MANAMA, Bahrain – A 1999 Cambridge-South Dorchester High School graduate and Cambridge, Md. native is serving overseas with Destroyer Squadron 50, living and working at a Navy base in Manama, Bahrain. Lt. Kevin Stanley is a chaplain on the Bahrain-based squadron. Bahrain is a small island country situated near the western shores of the Arabian Gulf. A Navy chaplain is responsible for making sure the needs of sailors are met so they can do their job effectively, while chaplains also minister to members of specific faiths. “One of the best parts of my work is my interactions with the Sailors, learning about them, and helping them,” said Lt. Stanley. “Being a chaplain gives me a different view of the Navy. I get to see and experience a very broad community. I’ve had a great time experiencing different foods and cultures.” As a member of Destroyer Squadron 50, Lt. Stanley and other U.S. Navy sailors know they are part of a forward-deployed naval forces team that is heavily relied upon to help protect and defend America on the world’s oceans. The world is increasingly complex, and crew members assigned to Destroyer Squadron 50, as well as the other forward-deployed naval vessels in Bahrain, assist with assuring international sea lines between the Middle East and Europe remain open and help protect against possible maritime threats. As a Sailor with numerous responsibilities, deployed halfway around the world away from friends and family back home, Lt. Stanley said he is learning about himself as a leader, Sailor and a person. “I’ve gained a lot of leadership and teaching experience in the Navy,” said Lt. Stanley. “Since I do a lot of counseling I want to be able to strengthen my counseling skills often.”