Alison Bath

Alison Bath reports on the U.S. Navy, including U.S. 6th Fleet, in Europe and Africa. She has reported for a variety of publications in Montana, Nevada and Louisiana, and served as editor of newspapers in Louisiana, Oregon and Washington.

@alisonbath_

bath.alison@stripes.com

Kanwar Singh prays before his commissioning ceremony aboard the USS Constitution in August 2018. Singh, a practicing Sikh and native of New Dehli, enlisted in the U.S. Army to attend officer candidate school in Massachusetts in 2015, but had to file for a religious accommodation to continue serving while practicing his faith.

Sikh plaintiffs seek clearance for keeping beards while going through Marine boot camp

Three Sikh men suing the US military on religious freedom grounds are seeking a ruling allowing them to attend Marine Corps boot camp without having to shave their beards or meet other grooming standards.

Sailors man the rails as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln pulls into Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, June 26, 2022. The Navy this week canceled early separation programs for enlisted sailors and encouraged them to delay separation or retirement plans in order to keep the force fully manned and operational.

Navy ends early-out programs for enlisted sailors, urges rethink by others eyeing exit

U.S. Naval Hospital Naples in Italy is among the military health facilities in Europe preparing to vaccinate hundreds of babies and young children in ages 6 months to 5 years old against COVID-19.

US bases in Europe await imminent arrival of COVID-19 shots for kids under 5

The Finnish ship FNS Hanko sails with Standing NATO Maritime Group One during a passing exercise in the Baltic Sea in 2017. Should Finland and Sweden join NATO, they could help the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps develop tactics useful in deterring China in parts of the Indo-Pacific region.

NATO ties to Finland and Sweden could aid US with useful tactics for the Pacific, naval experts say

At a change of command ceremony for Allied Joint Forces Command Naples, Adm. Robert P. Burke, standing, hands over authority to Adm. Stuart B. Munsch at JFC Naples, Italy, June 27, 2022.

Munsch assumes command of Navy forces in Europe, Africa

Adm. Stuart B. Munsch took over this week as leader of the Navy’s forces in Europe and Africa, the service said.

A Russian navy honor guard greets an American dignitary in front of the Russian navy battle cruiser Pyotr Velikiy in Severomorsk, Russia, in 2011. Naval analysts say the U.S. and its partners need more smaller warships to deter Russia effectively in the Baltic and Black seas.

US Navy needs more small warships to counter Russia, researchers say

Destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers allow the US to project power. But the Navy lacks small and powerful ships that are cheap to operate and easy to keep deployed.

Rescue tug Spasatel Vasily Bekh, part of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, shown in July 23, 2021. The Ukrainian navy said it sunk the vessel while it was carrying a surface-to-air missile launcher to Snake Island.

Russian boat reportedly sunk while bringing supplies to Black Sea island made famous by Ukrainian guards

A Russian military tugboat carrying a surface-to-air missile launcher to Snake Island in the Black Sea sank after two Ukrainian missiles struck it, Kyiv announced Friday.

Cmdr. Peter Lesaca was relieved as commanding officer of the destroyer USS Preble, the Navy announced in a June 14, 2022 statement.

Navy relieves seventh leader over past two weeks

Cmdr. Peter Lesaca was removed Tuesday as commanding officer of USS Preble because of a loss of confidence, the Navy said.

Family members of a sailors assigned to the destroyer USS Forrest Sherman watch as the ship departs from its home port of Norfolk, Va., June 11, 2022, for the European theater, where it will serve as the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group Two.

Another Navy ship sent to Mediterranean to boost NATO in challenging Russia

USS Forrest Sherman left its homeport in Norfolk, Va., on Saturday to serve as the flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, the Navy said in a statement.

Trio of Navy commanders relieved of duties, bringing total of recent leadership dismissals to 6

Three U.S. Navy leaders, including two serving aboard a destroyer, were ousted late last week, the latest in a recent string of removals by the service.

Rich marinara, vegan ricotta and sausage and beef substitutes are the canvas for Cavoli Nostri's take on the traditional lasagna Neapolitan.

Cavoli Nostri scales up Naples’ vegan, vegetarian food scene

Situated in Naples’ Santa Lucia neighborhood, Cavoli Nostri offers a carefully sourced, organic menu featuring meatless interpretations of Neapolitan favorites.

Negombo Park on the island of Ischia near Naples, Italy, offers a private beach on San Montano Bay.

Indulge in an affordable spa day at Ischia’s Negombo

The crowded, chaotic streets of Naples are replaced by quiet, peaceful curving paths surrounded by the dense foliage of trees, flowering shrubs and vines at Negombo Park on the isle of Ischia.

The Pentagon announced June 8, 2022, the nomination of Vice Adm. Stuart Munsch to admiral and commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, and Allied Joint Forces Command, Naples, Italy.

North Dakota native who made Navy career as submariner tapped for Italy-based command roles

Vice Adm. Stuart Munsch was nominated by President Joe Biden for promotion to admiral and leadership of U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Africa and Allied Joint Forces Command, Naples, the Pentagon said in a statement.

Cmdr. Matthew McCormick was relieved of duty as commander of Electronic Attack Squadron, or VAQ, 137 on June 8, 2022, the Navy said in a statement.

Leader of Navy electronic warfare squadron ousted over loss of confidence

The Navy cited a loss of confidence in Cmdr. Matthew McCormick in removing him from his leadership post in Electronic Attack Squadron.

Navy Lt. Richard Bullock died when his F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed in the vicinity of Trona, Calif., on June 3, 2022 .

Navy pilot is second to die in four Super Hornet crashes in California desert in three years

Lt. Richard Bullock was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 113 based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, about 40 miles southwest of Fresno, Calif.

A member of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 8 performs mine recovery training as part of Baltic Operations, or BALTOPS, in June 2021. The 2022 BALTOPS takes place from June 5-17, with 16 nations, over 45 ships, more than 75 aircraft, and approximately 7,000 personnel participating.

Baltic Sea exercise may serve as prime showcase for prospective NATO members Finland, Sweden

Sweden and Finland will join 14 NATO countries, including Germany, France and Turkey, as participants in BALTOPS, which focuses on amphibious operations, gunnery, anti-submarine and air defense exercises.

The Navy is proposing to build a new fleet operations facility at its Naples Capodichino site, which is home to U.S. 6th Fleet. Still in the planning stages and unfunded, the new building would be built on the base's southwestern side at the site of a former barracks building seen here on May 19, 2022.

US Navy drawing up plans for fleet operations facility in Italy

The Navy is planning a four-story operations center at the home of 6th Fleet, which oversees naval forces in Europe and Africa.

An active-duty sailor who triggered a two-hour lockdown at Naval Support Activity Naples last year by firing an airsoft gun on base is being discharged from the Navy a spokeman said May 17, 2022.

Airsoft shooter at US military base in Italy receives discharge from Navy

A probe led by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service found that the unidentified 22-year-old seaman shot at or near a group of adolescents with an airsoft rifle from the balcony of his on-base housing.

Images posted to social media April 18, 2022, appear to show the Russian missile cruiser Moskva damaged, on fire and leaning after taking on water. The ship later sunk. Ukrainian, U.S. and NATO officials attributed the loss to a Ukrainian missile strike.

Ukrainian strikes against Russian vessels are more than just lucky hits

The destruction of at least eight Russian vessels in recent weeks points to an emerging strategic effort to break a Black Sea blockade that is strangling the Ukrainian economy.

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