An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

TF 51/5 Spotlight: Sgt. Nathan Perrow

12 Dec 2018 | Staff Sgt. David Proffitt 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN (Dec. 11, 2018) – The Integrated Operations Center (IOC) is an essential component of Naval Amphibious Force Task Force 51/ 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s (TF 51/5) operations – responsible for monitoring information from subordinate commands to provide senior military leaders with information 24 hours a day in order to ensure that a fast and flexible transition from peacetime to crisis response operations can occur at a moment’s notice.

“It takes a team of dedicated Sailors and Marines to keep this operation running smoothly,” said Sgt. Nathan Perrow, current operations manager of the IOC for TF 51/5. “I manage the daily operations to ensure critical information is promptly relayed to senior leadership in order for them to make timely decisions using the best information available.”

Perrow, who was originally assigned as an IOC watch floor chief for current operations when he reported to TF 51/5 nine months ago, was quickly promoted to oversee the information management plan that includes receiving, analyzing and disseminating pertinent messages for senior leaders’ situational awareness of current activities within the region.

“Working in the IOC allows me to contribute to the overall success of the bigger picture of the Navy and Marine Corps’ mission,” said Perrow. “While TF 51/5 commands various Navy and Marine Corps subordinate assets, we predominately operate in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility and directly report to both U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command (CENTCOM) and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.”  

TF 51/5 is a unified team ready to execute crisis response missions within the CENTCOM area of responsibility. Its forward deployed nature ensures that when called upon, TF 51/5 is postured and prepared to respond to any crisis in the region whether at sea, from the sea or ashore.

“I enjoy being able to see different aspects of our integrated Navy and Marine Corps operations,” said Perrow. “I now see the bigger picture of how military operations evolve from planning to implementation. When I get back to the Fleet Marine Corps, I will be able to use this experience to explain to my Marines the significance of our role in larger operations.”

A native of Nashua, New Hampshire, Perrow enlisted in the Marines in 2013. Following graduation from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, he went on to the School of Infantry before entering into the Fleet Marine Corps as an infantry rifleman. In his free time, he volunteers as a Corporals Course instructor and is pursuing a degree in Sports Management from Southern New Hampshire University.

For more information about TF 51/5 please contact TF 51/5 Public Affairs Officer, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Sandra Arnold at sandra.arnold@me.usmc.mil or Marine Corps Capt. Adam Miller at adam.miller2@me.usmc.mil.


5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade