European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 23, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Bahrain from the cover bigger better prepared Asu was Able to take the latest buildup in stride. What we do does t change we just do a lot More of it said capt. Marcus Williams Asu s com manding officer. There Are More ships in the Gulf which Means More cargo and parts coming through More mail and More people. We be had quite a few folks who Are having to work harder and longer making sure things got where they needed to be As efficiently and As quickly As  the Asu facility which is not even considered a base hosts 1,400 Active duty military civilian work ers and family i embers. Their Job is to support the. 14,000 people on More than two dozen ships and tiny temporary detachments scattered throughout the Middle East. Normally every person reporting to a ship in the Region stops in Manama. However most of the troops for the buildup flew directly to Kuwait Williams refers to Asu As a Small town Complete with a top notch medical clinic the second largest ship s store in the Navy and an extensive morale welfare and recreation program a ship s store is a smaller version of a pm or Navy Exchange but is run by the Navy Supply department. Asu s surge in population is because of an in crease in families. The department of defense de pendent school in Bahrain enrolled More than 100 new students at the beginning of this school year. I Don t expect us to grow any More As far As Mili tary billets Are concerned said Williams. What we Are seeing is the Shorter temporary billets Are going away and Are being replaced by longer permanent change of station billets. That Means the number of Sas sue Palumbo Rick land a Seaman apprentice checks out a store in Manama while on toy from Nas Simonella Sicily. Families Are increasing and i Don t think that mix of accompanied and unaccompanied has settled out  the unit added a family service Center and expanded the recreational activities to Cope with the influx of people. One of the smallest facilities in the world boasts two pools a gym with a separate Livecy Cle and weight room a refurbished theater a Small Bowling Alley an enlisted and officers club a restau rant and a sportswear shop. A recent construction Boom on the local Economy has made housing available though expensive a two bedroom apartment starts at $800, which reflects the High Cost of living. It s expensive but it s not what people think Bah rain is like Williams said. People think of Sand camels and Palm Trees but there is a lot More. A lot of people plan to come unaccompanied but once they re Here they Send for their families. More than two thirds of Rhy people ask for an Extension. If there is any indicator of the Quality of life Here then that  for Good buys Jow do you know your american Friend sin Manama Bahrain really appreciate your visit they bring out the dinner Ware reserved for special occasions paper plates. F " what is a perfect House warning gift that is guar. Is sue palum Fco Saleh Fissa makes baskets for Sale in Manama. Anted never to sit unused in a Back closet in Bah rain try garbage bags or toilet paper. Paper products arc unbelievably expensive said senior chief Petty officer Richard Mahanke who is assigned to the. Administrative support unit at Manama. T order trash bags by bulk from a mail order company. Omaha key s wife Kathy said she expects to pay $5 for a Small package of Nap Kins in a Bahrain store. Taper plates arc often not available at All. There is riot a military Exchange or commissary in Bahrain. The ship s store run by the Navy Supply department stocks As Many household items As Possi ble even though it is not designed to do so. Ship s stores typically Stock per Sonal Hygiene items Small gift items radios and snacks we used to list toilet paper As one of the items people should pack with them on their move to Bah rain said Ray tribe director of the family service Center. We Don t anymore but there Are still things people have to get used  such products As Cereal and cat food get shipped to families in Bahrain through Cata logs or from rela Tives. And yet Kathy Mahanke said she was sur prised at How Many american items Verc available on the Economy. Rice Kris pies is More common in Bahrain than in Europe. In Italy the Cereal has preparation directions on the Back of the Box. It s there Tor a Price said Linda Connelly a new teacher at the department of defense dependent school in Bahrain. Connelly said she once searched several stores looking for Yogurt. She found it but left the store  she saw the Price  m not going to pay s5 for a Small four pack of  Ray tribe normally Only the wealthy can afford to have their clothes custom made. Not so in Bahrain. Kathy a Hankey said it is often cheaper to have a dress made for $15 to $20 than it is to find one in a store. The ship s store stocks Little clothing other than t shirts and athletic attire. Most people buy their clothes out of Cata logs. Fashion news travels fast in Bahrain. The few stores that do offer Western style clothing get a steady Stream of foreign customers those who leave the stores muttering ill never pay that much  Are told by Veteran shop pers you will. It just takes  sue Palumbo is sue Palumb seeking and Selling in a Manama shopping area. Page 4 sunday october 23, 1994