NAVCENT Hosts Combined Force Maritime Component Commander Course

From U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) hosted the Naval War College's Combined Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) Course for senior international military officers aboard Naval Support Activity, Bahrain Oct. 31 - Nov. 5.

The CFMCC offers a broad perspective of operational and strategic levels of war. It was developed to foster relationships between international maritime leaders and to help prepare them for theater-level leadership.

The course consisted of a series of seminars and discussions, brought together more than 25 officers and officials from 17 nations including, Bahrain, France, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Pakistan, Jordan, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore, Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Lebanon, Australia, Yemen, and Iraq.

"The CFMCC course is part of a greater effort to forge bonds that really support regional security and stability," said Vice Adm. Mark Fox, commander, U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet. "That greater effort will be achieved through enhanced cooperation, understanding and collaboration with partner nations, friends and allies."

One of this year's participants was British Royal Navy Commodore Tim Fraser, deputy commander, Combined Maritime Forces.

"This course was a great opportunity to enhance cooperative relationships if support of a common

purpose and goal, to increase regional security and prosperity," said Fraser. "This week helped reinforce the coalition's commitment to deter destabilizing activities in the maritime environment."

The course also served as a forum to deepen relationships among nations in the framework of regional challenges, and to evolve combined maritime command and control concepts and mechanisms, while advancing understanding of security issues faced by participating nations.

Experienced subject-matter-experts served as session instructors to develop perspectives necessary to effectively employ naval forces in a joint, coalition, or interagency environment. The course provided a forum for open discussion of issues to facilitate a better understanding of the various perspectives involved in a combined force.

As the senior executive component of the U.S. Navy's Professional Military Education (PME) continuum, and part of the senior joint PME continuum, the CFMCC course addressed practical challenges confronting maritime operational-level commanders.

The first CFMCC course was held in Newport, RI, in 2006, and focused on Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. The U.S. Naval War College has also conducted CFMCC courses in Naples, Italy and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.