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DESC Middle East (DESC-ME)

The Defense Energy Support Center’s presence to support operations in the Middle East is critical. To coordinate fuel-related activities, DESC-Middle East [formerly Defense Fuel Region Middle East (DFRME)] is located with the US Navy Administrative Support Unit in Juffair, Bahrain.

In 1932, oil was discovered in Bahrain. Shortly thereafter, in the 1940s, an office called “Navy Petroleum Products Middle East” was established and eventually evolved into the present-day DESC-Middle East (DESC-ME). Part of its heritage includes being a Defense Fuel Quality Assurance Residency Office under Defense Fuel Region-Europe from 1972 to 1984. This office was redesignated a Defense Fuel Region in 1984 when U.S. Central Command was established replacing the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force.

DESC-Middle East is responsible for petroleum logistics in the following countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan, Etritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgystan, Turkmenistan, Seychelles and the Mauritius Islands.

Fuel storage is a primary need within the Middle East. To meet U.S. requirements, DESC-ME uses commercial contractors to store and issue fuel stocks to U.S. and allied nations throughout the region. Storage capacity nears 5.5 million barrels and accommodates JP-5 jet fuel, F-76 Navy distillate fuel, and Jet A-1, a commercial jet fuel.

DESC-ME has played an integral role in intensive military operations since the beginning of the decade. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from 1990 to 1991, DESC-Middle East arranged fuel issues totaling more than 45 million barrels. Almost immediately after the end of Desert Storm, Operation Southern Watch began. This operation is the ongoing enforcement of United Nations sanctions imposed on Iraq, including the no-fly zone in Southern Iraq and the Arabian Gulf. In November 1992, DESC-Middle East supported Operation Restore Hope, which provided humanitarian assistance in Somalia. The list continues to grow with Operations Vigilant Warrior, Vigilant Sentinel and numerous Airpower Expeditionary Force deployments and major joint exercises throughout the region.

DESC-ME’s quality surveillance representatives enjoy the title “petroleum logistics officer” because much of their work pertains to staffing and arranging petroleum support for deployed forces of US Central Command. On a typical day, petroleum logistics officers assigned to DESC-Middle East work with one of the Military Services to determine ways to obtain fuel support for special missions or exercises. They gather port or refinery data to assist U.S. Central Command war planners and arrange travel to load or off-load vessels. The officers also conduct Defense Fuel Supply Point inventories and inspections, help contractors get paid, explain the “system” to new personnel, explain to Third World country nationals what their contract requires them to do, and assist joint forces in the region to resolve problems with fuel support. The adverse and harsh environmental elements, coupled with the diverse population, create both rewarding and challenging experiences for DESC-ME employees.