Military

NECC Establishes EOD ESU 2

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070618-02
Release Date: 6/18/2007 1:53:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Matthew D. Leistikow, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Expeditionary Support Unit (ESU) 2 was established June 15 during a ceremony at Rockwell Hall Gym on Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek.

EOD ESU 2’s primary mission is to provide administrative and logistical support for all East Coast EOD and diving salvage units.

“You are truly groundbreakers for us in this realm,” said Rear Adm. Sharon H. Redpath, Vice Commander Navy Expeditionary Combat Command/Commander Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group during the ceremony. “This represents the ‘holistic approach’ that NECC is trying to take with regard to the support of our warfighters. It isn’t about logistics and equipment, it’s about preparing and having ready all the support needed for our warfighters to go out and complete their mission successfully. That’s what we’re here for.”

EOD ESU 2 will meet all logistical needs including supply, ordnance, transportation, tactical communications support, field services, facility maintenance and programming, weapons inventory control and repair, boat and engine maintenance and dive locker and hazardous material handling.

“By taking away the logistical functions from the operating units, it allows them to concentrate on their operations and how they deploy,” said Lt. Cmdr. Timothy G. Bellott, commanding officer for EOD ESU 2. “We worry about repairs, conditioning, reporting and documenting. All of the burdens of paperwork come to ESU, and they get to focus on training and deploying.”

NECC brought in several individuals from different units with senior leadership to help focus on training and effectiveness.

“One of the things ESU will focus on is continuing to sustain the baseline for supporting the forces, establishing the baseline for the future to help secure our funding and to maximize the training opportunities,” said Bellott. “By bringing the senior people into one command, it provides us the opportunity to focus on training and raising the level within each rate.”

The Sailors who comprise EOD ESU 2 appreciate having a strong number of senior enlisted Sailors helping them.

“The training that we’re going to get from the people that we’ve brought together is going to create a lot higher level of expertise in all the different rates,” said Construction Mechanic Constructionman Nicole T. Ramnes. “We’re going to learn a lot from the senior people in our departments and really get a lot more experience and guidance in learning our jobs.”

What the Sailors of EOD ESU 2 learn and how they put it to use is critical for the Sailors who use the equipment in the fields of operation.

“It’s critical for the EOD technicians to get where they need to go,” said Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Sean Mueller. “If the vehicles are not maintained properly, then they’ll wind up being dead in the water, leaving the mission incomplete.”

Bellott is confident in his unit’s ability to succeed.

“We will be successful because I have very strong people underneath me,” said Bellott. “My job is to keep the train on the tracks, to guide it in a general direction and allow the subject matter experts that are a part of ESU to focus on their area of expertise.”

As a new, groundbreaking support unit, Bellott and ESU 2 have a lot of work in front of them, consolidating everything from equipment to people and funding.

“We’ll focus on optimizing the adaptive force package that is so pivotal to future EOD deployments and provide a model future for ESUs,” said Bellott.

Redpath acknowledged the challenge of consolidation is difficult and made sure ESU 2 knew their chain of command supported them.

“That is by no means a small or easy task,” said Redpath. “So trust me, I understand the amount of work you have in front of you, but I know, together, we can really make this work. Once we get that, the EOD ESU is the building block for everything else we are going to do for the war fighter support across NECC.”

Bellott is excited to have the chance to meet NECC’s expectations for the future.

“I am honored to be in this position,” he told his Sailors during the ceremony. “I am humbled by it, and I look forward to working with you, the men and women of ESU on making this a success.”

EODESU is the newest command established by NECC, a global force provider of adaptive force packages of expeditionary capabilities to joint warfighting commanders. NECC serves as a single functional command to centrally manage the current and future readiness, resources, manning, training, and equipping of the Navy Expeditionary Force.