NSA Bahrain
Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/Tanya Clyde
Manama, the capital city of Bahrain, is the home to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and 5th Fleet headquarters. The United States has increased its access and its forward presence in Bahrain since the Gulf War, while trying to keep its footprint to a minimum.
The port and Navy base at Juffairare are about five miles southeast of Manama, which lies on a small peninsula at the northeast corner of Bahrain's principal island. The base provides onshore offices for the Navy's 5th Fleet, which has aircraft carriers, destroyers and other ships stationed in the Arabian Sea and Arabian Gulf. Maritime intercept operations enforce the UN sanctions on Iraq.
NSA Bahrain population consists of approximately 1,500 military personnel and DOD Civilian employees directly assigned to NSA Bahrain and approximately 3,000 personnel assigned to Tenant Commands, as well as Joint and Coalition Forces.
For more information about Bahrain, try its website at www.cusnc.navy.mil.
FACILITIES AND SERVICES
Housing
Bahrain is, for security reasons, an unaccompanied tour. Most personnel will live on the local economy, except for a very few special-assignment personnel. The Housing Office will offer asistance in finding a place to live and in executing a lease. Rent is paid in Bahrain dinars. Sailors at E-3 pay grade and below live in barracks on base. The base also has transient bachelor quarters.
MWR
Recreation programs are more necessary than ever because everybody is on unaccompanied tours. A lot of MWR focus has changed from communities and families to supporting the individual sailor. The MWR fitness center in the Freedom Souq boasts the latest in cardio and weight rooms. It also has basketball and racquetball courts encircled by a full-size indoor running track, on which runners maintain aerobic fitness despite Bahrain's extreme heat. Sailors can relax after a workout in the sauna and steam room.
Education Facilities
Navy PACE provides accredited college courses for service members. On-site University of Maryland and Central Texas Colleges offer courses for Associate and Bachelor degrees. Local private schools and universities are available, but they are quite expensive for non-Bahrainis.
DoDDS Schools
The Bahrain School (K-12) is unlike any other school in the DoDDS system. In addition to the few children of personnel from the military and other U.S. agencies, students and youth from about 50 countries attend the school as well. Scholastically, it rates high in the DoDDS system.
Medical Facilities
The Medical and Dental Treatment Facility is an outpatient medical clinic, which provides primary medical and dental care to all active duty personnel and their family members.
Youth Services
Due to the fact that NSA Bahrain is an unaccompanied tour, Youth Services are not available.
Clubs
The Freedom Souq has TV and gaming lounges and Internet Wi-Fi hotspots.
Banking
The Navy Federal Credit Union in the Freedom Souq offers all the services of branches in the U.S. including withdrawals, deposits, and transfers, loans, mortgages, credit cards, and traveler's checks.
Lodging
The Navy Lodge Bahrain offers in-room phones with message service, television with basic cable, clock radio/alarm, video cassette player, microwave and refrigerator.
Shopping
A recreation and shopping center called the Freedom Souq has a Navy Exchange, a food court and a small supermarket. There is no separate commissary on base. Souq is Arabic for a market or bazaar.