US military personnel families to return to Bahrain

Adel · November 6th, 2008, 06:41 AM

US families are free to return
By GEOFFREY BEW

HUNDREDS of relatives of US military personnel could return to Bahrain after the American government lifted a ban yesterday. More than 650 families and non-essential staff were evacuated in July 2004 when the Department of Defence expressed concerns about their safety in the Gulf.

The US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) in Bahrain yesterday said families would be allowed to return immediately.

"We are extremely pleased with the policy change," said Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Bill Gortney.

"The return of our adult family members reinforces the security and stability of the region, demonstrates our enduring commitment to Bahrain and will make the quality of life for our service members and Department of Defence civilians even better."

Four years earlier, Vice Adm Gortney was the NAVCENT Chief of Staff and oversaw the departure of the families of US personnel in Bahrain.

"I have been committed to having family members return to Bahrain ever since," he added.

US Em-bassy ChargŽ d'Affaires Christopher Henzel and navy Rear Admiral Ke-ndall Card met the Foreign Affairs Mini-stry earlier this week to officially inform the government of the decision.

"The return of the adult dependents of Defence Department personnel will restore an important personal dimension to the strong relationship between Bahrainis and Americans," said Mr Henzel. "We look forward to welcoming Department of Defence adult family members back to Manama."

A US navy spokesman was unable to estimate how many people may travel to Bahrain now the ban has been lifted.

He said the timing of the decision had nothing to do with Barack Oba-ma's victory in US presidential election.

Officials confirmed school age dependents and below school age dependents will be considered at a later date, after the Defence Education Activity Department completes a support review.

Defence Department personnel presently serve 12-month unaccompanied tours in Bahrain, although some assignments can last up to 18 months.

Vice Adm Gortney said in July that he hoped the ban would be lifted after officials requested the decision be reversed.

The exodus nearly led to the closure of the Bahrain School after the sudden departure of almost half its children and many teachers.

However, the GDN reported in August that the school was being renovated in preparation for the return of the families of US personnel.

More than 3,000 people are assigned to the US navy base.

Family visits only resumed in April last year and relatives earlier had to travel to Bahrain on tourists visas for an initial 14-day period, with the option of a two-week extension.

geoff@gdn.com.bh

Adel · June 29th, 2009, 10:44 AM

All US military personnel families are allowed to return to Bahrain from 28 June 2009
بعد حظر دام 5 أعوام
السماح لعائلات العسكريين الأميركيين بالعودة للبحرين

اعلنت قيادة الاسطول الخامس التابع لقيادة البحرية الاميركية عن السماح لعائلات منتسبي البحرية الاميركية بالعودة الى البحرين اعتبارًا من يوم امس بعد حظر دام خمسة اعوام.

وقال بيان صادر عن وزارة الدفاع الاميركية وزعته قيادة الاسطول الخامس إن وزير الدفاع الاميركي روبرت غيتس قد عقد اجتماعًا مع ولي العهد نائب القائد الاعلى صاحب السمو الشيخ سلمان بن حمد آل خليفة تم خلاله الإعلان خلاله عن السماح لمنتسبي وزارة الدفاع الاميركية باستقدام افراد عائلاتهم من جميع الفئات العمرية للاقامة معهم في البحرين.
من جانبه، قال نائب قائد الاسطول الخامس بيل جروثني إن السماح لعودة عائلات العسكرين الاميركيين من الفئات العمرية كافة يشكل خطوة مهمة تدلل على مدى الاستقرار والامن في المنطقة وتحسن مستوى الخدمات والحياة المدنية أمام عائلات متنسبي وزارة الدفاع.
فيما اكد السفير الاميركي لدى البحرين ادم ايرلي أن سفارة الولايات المتحدة الاميركية لدى المنامة قد بذلت الكثير من الجهود مع قيادة الاسطول الخامس من اجل ضمان عودة اطفال منتسبي وزارة الدفاع للاقامة في البحرين مع ذويهم.
وقال السفير: “وجود عائلات منتسبي وزارة الدفاع ينعكس ايجابيًّا على المناحي الاقتصادية في البحرين الى جانب انه يساعد على تعزيز العلاقات بين البلدين”.
واضاف: “هذا القرار يمثل خطوة محورية لتغير سياسية وزارة الدفاع بشأن اقامة عائلات افرادها العسكرين التي كانت قد حظرت استقدامهم منذ يوليو 2004 نتيجة لبعض المخاوف الامنية واليوم قد رفع الحظر”.
وكانت وزاره الدفاع الامريكية قد سمحت في ديسمبر الماضي باستقدام افراد عائلات منتسبي الوزارة من البالغين فقط قبل أن يشمل هذا القرار الآن جميع الفئات العمرية.
ويخدم افراد وزارة الدفاع الاميركية فترة زمنية تصل الى عام واحد فيما تمتد فترة الخدمة أمام آخرين الى 18 شهرًا.

