Canadian Sailors Receive Medals

Photo By Seaman Joshua Cassatt | Canadian sailors pose for a photo with United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander Royal Navy, Commodore Keith Winstanley after an award ceremony at Naval Support Activity, Bahrain. The ceremony was held to present the sailors with the Southwest Asia Service Medal. (Official U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Joshua Cassatt)  

03.20.2007

Courtesy Story

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

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

MANAMA, Bahrain – Seven Canadian sailors were presented with Southwest Asia Service Medals for their participation in operations against terrorism during two ceremonies at Naval Support Activity, Bahrain, March 19.

United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander Royal Navy, Commodore Keith Winstanley and Commander Task Force (CTF) 150 Royal Navy, Commodore Bruce Williams awarded medals to Cmdr. Paul MacNeill, Lt. Cmdr. Rick Tait, Lt. Mark Lynam, Lt. Jamie Foote, Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Guy Godin, Petty Officer 1st Class Buzz Gero and Petty Officer 1st Class Joanne Sinnott.

The silver medal is given for 30 days of cumulative service in the theater of operations. Williams said the Canadian troops' contributions are vital to CTF 150's defense of the maritime environment.

"The real success of what is happening out here is the fact that we are ensuring, along with our regional partners, a much safer environment - a booming environment in terms of trade and commerce, which is all to the benefit of normalization of the region as a whole," said Williams. "Most of the region is not about crisis. Most of the region is about being normal."

CTF 150 is responsible for conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea and North Arabian Sea.

MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or as a transport for personnel, weapons or other material.

• Date Taken: 03.20.2007
• Date Posted: 03.20.2007 14:20
• Story ID: 9530