thedrifter
02-02-06, 06:05 PM
Secretary of the Navy Visits Sailors, Marines in Middle East
Story Number: NNS060202-11
Release Date: 2/2/2006 4:18:00 PM
By Chief Journalist Tom Jones and Chief Journalist Rhonda Burke, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs
MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter visited service members at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Jan. 31, wrapping up his five-day visit to the Middle East, where he met with Sailors and Marines serving in the region.
Winter met with Sailors and Marines participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Kuwait as well as on the Al Basra and Khawr Al Amaya oil terminals in the North Persian Gulf, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and USS Austin (LPD 4) to see firsthand the jobs they are performing in support of maritime security operations (MSO).
MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO also deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.
“Maritime security operations are critical not only to the economy of the region but to the world. The oil shipments coming in and out of this region are critical to the world’s economy and further more are very critical to the economic development of many of the countries here, including Iraq,” Winter said. “If we are able to maintain the economic basis, Iraq will be able to develop as a nation. It is a very critical mission not only for the world economy but for what we are trying to accomplish here in the Middle East and in Iraq in particular.”
Winter stressed the ability to conduct MSO and the effect it has on security and stability in the region is not something the U.S. does alone. About a third of the maritime forces operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations are coalition forces from countries such as Pakistan, France, Australia, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
“The idea of a coalition working together is truly critical because it enforces the overall concept that we have a true alignment of objectives between a number of countries,” Winter said. “By having an on-going operation that has representatives from that group of countries, we clearly demonstrate that to anybody who might want to challenge us.”
Winter was sworn into office as the 74th Secretary of the Navy Jan. 3. This was his first visit to the region and he said he has been impressed with the Sailors and Marines he met.
“I am impressed with the incredible attitude of the Sailors and the Marines. I met them in some of the most difficult conditions, in very challenging positions but with incredible attitudes,” Winter said. “They are doing a great job, and they know it, and they are proud of it, and they are please to be able to do it.”
During his brief visit to Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Winter had breakfast with service members assigned to various commands in Bahrain, received an operational brief and presided over the reenlistment of three Sailors assigned to the 5th Fleet staff and the promotion of three Marines of the Interim Marine Corps Security Force Company Bahrain.
Story Number: NNS060202-11
Release Date: 2/2/2006 4:18:00 PM
By Chief Journalist Tom Jones and Chief Journalist Rhonda Burke, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs
MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter visited service members at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Jan. 31, wrapping up his five-day visit to the Middle East, where he met with Sailors and Marines serving in the region.
Winter met with Sailors and Marines participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Kuwait as well as on the Al Basra and Khawr Al Amaya oil terminals in the North Persian Gulf, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and USS Austin (LPD 4) to see firsthand the jobs they are performing in support of maritime security operations (MSO).
MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO also deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.
“Maritime security operations are critical not only to the economy of the region but to the world. The oil shipments coming in and out of this region are critical to the world’s economy and further more are very critical to the economic development of many of the countries here, including Iraq,” Winter said. “If we are able to maintain the economic basis, Iraq will be able to develop as a nation. It is a very critical mission not only for the world economy but for what we are trying to accomplish here in the Middle East and in Iraq in particular.”
Winter stressed the ability to conduct MSO and the effect it has on security and stability in the region is not something the U.S. does alone. About a third of the maritime forces operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations are coalition forces from countries such as Pakistan, France, Australia, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
“The idea of a coalition working together is truly critical because it enforces the overall concept that we have a true alignment of objectives between a number of countries,” Winter said. “By having an on-going operation that has representatives from that group of countries, we clearly demonstrate that to anybody who might want to challenge us.”
Winter was sworn into office as the 74th Secretary of the Navy Jan. 3. This was his first visit to the region and he said he has been impressed with the Sailors and Marines he met.
“I am impressed with the incredible attitude of the Sailors and the Marines. I met them in some of the most difficult conditions, in very challenging positions but with incredible attitudes,” Winter said. “They are doing a great job, and they know it, and they are proud of it, and they are please to be able to do it.”
During his brief visit to Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Winter had breakfast with service members assigned to various commands in Bahrain, received an operational brief and presided over the reenlistment of three Sailors assigned to the 5th Fleet staff and the promotion of three Marines of the Interim Marine Corps Security Force Company Bahrain.