Adel · June 30th, 2009, 07:28 AM

US naval base families return
Posted on » Tuesday, June 30, 2009

RELATIVES of US Navy personnel have already started arriving in Bahrain after a ban on their children was lifted by the US Defence Department (DoD), it emerged yesterday. American military chiefs ordered over 650 non-essential staff and relatives of US Navy personnel out of Bahrain in July 2004 over fears for their safety. However, the DoD announced on Sunday that their children could return. It came just two days after a meeting between Crown Prince and BDF Deputy Supreme Commander Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Friday.

"We have around 3,000 people in Bahrain on what we call 'permanent duty orders' and the decision means that any of these people who wish to bring their families to live with them can now do so," US Navy spokesman Lieutenant Nathan Christiansen told the GDN yesterday.

"The move becomes effective immediately and I do know that 10 family members have arrived on the island already."

Lt Christiansen was unable to speculate on how many people were expected to fly into Bahrain as a result of the decision.

However, he did confirm that security concerns had decreased substantially in the Gulf since 2007.

"A review of the security concerns was carried out with a view to the importance to sailors to have their loved ones with them," he said. "Family visits restarted in April 2007 and then, last October, the decision was made to allow spouses of naval personnel to return to the Gulf. "Once it was decided to return all family members to the region, we set about making sure that there were adequate schooling and medical facilities in place to accommodate the move." Stability Meanwhile, Fleet Commander of the US Naval Forces Central Command (Navcent), Vice-Admiral Bill Gortney, said he was extremely pleased with the policy change. "The return of family members of all ages is an extremely important sign of the security and stability in the region," he said. "It will also improve the quality of life for our service members and DoD civilians." US Ambassador Adam Ereli added that a lot of work had been put into bringing the families back to Bahrain. "The embassy and Navcent have put a lot of work into ensuring the return of DoD children to Bahrain," he added. "Their presence here helps strengthen relations between our two countries. "We are very pleased about their return and look forward to their positive contributions to the society and economy of Bahrain." According to a statement issued by Navcent, most of its personnel currently serve 12-month unaccompanied tours in Bahrain, while others are here for 18 months. This latest decision allows military personnel to be stationed in Bahrain for accompanied tours with their families for up to two years.

Adel · August 14th, 2009, 07:37 PM

Fifty American navy families return

Posted on » Friday, August 14, 2009

Around than 50 families of US Navy personnel have so far returned to Bahrain.

However, it would be about a year before all families return, said military officials.

The American military chiefs ordered over 650 non-essential staff and relatives of US navy personnel out of Bahrain in July 2004 over fears for their safety, but that ban was lifted in June.

US Navy deputy Public Affairs officer Lieutenant Commander Corey Barker said that around 50 families had already returned to Bahrain over the past two months and many more were expected to return in the near future.

"It's a very gradual process and it's not going to be like a ship coming in and dropping off 500 families all at once," he told the GDN aboard the USS Anzio.

"A month ago there were about 15 families (that had returned), but it's probably about triple that now - it's going to take about a year, but we're very excited.

"It's monumental for the US Navy and a huge step, not just for our happiness and well-being but for being able to do our jobs properly as well."

Around 3,000 US Navy personnel are currently stationed on 'permanent duty orders' in Bahrain, but before this latest decision they could only be stationed with the US Fifth Fleet for one year.

With the new rulings, however, military personnel will now be able to take two-year tours in Bahrain when accompanied by their families.

"It's extremely important to quality of life, every sailor wants his family here," said Lt Cmdr Barker.

"It's also important to the Navy because having families here means we can stay longer.

"At the moment it's one year so we're constantly turning over people and having to retrain others.

"If we can have someone here for two years it means I can do my job for two years without having to retrain anybody."

However, this has meant that prices in Juffair have skyrocketed with an anticipated rush for new accommodation.

"Unfortunately, the community seems to think there's going to be a flood of people coming over and prices in Juffair have skyrocketed as a result by about BD200 per month."

Meanwhile, Lt Cmdr Barker revealed that planned expansions to the naval base were progressing well.

Negotiations to lease a 70-acre portion of Mina Salman dock, which was decommissioned at the beginning of April, were well underway, he added.

A far greater number of ships to dock at any one time in the new space. "The pier we have at the moment is very small and we just want some more room to operate, but we're still in negotiations over the price," said Lt Cmdr Baker.

