Bahrain Desert Times (501) - August 2023

NSA Bahrain Fire and Emergency Services Department Completes "Tabletop” Workshop

Story and photo courtesy of NSA Bahrain Fire and Emergency Services Department

NSA Bahrain Fire and Emergency Services Department members completed a 3-day strategy and tactics workshop designed for fire service officers responsible for emergency incident management. Students worked in small and large groups to examine case studies and solve tabletopsimulated incidents that ranged from simple house fires to complex conflagrations involving multiple-story commercial and industrial occupancies. “I believe quality training is an important tool in improving skills to enhance our capabilities to the installation” said NSA Bahrain Fire Chief Shawn Herrera.

In simulated incidents, students learned to identify critical fire ground problems and developed incident action plans using a quickaction, value-time-size risk management model to create incident site safety and control plans. Students implemented strategies and evaluated progress using the tabletop simulator while interacting with other class participants and the instructor.

The workshop instructor, Bret Stohr, is a retired Fire Department Operations Assistant Chief and 35+ year fire service veteran for the Department of Defense. Chief Stohr has over 25 years of experience developing and instructing Hazardous Materials Emergency Response, Structural/Aircraft Fire Suppression & Rescue, EMS, and Incident Safety Officer Courses. “I was so impressed with the skill and professionalism displayed by all the members from NSA Bahrain during the class, this was one of the most enjoyable classes we have conducted” said Chief

Stohr. “NSA Bahrain is truly fortunate to have such a well-trained and dedicated group of professionals providing emergency response to their community.”

The class provided a rewarding, highly interactive environment where students reinforced their skills and learned from the instructor and the other students. “Our mission at NSA Bahrain Fire Department is to save lives and protect property,” said NSA Bahrain Firefighter Aldorey Bartolome. “This class made me more confident at my job by learning to size up a major incident, clearly communicate and assign tasks and direction, and properly manage an emergency scene.”

After the class, students raved about the opportunity to implement their newly learned skills. “It was a great class with a lot of new information from recent and current fire safety research studies,” said NSA Bahrain Captain Mohamed Al Matrook. “I learned a lot about fire behavior and how to assess and approach the scene of a fire based on the latest science-based fire dynamics research and testing.”

NSA Bahrain Fire and Emergency Services Department members collectively complete over 20,000 hours of training annually, concluding with live fire training in the cooler months of November and December.

Multinational Task Force Completes Exercise in P-8 Flight over Arabian Gulf

A multinational naval coalition that monitors and patrols key waterways in the Middle East completed a naval exercise over the Arabian Gulf, July 26, with representatives from Bahrain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The 11-nation coalition, International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), conducted exercise Sentinel Shield aboard a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft that patrolled waters near the Strait of Hormuz. The aircraft practiced airborne reconnaissance and surveillance while participants demonstrated interoperability.

Sentinel Shield is a recurring exercise series led by IMSC’s operational arm, Coalition Task Force Sentinel, to enhance communication and coordination between partner naval forces.

“I am pleased by the outcome of this month’s exercise,” said United Kingdom Royal Navy Commodore Peter Laughton, commander for IMSC and the task force. “We are strongest when we leverage our regional partnerships. Operating as a coalition highlights our collective commitment to maintaining regional maritime security.”

The exercise supports multinational efforts led by the United States to increase the rotation of forces patrolling in and near the Strait of Hormuz with partners following a spate of merchant vessel seizures by Iran three months ago.

“We are working across the coalition to proudly deliver

our mission of deterrence and reassurance,” said Laughton. “Collaboration among IMSC nations through Sentinel Shield exercises remains more essential than ever.”

IMSC was formed in July 2019 in response to increased threats to merchant mariners transiting international waters in the Middle East. The coalition’s operational task force was established four months later to deter state-

sponsored malign activity and reassure the merchant shipping industry in the Bab al-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz.

The coalition’s partner-nations include Albania, Bahrain, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.

CMF Task Force Commander Visits EUNAVFOR Headquarters in Spain

The commander of the counter-piracy task force for Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) visited European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) headquarters July 26 in Rota, Spain.

Republic of Korea Navy Rear Adm. Ko Seung-bum, commander of CMF’s Combined Task Force 151, met with Spanish Navy Vice Adm. José M. Núñez Torrente, operational commander for EUNAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta. In May, ships from Combined Task Force 151 and Task Force 465 from Operation Atalanta conducted combined training in the Gulf of Aden.

“The situation in the Middle East region is constantly changing, but our role in ensuring the safety of merchant vessels remains unchanged,” said Ko. “We must continue to work together to strengthen our ties for maritime security.”

During the visit, Ko emphasized the importance of continuous maritime cooperation between the two task forces, which both focus on countering piracy in the Middle East.

“I have deep admiration for the passion and insight demonstrated by Rear Adm. Ko and his team,” said Torrente. “Expanding the relationship between our two multinational organizations will undoubtedly make the free flow of trade through our area of operations much safer for all.”

Task forces from CMF and EUNAVFOR regularly collaborate to enhance interoperability through combined patrols and joint training. In April, Japanese and Italian navy warships conducted combined training in the Gulf of Aden while supporting Combined Task Force 151 and Task Force 465 respectively.

Established in 2009, Combined Task Force 151 conducts maritime security operations to deter, disrupt and suppress piracy and armed robbery at sea, outside the Horn of Africa. The task force is headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces.

CENTCOM, Component Planners, and Staff Take an In-depth Look Inside of USNS Comfort’s Massive Medical and Dental Capabilities

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s (NAVCENT) Fifth Fleet Surgeon CDR Megan Potter, in partnership with Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) Force Medical Deputy James Herbst, and USNS Comfort’s (T-AH 20) Executive Officer Capt. Charles Dickerson, hosted U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) component medical planners, Defense Health Agency (DHA) planners, and Naval Health Research Center analysts aboard Medical Training Facility (MTF) hospital ship USNS Comfort while the vessel was pier-side at Naval Station Norfolk, July 10.

