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Australia Completes First Command of Combined Task Force 152

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090427-07
Release Date: 4/27/2009 4:49:00 PM

From Commander, Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Kurt Tidd relieved Royal Australian Navy Commodore Bruce Kafer as CTF 152 commander.

The ceremony marked the end of the Royal Australian Navy's first command of the task force, which serves as a center of coalition naval excellence inside the Arabian Gulf.

"The past three and a half months has been a challenging and rewarding time for the CTF 152 staff," Kafer said. "We have transitioned to a new campaign plan, focused on maritime security operations (MSO), theater security cooperation (TSC) and crisis response development. We have also conducted a very successful maritime infrastructure protection exercise with a number of regional nations' maritime forces."

The Royal Australian Navy's command rotation also saw the integration of representatives from Australia, the United States, Bahrain and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations into the CTF 152 staff.

"I look forward to continuing the outstanding work of Commodore Kafer's team," said Tidd. "Through continued cooperation with our regional partners, we will further improve the security and stability of the maritime community in the Arabian Gulf."

Established in 2004, CTF 152 is responsible for TSC activities with regional partners and MSOs as well as being prepared to respond to any crisis inside the Arabian Gulf.

Through cooperative activities, CTF 152 engages with Gulf nations, working with them to enhance their ability to deter illegal activities and defeat destabilizing activities in the Persian Gulf. CTF 152 operates in international waters with GCC nations and complements the security provided by GCC maritime forces in their own territorial waters.

MSO help develop security in the maritime environment and complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment to transport personnel and weapons or serve as a venue for attack.