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USS Carter Hall Sailors Participate In Bahrain Community Relations Projects
MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) Sailors participated in three community relations (COMREL) projects between Oct. 3-8, while in Bahrain.
The Sailors performed the projects at the Regional Institute for Active Learning Centre, the Bahrain Mobility Institute and the American Cultural and Education Center.
The COMREL projects gave the Sailors the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the local culture while doing something beneficial for others.
"COMRELs give our Sailors a great opportunity to interact with the local population and learn something." said Lt. Harry Hansen, USS Carter Hall command chaplain. "At the same time, the experience of helping others allows them to grow as individuals."
Sailors worked with autistic children, painted walls, played wheelchair basketball and spoke about American culture during their visit to Bahrain.
Culinary Specialist Seaman Apprentice Stephanie Madrigal said she enjoyed taking part in Carter Hall's COMREL projects during Operation Unified Response in Haiti earlier in the year, and was eager to volunteer again.
"It is such a valuable and eye opening experience for us and for the children," said Madrigal. "We get the chance to learn about each other and have fun at the same time. Through certain activities, like wheelchair basketball, we are able to communicate without even using words."
"These events promote a good name for the ship and Navy," said Hansen. "They enable us to show human kindness to our partner nations and develop the relationships necessary to work together in cooperation."
Lt. Cmdr. Marc Massie, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command deputy chaplain, said people in the local area enjoy when Sailors volunteer to help out and look forward to their visits.
"We have had an overwhelmingly positive response from the local community," Massie said. "We try to do projects where Sailors can sit down and talk to the people, because our primary goal is building relationships."
Massie is in charge of scheduling COMREL projects for service members aboard U.S. Naval Activity Bahrain as well as for visiting ships.
"It's something that I really wish everyone would get involved in," Massie said. "Any time you build friendships and relationships there are benefits, but this is a long-term project. What you do now may just be a small thing, but down the road it can make things better for the future."
USS Carter Hall is part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group which is deployed to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.
The Sailors performed the projects at the Regional Institute for Active Learning Centre, the Bahrain Mobility Institute and the American Cultural and Education Center.
The COMREL projects gave the Sailors the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the local culture while doing something beneficial for others.
"COMRELs give our Sailors a great opportunity to interact with the local population and learn something." said Lt. Harry Hansen, USS Carter Hall command chaplain. "At the same time, the experience of helping others allows them to grow as individuals."
Sailors worked with autistic children, painted walls, played wheelchair basketball and spoke about American culture during their visit to Bahrain.
Culinary Specialist Seaman Apprentice Stephanie Madrigal said she enjoyed taking part in Carter Hall's COMREL projects during Operation Unified Response in Haiti earlier in the year, and was eager to volunteer again.
"It is such a valuable and eye opening experience for us and for the children," said Madrigal. "We get the chance to learn about each other and have fun at the same time. Through certain activities, like wheelchair basketball, we are able to communicate without even using words."
"These events promote a good name for the ship and Navy," said Hansen. "They enable us to show human kindness to our partner nations and develop the relationships necessary to work together in cooperation."
Lt. Cmdr. Marc Massie, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command deputy chaplain, said people in the local area enjoy when Sailors volunteer to help out and look forward to their visits.
"We have had an overwhelmingly positive response from the local community," Massie said. "We try to do projects where Sailors can sit down and talk to the people, because our primary goal is building relationships."
Massie is in charge of scheduling COMREL projects for service members aboard U.S. Naval Activity Bahrain as well as for visiting ships.
"It's something that I really wish everyone would get involved in," Massie said. "Any time you build friendships and relationships there are benefits, but this is a long-term project. What you do now may just be a small thing, but down the road it can make things better for the future."
USS Carter Hall is part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group which is deployed to the 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristin L. Grover, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet Public Affairs
http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=56556
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