In addition to Potter, the other 14 distinguished guests included CENTCOM’s CDR Coleman C. Chandler and James K. Sjovall; U.S. Air Forces Central Command’s (AFCENT) LtCol Jerry M. Earl and TSgt. Mark A. Brown; U.S. Army Central Command’s (ARCENT) Maj. Megan E. Morgan; U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command’s (MARCENT) LCDR Neal C. Goebel; U.S. Special Operations Command Central’s (SOCCENT) LtCol Matthew J. Gross; U.S. Transportation Command’s LTC Nina M. Linnehan; DHA’s Maj. Carl Calimlim, Courtney Tyus, Jimmy Bullock, and Christopher W. Richards; and Navy Health Research Center Analysts LT Kenneth Marler and Sean Wilkinson.

This first ever four-hour joint site visit was a detailed examination and evaluation to determine how well USNS Comfort’s dental and medical capabilities can be synchronized with CENTCOM’s joint operational planning efforts, Potter said. “This ship visit was critical to first validate joint planning assumptions and then second to determine how to best integrate medical modeling and simulation efforts in order to build a better health system that is more resilient, patient-centered, and sustainable. Healthcare and health service support are important strategic enablers, and the USNS Comfort is a truly unique capability in providing scalable, afloat surgical care.”

During the ship visit, the distinguished guests received a tour of the hospital ship’s spaces, interacted with MTF Sailors, and received a brief on the ship’s missions to provide an afloat surgical trauma center to major combat operations deployed forward and to provide urgent disaster response –

acute care to large scale U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian operations around the world.

I was amazed by what I learned on this ship visit, Chandler said. “Before touring USNS Comfort, I knew from reading about the hospital ship that it had a rich storied history that has a direct tie to the CENTCOM Theater. But, after reading about it and then viewing its distinctive capability sets, seeing it physically doesn’t compare. While this maritime asset was converted from a San Clemente supertanker to a 1,000-bed hospital ship in the 1980s, today, the T-AH presents a theater commander with a unique and strategic ability to provide robust medical options across the continuum of operations during peacetime and in a crisis.”

Echoing Chandler’s sentiments, Potter said, the visit did more than just meet CENTCOM’s expectations, it exceeded them. “This visit directly improved interoperability efforts and furthered efforts to leverage cutting-edge technology, partnerships, and military exercises to integrate current and future Expeditionary Medical Platforms (EXMEDS) in support of distributed maritime operations.”

Potter is correct, Chandler said. “Being on board

USNS Comfort dramatically improved the CENTCOM team's knowledge of the hospital ship’s capabilities. The knowledge gained will be extremely useful in developing future health service support options for both current and future contingencies and exercises.”

USNS Comfort is one of two Mercy-class hospital ships currently serving in MSC’s inventory. Hospital ships provide an afloat, mobile, acute surgical medical facility for the U.S. military which is flexible, capable and uniquely adapted to support expeditionary warfare and humanitarian relief efforts.

In 2022, USNS Comfort deployed to Latin America and the Caribbean to provide medical assistance in support of Continuing Promise 2022. Continuing Promise 2022 marked the 12th mission to the region since 2007 and the eighth mission involving USNS Comfort. The operations fostered goodwill, strengthened existing partnerships with partner nations, and encouraged the establishment of new partnerships among countries, non-government organizations, and international organizations.

To learn more about Military Sealift Command visit: https://sealiftcommand.com/

Nine Navy Exchanges Named “Best of the Best”

U.S. Navy Press Release

The Navy Exchange Service Command named nine of its NEX locations as Bingham Award winners. Established in 1979, the Bingham Award recognizes outstanding performance in operations, customer service and community support.

The Navy Exchange Service Command named nine of

its NEX locations as Bingham Award winners. Established in 1979, the Bingham Award recognizes outstanding performance in operations, customer service and community support.

“Our Bingham Award recognizes the ‘best of the best’ Navy Exchanges around the world and is the highest honor a store can achieve,” said retired Rear Adm. Robert

J. Bianchi, Chief Executive Officer of NEXCOM. “I’m incredibly proud of our worldwide NEX team - navigating challenges and leading the charge to sustain and support our Navy Warfighters and military families. We are committed to strengthening the Navy’s quality of mission and remaining an integral part of our Sailors’ lives, 24/7, all around the globe!”

Sales over $45 million (Category 1) Winner: Naval Support Activity Bahrain Runner Up: Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia

439-4520

www.cnic.navy.mil/bahrain

Commanding Officer

Naval Support Activity Bahrain

Capt. Zachariah Aperauch

NSA Bahrain Executive Officer Cmdr. Jimmy Harmon

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

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.

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New MOVIES at the MWR Cinema

Barbie (PG-13) – 1h 54m

Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans. | Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Greta Gerwig, Simu Liu

Haunted Mansion (PG-13) – 2h 3m

A woman and her son enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters. | Cast: Jared Leto, LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (PG) – 1h 39m

After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers. Their new friend, April O'Neil, helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them. | Cast: Jackie Chan, Nicolas Cantu, Seth Rogen, Micah Abbey

Meg 2:

The Trench (PG-13)

– 1h 56m

Jonas Taylor leads a research team on an exploratory dive into the deepest depths of the ocean. Their voyage spirals into chaos when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. Pitted against colossal, prehistoric sharks and relentless environmental plunderers, they must outrun, outsmart and outswim their merciless predators. | Cast: Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Able Wanamakok, Sienna Guillory