U.S., UK Navies Respond to Merchant Vessel Distress Call in Strait of Hormuz

United States and United Kingdom Royal Navy forces responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, June 4, as Iranian fast-attack boats harassed the commercial ship.

The internationally flagged merchant vessel made a radio distress call at 4:56 p.m. local time while transiting the narrow strait. The civilian crew reported three fast-attack craft with armed personnel approached and followed the merchant vessel at close distance. The fast-attacked craft were assessed to be from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.

U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS

McFaul (DDG 74) and UK Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster (F 229) both received the distress call, and Lancaster launched a helicopter to provide surveillance. U.S. 5th Fleet also directed a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to monitor the scene.

The situation deescalated approximately an hour later when the merchant vessel confirmed the fast-attack craft departed the scene. The merchant ship continued transiting the Strait of Hormuz without further incident.

U.S. 5th Fleet remains vigilant and is bolstering defense around the key strait with partners to enhance regional maritime security and stability.

“It takes all of us working together to make a winning team, and I have all the confidence in the world that we will do just that in carrying out our duties with honor and commitment,” Webber told the CTF 153 team. “Your achievements are vast and I am honored in having this remarkable opportunity to serve with you.”

With 38 nations, CMF is the largest naval partnership in the world. Other task forces include CTF 150, focused on maritime security in the Gulf of Oman, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden; CTF 151, which leads regional anti-piracy efforts; CTF 152, dedicated to maritime security in the Arabian Gulf; and CTF 154, established in May to enhance maritime security training throughout the region.

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

Mark C. Mosher

Mass Communication Specialist

1st Class Sean Gallagher

Host Nation Public Affairs Director

Ameera Al-Kooheji

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.

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Some days in Bahrain the high heat is accented by gusting wind with prickly dust. Dust storms are not uncommon on the Arabian Peninsula, across the Sahara Desert and in the Southwest United States. They can be massive (over 1 mile high and 100 miles wide) and look ominous as a wall of dust sweeps the landscape, occludes the sunlight and swallows everything in its path. Years ago a large dust storm swept across downtown Phoenix just days before the 2011 MLB All-Star Game was scheduled at Chase Field. The white roof of the stadium-washed and sparkling days prior-was left visibly discolored and coated with a thick reminder of the formidable force of nature.

In the desert constant winds and occasional storms are always changing the landscape. A cubic mile of air can move 4,600 tons of dust and a severe storm can move 100 million tons (from www. allthescience.org). When moving air moves enough particles of sand to erode the desert floor to a level below the sea, an oasis is born. The water did not arrive by miracle or effort, it was previously present, under the surface. Once unearthed an oasis offers lifegiving and life-sustaining water for vegetation and passers-by.

On life’s journey external forces will move you around in ways and to places you cannot resist. When you must weather life’s storms you may find yourself changed. You may also discover that deep down there is tappable source of support that is both lifegiving and life-sustaining. Indwelling in each of us is an inherent strength, a will, a purpose, a calling, a connection and a drive. It leads us to fulfill our commitments, to be gritty and to be satisfied. To persevere and prevail, these are the aims and expectations of the spiritually ready and resilient.

Two months after the National League All-Star baseball team defeated the American League All-Star team 5-1 under the dusty brown roof at Chase Field, The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff dropped an instruction called the “Chairman’s Total Force Fitness Framework.” The document acknowledged the oft-repeated phrase that “the most valuable resource in our military is our people.” It continues, “To be fully prepared to continually execute our central mission—to fight and win the country’s wars—the approach to how we understand, assess, and maintain the fitness of the force needs to be adjusted” (CJCSI 3405.01, 2011). While of course we must remain physically fit, the Chairman cites other interrelated domains of fitness required for Service members to stay resilient and to flourish. To be deployable and to be ready to fight and win we also must be environmentally fit, medically and dentally fit, nutritionally fit, psychologically fit, behaviorally fit, socially fit, and spiritually fit.

During this PFA season be reminded that fitness and readiness applies to more domains than physical fitness/readiness alone. Develop good habits that promote social fitness (trustworthy and healthy connections), psychological fitness (healthy and effective coping), behavioral fitness (adjustment and positive behaviors), spiritual fitness (maintaining beliefs, principles, values and purpose and meaning) and all other domains of fitness. If you feel dry and need some help discovering your source of life-giving and lifesustaining “water,” speak to a chaplain who will champion your spiritual readiness and dig with you.

New MOVIES at the MWR Cinema

Elemental (PG) – 1h 49m

In a city where fire, water, land, and air residents live together, a fiery young woman and a go-with-the-flow guy discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common. | Cast: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Catherine O'Hara, Wendi McLendon-Covey

Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse (PG) – 2h 20m

After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn's full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. However, when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders. He must soon redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most. | Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Shameik Moore, Oscar Isaac, Daniel Kaluuya

Flash (PG-13) – 2h 24m

Worlds collide when the Flash uses his superpowers to travel back in time to change the events of the past. However, when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, he becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation. With no other superheroes to turn to, the Flash looks to coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian -- albeit not the one he's looking for. | Cast: Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck, Sasha Calle

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (PG-13) – 2h 7m

Optimus Prime and the Autobots take on their biggest challenge yet. When a new threat capable of destroying the entire planet emerges, they must team up with a powerful faction of Transformers known as the Maximals to save Earth. | Cast: Anthony Ramos, Liza Koshy, Peter Cullen, Pete Davidson