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CTF 53 Wins Transportation Award

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060726-13
Release Date: 7/26/2006 12:57:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cassandra Thompson, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Commander, Logistic Forces, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (COMLOGFORNAVCENT), parent command of Commander, Task Force (CTF) 53, based in Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, won the 2005 National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA) Military Unit Award in July.

According to the NDTA Web site, the award honors outstanding military units that have accomplished unusual and outstanding service in the field of transportation and logistics.

As the primary logistics asset for deployed U.S. and coalition units in the Navy’s U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation (AOO), CTF 53 distinguished itself in 2005 by reducing the logistic cycle time for supporting units in the Horn of Africa from 10 days to just six.

CTF 53 was also instrumental in the transportation of nearly 1,000 tons of food, blankets and other humanitarian aid to Pakistan, after that nation suffered a devastating earthquake, Oct. 8.

Capt. Jerry Reid, COMLOGFORNAVCENT deputy commander, explained that the American Red Cross, Bahrain Red Crescent Society, Egyptian embassy and NSA Bahrain’s chaplain’s office, were just a few of many agencies that turned to CTF 53 for help in getting their charitable donations to Pakistan.

“They had lots of supplies to donate, but they didn’t have the means to transport it,” Reid said. “Our C-130 aircraft flew back and forth to Pakistan to deliver humanitarian aid, which made a huge difference in the lives of those folks out there.”

CTF 53 also sent two of their three MH-60S helicopters to Pakistan to help ferry aid to areas inaccessible by road. For more than 30 days, the crews of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 and Helicopter Mine Countermeasures (HM) 15, flew personnel and cargo to the hard-to-reach mountainous regions of the quake-hit country.

Dynamic coordination among several U.S. and coalition partners ensured that ships engaged in maritime security operations in the 5th Fleet AOO received mail, parts, personnel and equipment as expeditiously as possible.

Reid said the most significant contribution to the success of CTF 53’s operations, however, was the dedication and enthusiasm of the task force’s Sailors, who both relate to the plight of deployed service members, and do their best to assist them, even if it means long hours or unexpected late night calls.

“We’re operating seven days a week to support the folks out at sea,” explained Reid. “Events that happen in the world can cause us to change our plans very quickly. And it’s the passion that the Sailors have for the job that allows them to come to a solution quickly in support of all these missions and challenges that 5th Fleet has.”

For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusnc/.