Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia (EURAFSWA) oversees mission areas essential to the effective functioning of installations.

One such mission area is the core line of operation, which optimizes the effectiveness of its eight geographically diverse installations in performing their missions.

"Like a destroyer, cruiser or carrier, our installations deliver a combat capability, and to do that we have to provide the fuel, water, electricity, and sewage necessary to support the various combatant commanders' and fleet commanders' objectives throughout our area of operations," said Rear Adm. Rick Williamson, commander, Navy Region EURAFSWA.

The core is part of eight necessary lines of operation that maximize fighting capability for the fleet. The other lines consist of air operations; port operations; safety; security; housing; Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR); and Fleet and Family Services. Through these lines of operation, the installations are force multipliers that optimize combat capability of operational units.

"The core is the most misunderstood of the eight mission areas," said Capt. Maria Aguayo, commanding officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) EURAFSWA. "The core represents all of those region core functions, manpower, financing, training, equipping, supporting infrastructure, telecommunications, information technology, legal agreements, and regulatory compliance required to enable the other seven mission areas."

There is a constant need to maintain consistent and efficient core operations throughout the expanse of EURAFSWA, especially considering critical choke points within region, such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Bosporus Strait. EURAFSWA is one of Navy Installations Command's most unique regions. Most of the installations are located in separate countries, which requires commanding officers and personnel to work strategically with our allied and partner host nations to ensure successful mission accomplishment.

"The core is managed and tracked through region's over-arching business process; through the strategic plan, master plans, business plans, region integration working group meetings, and region execution reviews. Success of the core is measured through the success of the seven mission areas. Those mission managers cannot be successful without proper support from the core."

EURAFSWA provides the operational platforms ashore that enable U.S. and partner nation forces to be where they are needed, when they are needed, to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia.

"Our installations execute numerous missions in tremendous ways, all in support of U.S. forces and our allies and regional partners. Their ability to accomplish this is substantial, considering they are operating in a very complex and operationally active environment full of challenges, and our core line of operations is an essential piece to mission execution and protecting our national security," said Williamson.

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For more news from Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, visit www.navy.mil/.