By Jim Garamone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
ROTA, Spain, Dec. 7, 2014 – The American strategy calling
for increased attention to the Asia-Pacific region does not mean other areas of
the world are less important to U.S. interests and the growth of the naval base
here is a case in point.
In 2010, the NATO allies agreed to increase ballistic
missile protection for Europe. Two American Aegis-equipped frigates now call
Rota home and two more are scheduled to join them next year.
These are the first American ships home-ported here since
Polaris-missile submarines left in the 1970s, U.S. base officials said.
Guarding Against Missile Attack, Pirates
Rota is key real estate, said Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey,
the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dempsey led a USO troupe to the base
and visited with sailors aboard the USS Donald K. Ross. Rota’s harbor is on the
Atlantic side of the Strait of Gibraltar and the ships typically are considered
U.S. 6th Fleet assets which travel the Mediterranean Sea. The forward-deployed
U.S. ships guard against a ballistic missile attack on NATO allies from the
Middle East.
Rota-ported U.S. ships and crews “also participate in
multinational exercises,” said Navy Capt. Greg Pekari, the commander of Naval
Station Rota.
“They [also] are doing anti-piracy operations,” Pekari
added. “They are doing whatever the U.S. and NATO need to do to protect and
guard our allies.”
Close to Libya, West Africa
U.S. ships based here have a proximity to hot spots like
Libya and West Africa, officials said. They are also closer to the Black Sea
that the USS Ross entered in September to reassure NATO allies in the wake of
Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its aggression in eastern Ukraine.
“There are still a lot of things happening here that
requires our attention -- Syria, ISIL, Ukraine,” Pekari said.
“We still have requirements around the world,” he added,
noting the ship borne ballistic missile defense assets ported at Rota have a
role in meeting those security requirements.
Officials said about 300 Air Force personnel work at Rota,
handling maintenance on C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster 3 aircraft that use the
base’s airport.
‘Gateway to the Mediterranean’
The Spanish navy hosts the American ships and presence, and
sailors and their families home-ported here “hit the jackpot,” according to
Pekari.
Officials said the addition of the ships means the base --
billed as the Gateway to the Mediterranean -- is growing. There are currently
around 4,000 U.S. service members in more than 30 organizations and their
families on base.
Each ship has about 300 sailors assigned, officials said.
The number of family members that will arrive is around 400 per ship. “The
expectation is we are going to increase by 2,500 to 3,000 Americans over the
next couple of years,” Pekari said.
Impacts Base Infrastructure
This is a major increase that will impact the base’s
infrastructure, Pekari said, including schools, shopping, the base hospital,
maintenance facilities, and contractor support. He said support from the
Spanish admiral who manages the base has been first rate and cooperation
throughout the Iberian Peninsula has been outstanding.
It will take a couple of years for the base population to
build, the captain said, and this is giving U.S. and Spanish officials the
opportunity to plan the expansion carefully.
“First-term sailors coming here may not realize how good a
base this is to come to because they have nothing to compare it to,” Pekari
said. “Don’t get me wrong; they will work hard here. But once work is over, the
area and the chance to experience Spanish culture make this area an incredible
opportunity.”
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