Chief of Navy Chaplains Visits Bahrain

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cynthia Z. De León, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Rear Adm. Mark L. Tidd, chief of Navy chaplains, visited Sailors and Marines stationed aboard Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain and ships operating in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), April 12-20.

Tidd met with the NSA Bahrain chapel community at a dinner and helped celebrate Palm Sunday religious service, April 15.

In his sermon, he reflected on his own time here in 2001 when he served as fleet chaplain at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

"Living here we felt like were participating in history because of the all the operations that came after the [Sept. 11] attacks," Tidd said. "There was a sense of purpose like no where we had ever been."

While in the area, Tidd also visited Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS La Jolla (SSN 701), guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

"It's a good thing he came, he got to see a lot of Sailors," Religious Program Specialist (RP) 2nd Class Calvin Do said. "Some of these places, like the La Jolla, haven't seen a chaplain in a long time, so a high visibility chaplain coming shows that they do care."

Tidd explained that the Chaplains Corps motto is, "Call To Serve" and being in combat and enduring family separation can lead to moments of crisis and chaplains are available to service members in those times.

"We are serving those who are serving their nation," Tidd said. "It's an honor to be with people who are so willing to serve in such challenging places."

The key message he wishes to convey is that chaplains and RPs are here to provide support to Sailors and Marines looking for spiritual resources to draw their resiliency and strength from as they embark on life's journey.