ST. CROIX — U.S. Navy ships are docking in the Virgin Islands for the first time in more than two decades to take advantage of rest-and-recuperation schedules that would not have been possible without extensive coordination across government agencies.
As multiple ships rotate through the territory for extended stays while the military positions itself in the Caribbean, the effort has required strong security planning, fast logistical adjustment, and daily communication among government partners, according to the director of the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency.
While one naval ship has docked in St. Thomas, three have visited the shores of St. Croix at the Ann E. Abramson Marine Facility throughout the past two weeks. The payoff has been an economic boost for Frederiksted, according to an official with the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce.
Attorney Akeel St. Jean, Chamber board chair, said he has received positive feedback from several business owners in Frederiksted regarding the visiting military personnel.
“They have expressed extreme satisfaction with the visit, with the business that was derived during the visit,” he said. “There was a lot of money spent, people in the streets, people walking to restaurants, bars, hotels, and just having a good time. So it was, overall, a real boon for the business community.”
Sam Awad, manager of Jordan Supermarket on King Street in Frederiksted, noted an increase in food and drink sales with the military in town.
“Business is good — the whole island, not here alone,” he said.
Heather Lauer, food and beverage manager at The Fred, said the sailors and Marines have been frequenting the boutique resort for food and drinks, as well as to enjoy the amenities after purchasing a day pass.
“It’s been really nice having them around,” she said, adding that The Fred offers military discounts. “It’s been really helpful coming out of slow season.”
Ashley Davis, manager of Louie & Nacho’s Beach Bar, said the military presence has resulted in an increase in business.
“It’s been great,” she said. “We’ve been busy, especially for slow season.”
The shore-side visits in the territory may not have happened if it was not for action taken by Governor Albert Bryan Jr. after receiving a message from one of the military personnel at sea.
Bryan, while appearing on “Just Jamila” on 970 AM WSTX on November 8, told the radio talk show host, Jamila Russell, that he received an inbox message on Facebook from the son of former Senator Oakland Benta.
“He inboxed me on Facebook and said, ‘gov., we can’t come to shore because these people say the Virgin Islands dangerous, and we’re tired of being to sea,’” the governor said.
Bryan said he then called Major General Kodjo Knox-Limbacker, Virgin Islands National Guard adjutant general, and VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen. As a result, he said Knox-Limbacker and Jaschen contacted the U.S. Department of Defense. He said it was not easy to convince the Navy to dock in the territory, adding that the visiting military personnel translates to “a lot of money” for the Virgin Islands.
Jaschen, who retired from the military in 2016 after serving 30 years in the U.S. Army as a field artillery officer in both the active duty and National Guard components, spent 11 years in the Virgin Islands National Guard, serving as Army chief of staff in his last four years. He clarified that the reluctance on the part of the military to dock in the Virgin Islands had to do with the central government’s ability to meet a detailed list of logistical, safety, and security requirements.
“A lot of it has to do with physical security on the port when they do come in,” he said, noting the ships will remain docked for multiple days. “There’s obviously a very physical concern for the safety of the ship itself.”
The security measures included bomb-sniffing canine sweeps twice a day, an increased police presence, and coordinated transportation logistics to accommodate hundreds of sailors and Marines eager to visit local beaches, dine out, and return to the ships before curfew, according to Jaschen. He also highlighted the need for proper gray water and solid waste disposal. Additionally, he said the government ensured medical and emergency communications were in place, keeping military leadership informed if any personnel required hospital care, and portable restrooms were set up, especially during the recent government shutdown when National Park Service restrooms in Christiansted were closed. He noted the importance of coordinated port security efforts involving the VI Port Authority, VI Police Department, VI National Guard, and VI Department of Planning and Natural Resources.
“I have these routine meetings that we’ve set up every day and every couple of days just to make sure we’re having good coordination amongst each other,” Jaschen said.
The territory has now welcomed three Navy vessels. The USS Iwo Jima first visited St. Thomas, docking at Crown Bay on October 3, before arriving at the port in Frederiksted from November 6 to 10. The first Navy ship to visit St. Croix was the USS San Antonio, which arrived on October 29. The USS Lake Erie arrived in Frederiksted on Tuesday. Jaschen said it is expected to stay until November 23, but he noted that schedule is subject to mission requirements. For instance, he said the USS San Antonio left St. Croix a couple days earlier than scheduled to support the disaster relief effort in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa.
While the Navy ships are docking on St. Croix so the sailors and Marines aboard can enjoy rest and recuperation, Jaschen said the U.S. Air Force also currently has a presence on island. However, he noted the Air Force is here for mission-driven operations that are not related to leisure or shore leave.
“Air Force is here doing a mission in the territory, and we appreciate them being there,” he said. “We’re helping them out also understand the environment and providing some help and assistance to them while they’re here.”
As the military increases its presence in the Caribbean, Jaschen said he anticipates having two more Navy ships dock on St. Croix before the end of the year. He stressed that the presence of the vessels in the territory does not translate to a need for alarm.
“I don’t think there’s a threat to us because we’re a part of the U.S., and the U.S. is there to protect us also,” he said. “I think we should continue doing our normal duties that we’ve been doing. We have lots of tourists coming in for season — look forward to that. We should appreciate the Navy coming here. The intent is for their R and R.”
