MINA SALMAN, Bahrain (NNS) -- USS Port Royal (CG 73) departed Mina Salman pier, Bahrain, Jan. 15 after an eight-day visit.
Sailors from Port Royal spent time reaching out to their neighbors on the pier, lending their technical expertise to train with the crew of the Bahraini ship RBNS Sabha (FFG 90).
Electronics technicians, engineers and gunner's mates on board Sabha welcomed their U.S. counterparts to train on their radar, electrical switchboards and torpedo launchers.
"It was a great feeling," said Gunner's Mate 1st Class Iva Schroyer. "It was an excellent opportunity to interact with a different culture. I saw that the way they do things isn't that much different from how we go about our own business."
While in Bahrain, Port Royal also hosted Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)/5th Fleet, and Rear Adm. Scott Swift, deputy commander, NAVCENT/5th Fleet.
Port Royal is part of the Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), which is operating in the Persian Gulf to provide support for U.S. and coalition forces in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO). Tarawa ESG is in the AOO to provide support to Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Operations in the 5th Fleet AOO are focused on reassuring regional partners of the coalition's commitment to help set conditions for security and stability. U.S. forces maintain a naval and air presence in the region that deters destabilizing activities, while safeguarding the region's vital links to the global economy.