November 6th, 2008, 06:41 AM	#1
Adel Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,714 Likes (Received): 3	US military personnel families to return to Bahrain US families are free to return By GEOFFREY BEW HUNDREDS of relatives of US military personnel could return to Bahrain after the American government lifted a ban yesterday. More than 650 families and non-essential staff were evacuated in July 2004 when the Department of Defence expressed concerns about their safety in the Gulf. The US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) in Bahrain yesterday said families would be allowed to return immediately. "We are extremely pleased with the policy change," said Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Bill Gortney. "The return of our adult family members reinforces the security and stability of the region, demonstrates our enduring commitment to Bahrain and will make the quality of life for our service members and Department of Defence civilians even better." Four years earlier, Vice Adm Gortney was the NAVCENT Chief of Staff and oversaw the departure of the families of US personnel in Bahrain. "I have been committed to having family members return to Bahrain ever since," he added. US Em-bassy ChargŽ d'Affaires Christopher Henzel and navy Rear Admiral Ke-ndall Card met the Foreign Affairs Mini-stry earlier this week to officially inform the government of the decision. "The return of the adult dependents of Defence Department personnel will restore an important personal dimension to the strong relationship between Bahrainis and Americans," said Mr Henzel. "We look forward to welcoming Department of Defence adult family members back to Manama." A US navy spokesman was unable to estimate how many people may travel to Bahrain now the ban has been lifted. He said the timing of the decision had nothing to do with Barack Oba-ma's victory in US presidential election. Officials confirmed school age dependents and below school age dependents will be considered at a later date, after the Defence Education Activity Department completes a support review. Defence Department personnel presently serve 12-month unaccompanied tours in Bahrain, although some assignments can last up to 18 months. Vice Adm Gortney said in July that he hoped the ban would be lifted after officials requested the decision be reversed. The exodus nearly led to the closure of the Bahrain School after the sudden departure of almost half its children and many teachers. However, the GDN reported in August that the school was being renovated in preparation for the return of the families of US personnel. More than 3,000 people are assigned to the US navy base. Family visits only resumed in April last year and relatives earlier had to travel to Bahrain on tourists visas for an initial 14-day period, with the option of a two-week extension. geoff@gdn.com.bh

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June 29th, 2009, 10:44 AM	#2
Adel Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,714 Likes (Received): 3	All US military personnel families are allowed to return to Bahrain from 28 June 2009 بعد حظر دام 5 أعوام السماح لعائلات العسكريين الأميركيين بالعودة للبحرين اعلنت قيادة الاسطول الخامس التابع لقيادة البحرية الاميركية عن السماح لعائلات منتسبي البحرية الاميركية بالعودة الى البحرين اعتبارًا من يوم امس بعد حظر دام خمسة اعوام. وقال بيان صادر عن وزارة الدفاع الاميركية وزعته قيادة الاسطول الخامس إن وزير الدفاع الاميركي روبرت غيتس قد عقد اجتماعًا مع ولي العهد نائب القائد الاعلى صاحب السمو الشيخ سلمان بن حمد آل خليفة تم خلاله الإعلان خلاله عن السماح لمنتسبي وزارة الدفاع الاميركية باستقدام افراد عائلاتهم من جميع الفئات العمرية للاقامة معهم في البحرين. من جانبه، قال نائب قائد الاسطول الخامس بيل جروثني إن السماح لعودة عائلات العسكرين الاميركيين من الفئات العمرية كافة يشكل خطوة مهمة تدلل على مدى الاستقرار والامن في المنطقة وتحسن مستوى الخدمات والحياة المدنية أمام عائلات متنسبي وزارة الدفاع. فيما اكد السفير الاميركي لدى البحرين ادم ايرلي أن سفارة الولايات المتحدة الاميركية لدى المنامة قد بذلت الكثير من الجهود مع قيادة الاسطول الخامس من اجل ضمان عودة اطفال منتسبي وزارة الدفاع للاقامة في البحرين مع ذويهم. وقال السفير: “وجود عائلات منتسبي وزارة الدفاع ينعكس ايجابيًّا على المناحي الاقتصادية في البحرين الى جانب انه يساعد على تعزيز العلاقات بين البلدين”. واضاف: “هذا القرار يمثل خطوة محورية لتغير سياسية وزارة الدفاع بشأن اقامة عائلات افرادها العسكرين التي كانت قد حظرت استقدامهم منذ يوليو 2004 نتيجة لبعض المخاوف الامنية واليوم قد رفع الحظر”. وكانت وزاره الدفاع الامريكية قد سمحت في ديسمبر الماضي باستقدام افراد عائلات منتسبي الوزارة من البالغين فقط قبل أن يشمل هذا القرار الآن جميع الفئات العمرية. ويخدم افراد وزارة الدفاع الاميركية فترة زمنية تصل الى عام واحد فيما تمتد فترة الخدمة أمام آخرين الى 18 شهرًا.

