Sailors assigned to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) celebrated the 241st Navy birthday during a cake-cutting ceremony at Naval Support Activity Bahrain Oct. 13.

Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan, NAVCENT commander, was the guest speaker and in his remarks highlighted the importance of forward presence and the stability in the region.

"There's no region more vital to the global economy than the one you are in today," said Donegan. "The 5th Fleet area of operations is where the action is. Sailors here really do the tasks that are at the core of our Navy -- protecting our country, advancing our interests, supporting regional allies and partner nations, delivering aid to people in crisis, and vigilantly guarding the sea lanes that are so necessary to our economic stability."

NAVCENT Command Master Chief Brian McDonough led the more than 200 Sailors at the ceremony in singing the Navy's service song "Anchors Aweigh."

For the traditional cake cutting, Donegan, as the oldest Sailor in attendance stood alongside 20-year-old Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Joy, the youngest Sailor.

Joy, a member of the intelligence community, said 241 years of technological advances in naval warfare is directly reflected within his career field.

"With my job, I have seen how technologically advanced we are, especially in naval warfare and how we fight," said Joy. "I have seen this mostly reflected by learning in history how we fought, and how intelligence moved to the forefront of the battle. It's amazing to see how I fit in with that."

In 1972, then-Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt authorized the recognition and celebration of Oct. 13 as the Navy's birthday.

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command conducts persistent maritime operations to forward U.S. interests, deter and counter disruptive countries, defeat violent extremism and strengthen partner nations' maritime capabilities in order to promote a secure maritime environment in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

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For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet, visit www.cusnc.navy.mil/.