U.S. Navy, Bahrain Completes Crisis Response Exercise

Courtesy Photo | Lt. Leon Que, flight surgeon, Naval Branch Health Clinic, a tenant command aboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain, tends to a simulated casualty during U.S. and Bahrain government agency crisis response exercise. The exercise served to test and evaluate NSA's crisis and consequence management and emergency response procedures as well as those of the Bahraini government.  

12.27.2007

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain Public Affairs

JUFFAIR, Bahrain – More than 1,200 U.S. service members and Department of Defense personnel and the Bahrain ministries of interior, health and defense participated in a crisis response exercise at the Bahrain school, Dec. 27.

The exercise served to test and evaluate Naval Support Activity Bahrain's crisis and consequence management and emergency response procedures, as well as those of the Bahraini government. According to Naval Support Activity Bahrain Emergency Management Coordinator for the exercise, Jay Ulrich, the objectives were met successfully.

"Everything went as planned, and the integration of U.S. and Bahraini teams was great," Ulrich said.

Ulrich said the most successful evolution for U.S. forces during the exercise was the integration of the Marines assigned to the Marine Fleet Anti-Terrorism Team and Sailors assigned to Naval Support Activity Bahrain's explosive ordnance detachment.

"They conducted their portion of the exercise like they would in a real-life situation, and both teams did very well, given the circumstances," Ulrich said.

NSA Bahrain deputy emergency management officer, Lt. j.g. Paul Farr, who was at the Bahrain school during the exercise, agreed that all went well and the exercise was beneficial for U.S. and Bahraini participants.

"Today we had the opportunity to bring the U.S. Navy and Bahraini teams together in a scenario that challenged their response and skills," said Farr.

Naval Support Activity security officer, Lt. Debra Kleinsmith, added, "This exercise was a great opportunity for our two countries' security forces to work together and learn how each other would respond to a real-world threat."

"This was a great experience that produced some very valuable lessons," Kleinsmith said.

Emergency and first responders from NSA Bahrain, Naval Branch Medical Clinic, NSA Bahrain's Emergency Response Team, Salmaniya Medical Complex and Defense Fire Service also worked together to reach their objective, which was to simulate casualty extraction, medical care and transport to area hospitals.

At the conclusion of the exercise, members of the U.S. and Bahrain government agency teams said they had learned some extremely valuable lessons that they will all take with them to improve and refine their response to future exercise and real-world situations.

"Our relationship with the Bahraini government is built on trust," said Lt. j.g. Scott Johnson, NSA Bahrain assistant security officer. "They know we will support them, and we know we can count on their help."

• Date Taken: 12.27.2007
• Date Posted: 12.27.2007 13:22
• Story ID: 15027