Under heated conditions - US Navy

All Hands, Feb, 2001 by Jim Watson

NSA Security Force Means Business

The sun beats down with a vengeance, and a hot, swirling desert wind blows sand and grit everywhere. People on the street bustle about as if on a mission, some dressed in comfortable and inexpensive work clothes, others in the newest fashions from Italy and Paris, and still others in the tradition thobes and abayas of the Arabian Peninsula. The streets are filled with automobiles, and the mix of imports, both inexpensive and pricey, characterize the international face of business in this progressive Gulf country.

Welcome to Bahrain.

It has been home to U.S. Navy ships for more than 50 years. The Naval Support Activity lies on the eastern end of the small island in an area known as Juffair. Duty in this part of the world is challenging but rewarding -- and sometimes dangerous.

Focused on Security

Smirking, the Sailor watches the gate guard in desert camouflage search his backpack. "Careful," he says with a giggle. "You might run into my bomb."

Only thing is, nobody else is laughing. The 240-pound gate guard, dressed out in 20 pounds of extra gear -- flack jacket, Kevlar helmet, ammo, water bottle, M-16 ready by his side, can't find anything funny in what has just been said. For the last seven hours, this member of the Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain security team has been standing in the humid 100 degree-plus weather that Bahrain is so well known for, sweating a river and watching the heat rise off the street in those eye-mystifying mirages. "Drop to the deck, hands on your head!"

"Bomb threat at the front gate," the guard yells into his radio.

And now the real fun begins as a barrage of Naval Security Force personnel and Marines appear in a flash, weapons drawn, with a blur of orders being screamed at the top of their lungs. The situation becomes extremely tense; today this joker messed with the wrong security team on the wrong base in an area of the world where terrorism really happens.

This time it's just a training evolution, but it's training evolutions like these that save lives. Of course, the security forces at NSA Bahrain don't usually have to deal with a real-life scenario of this nature, but they are ready and serious -- deadly serious if need be -- and the safety of the base, American citizens and equipment are the only thing on their minds.

"This is an enormous acknowledgement," said LCDR Gordon Sheeks, security officer, Naval Security Force Bahrain, after learning NSA had been recognized by DOD for its antiterrorism/force protection program. "When I got here I met with the Fifth Fleet Commander, and he said he wanted a security force comparable to the Marine Corps. It took a year, but after that, a Marine colonel arrived on base and commented on how good the "Devil Dogs" looked. I just smiled and said, 'Thank you Sir, but those are Sailors.'"

Although this is nothing new for Sailors -- the Navy has always had security forces -- Bahrain's security is a little different than your average base. Sailors here are working with some of the most high-tech gear on the market and literally, under some of most heated conditions on the planet.

"It gets pretty warm here," laughs Operations Specialist 2nd Glass Max Derck. "Sometimes there is so much humidity it looks like it just rained, but we're not that lucky. Its bearable though because of the training we get. This base has tools and technology the likes of which I've never seen on a Navy base."

The high-tech he speaks of includes hundreds of cameras monitoring the area, the ITI VaporTracer explosive detectors used to look for car bombs, Bore/Fiber scopes and X-ray baggage scanners looking for anything out of the ordinary. These all help make them one of the safest and best security forces in the world.

Its not just the cool gadgets and tools that allow these Sailors to do their jobs, physical security training has many other benefits as well.

"They have really taught me to use me voice," said Master at Arms 3rd Class Laurie Taylor, one of the few female patrolman at NSA Bahrain. "The assertiveness has helped me in many ways and has let others know I am here to my job, and do it well."

Another aspect of the training is situational awareness on watch. Using the powers of observation -- noticing something that seems just a little out of place -- could make the difference between life and death.

"You really have to be on the ball and pay attention at all times," said Signalman Seaman Ryan Willis. "Being in 'Threatcon Charlie' here means no one stops in front of the gate in a car, and there's a 100 percent baggage check and auto check before even entering the base."

And with more than 2,000 personnel entering and leaving the base daily, this job is no small task. But Master at Arms 3rd Class Shannon Bragg said, "It's worth it. I like living here compared to anywhere else in the world. Especially as an E-3 or E-4. The lifestyle in town in my own apartment is great. I will truly miss it here when I have to leave."

The living conditions are the upside in an area where bomb threats and the potential for terrorism keep service members on their toes.