Deployment Destinations: Bahrain's Status For Military Personnel

Bahrain is home to the United States Navy base, Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA Bahrain). The base is situated in the Kingdom of Bahrain and is the headquarters of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the United States Fifth Fleet. The United States Navy has had a presence in Bahrain since World War II, when the British Royal Navy allowed them to deploy a small detachment. Since then, the base has expanded and now covers 62 acres, with a recent $580 million project to further expand the base. The base provides logistical, supply, and protection support to both the United States Armed Forces and coalition assets. While it is not clear if a posting to Bahrain counts as a deployment, it is a common transfer location for military personnel. For example, a Reddit user mentions their buddy transferring from Kuwait to Bahrain to finish his deployment.

Bahrain Defence Force

The Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) is the military force of the Kingdom of Bahrain. It was established in 1968 as the National Guard and was renamed the Bahrain Defence Force in 1969. The BDF is under the direct command of a commander-in-chief, who holds the rank of field marshal, and the country's government has a Minister of Defence Affairs responsible for BDF representation in the Cabinet. The BDF consists of about 18,000 personnel, including the Royal Bahraini Air Force, Royal Bahraini Army, Royal Bahraini Navy, and the Royal Guard.

The Royal Bahraini Army is the ground force component of the BDF and consists of 20,000 personnel. The army has taken part in the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen and the War on Terror, and it has been modernizing its equipment in recent years, with purchases from Turkey.

The Bahrain Defence Force has a significant economic role in the country through the Bahrain Defence Force Economic Program (BDFEP). This program aims to drive economic development and ensure that defence-related procurement by the government results in industrial participation, bringing strategic, social, and economic benefits to the Kingdom.

Some people consider being stationed in Bahrain as a deployment, while others do not. One person who was stationed there for over three years described it as "pretty chill," and mentioned that there were some rules and restrictions to contend with. They also noted that it was primarily a Navy-run environment, and their experience may have been different from those in other branches of the military.

US Navy base

The US Navy base in Bahrain is known as the Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA Bahrain). NSA Bahrain is situated in the Kingdom of Bahrain and is home to the US Naval Forces Central Command and the US Fifth Fleet. The base occupies the original territory of the British Royal Navy base, HMS Jufair, which was transferred to the US government in 1971.

NSA Bahrain provides operational support to US and Coalition Forces in the CENTCOM area of responsibility. The base provides logistical, supply, and protection support, as well as a Navy Exchange facility and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation programs. NSA Bahrain is a crucial hub for naval and marine activities, playing a significant role in supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and previously, Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The base is of strategic importance, providing support for US Navy operations in the Persian Gulf and surrounding regions, including the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and parts of the Indian Ocean. NSA Bahrain is also responsible for coordinating with and supporting security missions in nearby regions, such as off the coast of East Africa as far south as Kenya.

NSA Bahrain typically houses around 2,000 American military personnel, with several thousand more support contractors working on the 100-acre site. The base also includes the families of those stationed there, bringing the total US military community in Bahrain to over 6,000 people.

The base has undergone expansions in recent years, with a $580 million project initiated in 2010 to double its size. This expansion included the construction of a new perimeter wall, security gate, utility buildings, a harbor patrol facility, barracks, and administrative buildings.

Hazard pay

Hostile Fire Pay (HFP) is often associated with IDP. However, troops must be serving in a qualifying area to qualify for IDP, and they must be exposed to hostile fire or a hostile mine explosion event to be eligible for HFP. While IDP is prorated based on the number of days served in the Imminent Danger Pay location, HFP is a non-prorated benefit. Members exposed to hostile fire will receive the full monthly amount of $225, regardless of the number of days served in the area. It is important to note that members cannot receive both IDP and HFP in the same month.

The IRS defines a combat zone as an area designated by the President through an executive order where the Armed Forces are engaging in or have engaged in combat. Military personnel deployed in combat zones can exclude portions of their pay from their taxable income. This includes active-duty pay, imminent danger pay, hostile fire pay, re-enlistment bonuses, pay for accrued leave, awards or achievement pay, and student loan repayments.

In addition to the above, hazardous duty pay is also tax-exempt for members of the Armed Forces who serve outside a hazardous duty area while supporting operations in such an area. They may also be eligible for a tax-filing extension and, in some cases, full combat zone tax benefits.

Bahrain vs Kuwait

Bahrain and Kuwait are both small islands in the Middle East with a military presence. However, they differ in several ways, including culture, wealth, lifestyle, and treatment of foreigners or expats. Here is a comparison of the two countries:

Culture

Bahrain has a majority Shia population, ruled by a Sunni monarchy, which has caused instability in the country. In 2011, Bahrain saw anti-government protests by Shia Muslims, which were suppressed with the help of foreign troops from Saudi Arabia and other neighbouring countries, including Kuwait.

Wealth and Infrastructure

Kuwaiti citizens are said to earn significantly more than Bahrainis. Kuwait also has no tax, making many things cheaper than in Bahrain. However, some comment that Bahrain has better infrastructure.

Lifestyle

Bahrain is described as more developed and friendly towards foreigners or expats, with a better nightlife and entertainment scene, including bars, clubs, and malls. It is also said to be more pedestrian-friendly. In contrast, Kuwait is described as having very anti-expat laws, with racism being common.

Safety

Some sources suggest that Bahrain is more hazardous than Kuwait, due to its political and religious instability. However, others note that Kuwait is not a combat zone, and soldiers stationed there face stricter rules and confinement to posts than those in Bahrain.

In conclusion, while both countries have their unique characteristics, Bahrain is generally described as a more welcoming and developed place for foreigners or expats, with better infrastructure and entertainment options. Kuwait, on the other hand, offers higher salaries and a tax-free environment but struggles with racism and anti-expat sentiment.

Bahrain's military history

The Kingdom of Bahrain's military force is known as the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF). It was established in 1968 by Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa under the name \"National Guard\" to safeguard the nation's primary interests. The following year, it was renamed the Bahrain Defence Force. The first batch of recruits started basic training in October 1968, with the first graduating in February 1969.

The BDF is under the direct command of a commander-in-chief who holds the rank of field marshal. The Bahraini government has a Minister of Defence Affairs, responsible for BDF representation in the Cabinet. In January 2008, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa was appointed as the Deputy Supreme Commander, and Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the BDF.

The BDF consists of about 13,000 to 18,000 personnel, including the Royal Bahraini Air Force, Royal Bahraini Army, Royal Bahraini Navy, and the Bahrain Royal Medical Services. The public security forces and the Coast Guard report to the Ministry of Interior, separate from the BDF.

Bahrain has participated in several military conflicts, including the Gulf War, the War on Terror, and the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen. After the Gulf War, Bahrain received additional military support from the United States, including the sale of tanks, aircraft, and helicopters. Bahrain and the US signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in 1991, granting US forces access to Bahraini facilities and ensuring the right to pre-position material for future crises. Bahrain was designated as a major non-NATO ally by the US in 2003 and has received over $100 million in Foreign Military Funding since then.

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