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New Naval Reserve Unit Stands Up at Naval Station Pascagoula

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS031114-13

Release Date: 11/14/2003 11:17:00 PM

By Stacey Byington, Naval Station Pascagoula Public Affairs

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (NNS) -- Naval Station Pascagoula's security force is now being augmented by 46 additional personnel, as a new Reserve unit - Commander, Navy Region Southeast, Force Protection Pascagoula (CNRSE FP PAS) - stands up and integrates itself into the current station security force.

The Reserve unit, one of approximately 20 new Reserve Naval Security Force (NSF) units being established around the country, begins drilling at Naval Station Pascagoula this month.

Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Johnson is the new commanding officer of CNRSE FP PAS.

"Our mission is to augment the base security force in force protection conditions Charlie and Delta," said Johnson. "Administratively, we drill out of the Naval Reserve Center in Mobile, Ala. Operationally, we work for the commanding officer of Naval Station Pascagoula."

The unit make-up will consist of Johnson and 45 enlisted personnel. All the enlisted personnel are rated Masters-at-Arms (MAs), or from other ratings who possess the interest and competency for force protection and law enforcement.

"Approximately 80 percent of our unit is experienced personnel," said Johnson. "The other 20 percent are junior personnel looking to strike for, or convert to, Master-at-Arms. Several of our MAs were recalled immediately after Sept. 11, 2001, and assigned to Naval Station Pascagoula. They are already familiar with most of the security personnel and some of the procedures."

The NSF is a new initiative of the Reserve Force, and calls for eventually having a dedicated NSF unit at each Navy installation around the country.

"We have to be prepared to carry out Homeland Security functions around our installations, and not just when we are forward deployed," said Capt. Mark Donahue, Reserve liaison officer, Fleet Forces Command. "It's become a major function and a major mission, and it's one the Reserves very logically fit into to fill this requirement."

For the Reserve Force, the concept has opened up a new window of opportunity. With permanent NSF responsibilities being added to the list of Reserve mission areas, the Reserve Force now has the occasion to offer tremendous advancement opportunities to those who would join the ranks of the Security Force, specifically the MA community. Thousands of Reserve MAs will be needed to fill NSF manning requirements.

"It's a win-win situation," said Donahue. "The installations get a trained cadre, an extension of their security force that will be there to respond to a crisis when it arises, and to help out with day-to-day things that come along. The Reserve units have an honest-to-God, real-world mission requirement that they can fill."

Johnson says Pascagoula's new unit will serve in a contributory support mode all the time.

"Each Reserve member will be working with an active-duty counterpart," he said. "We should be able to integrate seamlessly into the current security force. People outside the security force shouldn't be able to tell the difference between the active duty and the Reserves."

NAVSTA Pascagoula's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Terry Rea, is pleased to welcome the new unit.

"This Reserve unit is going to provide us with quality, trained personnel to augment our security forces," said Rea. "One of the greatest benefits is that the Reserves will lessen the burden on our Auxiliary Security Force. In the past, we relied very heavily on tenant command support to augment our security forces. We'll keep that program in place, but our use of the Auxiliary Security Force should be very short term while we make arrangements for the Reservists to come on board.

"The great thing about having a Reserve unit attached to the base is that they are readily available and already trained to our local procedures in the event that they are recalled," Rea added. "We'll know these folks are ready, because we'll see them on a routine basis as they report for their monthly drill here at the Naval Station. And, just as importantly, they'll know us. That is, they'll know our procedures and our environment.

"Lt. Cmdr. Johnson and I are very enthusiastic about the quality of training that can be accomplished under this arrangement," Rea added. "It's a great step forward in ensuring we have the proper resources for an increased security posture."

"I am extremely lucky to have some very good people," said Johnson. "I think this is a great opportunity for our Reservists to be part of a new mission area that will be very important for years to come."