June 30th, 2009, 07:28 AM	#3
Adel Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,714 Likes (Received): 3	US naval base families return Posted on » Tuesday, June 30, 2009 RELATIVES of US Navy personnel have already started arriving in Bahrain after a ban on their children was lifted by the US Defence Department (DoD), it emerged yesterday. American military chiefs ordered over 650 non-essential staff and relatives of US Navy personnel out of Bahrain in July 2004 over fears for their safety. However, the DoD announced on Sunday that their children could return. It came just two days after a meeting between Crown Prince and BDF Deputy Supreme Commander Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Friday. "We have around 3,000 people in Bahrain on what we call 'permanent duty orders' and the decision means that any of these people who wish to bring their families to live with them can now do so," US Navy spokesman Lieutenant Nathan Christiansen told the GDN yesterday. "The move becomes effective immediately and I do know that 10 family members have arrived on the island already." Lt Christiansen was unable to speculate on how many people were expected to fly into Bahrain as a result of the decision. However, he did confirm that security concerns had decreased substantially in the Gulf since 2007. "A review of the security concerns was carried out with a view to the importance to sailors to have their loved ones with them," he said. "Family visits restarted in April 2007 and then, last October, the decision was made to allow spouses of naval personnel to return to the Gulf. "Once it was decided to return all family members to the region, we set about making sure that there were adequate schooling and medical facilities in place to accommodate the move." Stability Meanwhile, Fleet Commander of the US Naval Forces Central Command (Navcent), Vice-Admiral Bill Gortney, said he was extremely pleased with the policy change. "The return of family members of all ages is an extremely important sign of the security and stability in the region," he said. "It will also improve the quality of life for our service members and DoD civilians." US Ambassador Adam Ereli added that a lot of work had been put into bringing the families back to Bahrain. "The embassy and Navcent have put a lot of work into ensuring the return of DoD children to Bahrain," he added. "Their presence here helps strengthen relations between our two countries. "We are very pleased about their return and look forward to their positive contributions to the society and economy of Bahrain." According to a statement issued by Navcent, most of its personnel currently serve 12-month unaccompanied tours in Bahrain, while others are here for 18 months. This latest decision allows military personnel to be stationed in Bahrain for accompanied tours with their families for up to two years.

August 14th, 2009, 07:37 PM	#4
Adel Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,714 Likes (Received): 3	Fifty American navy families return Posted on » Friday, August 14, 2009 Around than 50 families of US Navy personnel have so far returned to Bahrain. However, it would be about a year before all families return, said military officials. The American military chiefs ordered over 650 non-essential staff and relatives of US navy personnel out of Bahrain in July 2004 over fears for their safety, but that ban was lifted in June. US Navy deputy Public Affairs officer Lieutenant Commander Corey Barker said that around 50 families had already returned to Bahrain over the past two months and many more were expected to return in the near future. "It's a very gradual process and it's not going to be like a ship coming in and dropping off 500 families all at once," he told the GDN aboard the USS Anzio. "A month ago there were about 15 families (that had returned), but it's probably about triple that now - it's going to take about a year, but we're very excited. "It's monumental for the US Navy and a huge step, not just for our happiness and well-being but for being able to do our jobs properly as well." Around 3,000 US Navy personnel are currently stationed on 'permanent duty orders' in Bahrain, but before this latest decision they could only be stationed with the US Fifth Fleet for one year. With the new rulings, however, military personnel will now be able to take two-year tours in Bahrain when accompanied by their families. "It's extremely important to quality of life, every sailor wants his family here," said Lt Cmdr Barker. "It's also important to the Navy because having families here means we can stay longer. "At the moment it's one year so we're constantly turning over people and having to retrain others. "If we can have someone here for two years it means I can do my job for two years without having to retrain anybody." However, this has meant that prices in Juffair have skyrocketed with an anticipated rush for new accommodation. "Unfortunately, the community seems to think there's going to be a flood of people coming over and prices in Juffair have skyrocketed as a result by about BD200 per month." Meanwhile, Lt Cmdr Barker revealed that planned expansions to the naval base were progressing well. Negotiations to lease a 70-acre portion of Mina Salman dock, which was decommissioned at the beginning of April, were well underway, he added. A far greater number of ships to dock at any one time in the new space. "The pier we have at the moment is very small and we just want some more room to operate, but we're still in negotiations over the price," said Lt Cmdr Baker.