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News | June 19, 2019

U.S. Forces and Bahrain Defense Force Completed Neon Response 19

By NAVCENT Public Affairs U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet

U.S. forces and members of the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) participated in exercise Neon Response 19 in Bahrain from 9-14 June 2019.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians and members of the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) train on a rocket wrench, which is used to disrupt fuses on unexploded ordnance at the BDF military operations urban terrain site during Neon Response 19. Neon Response is a bilateral explosive ordnance disposal and maritime security exercise between the U.S. Navy and BDF conducted to share knowledge and experiences to enhance mutual capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Sidney Weston/Released)
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians and members of the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) train on a rocket wrench, which is used to disrupt fuses on unexploded ordnance at the BDF military operations urban terrain site during Neon Response 19. Neon Response is a bilateral explosive ordnance disposal and maritime security exercise between the U.S. Navy and BDF conducted to share knowledge and experiences to enhance mutual capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Sidney Weston/Released)
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians and members of the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) train on a rocket wrench, which is used to disrupt fuses on unexploded ordnance at the BDF military operations urban terrain site during Neon Response 19. Neon Response is a bilateral explosive ordnance disposal and maritime security exercise between the U.S. Navy and BDF conducted to share knowledge and experiences to enhance mutual capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Sidney Weston/Released)
Neon Response 19
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians and members of the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) train on a rocket wrench, which is used to disrupt fuses on unexploded ordnance at the BDF military operations urban terrain site during Neon Response 19. Neon Response is a bilateral explosive ordnance disposal and maritime security exercise between the U.S. Navy and BDF conducted to share knowledge and experiences to enhance mutual capabilities and interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Sidney Weston/Released)
Photo By: Staff Sgt. Sidney Weston
VIRIN: 190613-A-AM616-1077

Neon Response 19 is a bilateral explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and maritime security exercise between the U.S. Navy and BDF conducted to share knowledge and experiences to enhance mutual capabilities and interoperability.

Members of U.S. 5th Fleet’s Task Force (TF) 56 and TF 55’s U.S. Coast Guard maritime engagement team trained with BDF personnel including the BDF Royal Field Engineer Unit, Royal Bahrain Naval Force (RBNF) and units from the Bahrain Coast Guard.

"Neon Response is a great opportunity for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command forces to work together with BDF in order to strengthen our already excellent relationship,” Lt. j.g. Doug Swezey, TF 56.1 Mobility Platoon Commander said. “We had a great week working with the BDF and RBNF sharing our procedures in EOD, diving and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) mission areas. We improved our capabilities and grew stronger together this week."

During the exercise, the units participated and trained in maritime tactics including VBSS; harbor clearance operations; floating mine response; and minefield clearance tactics.

U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse comprises 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.