Expeditionary Command Marks Progress, Plans for Future
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080111-11
Release Date: 1/11/2008 4:09:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jen Smith, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Navy Expeditionary Combat Command plans to celebrate its two-year anniversary on Jan. 13, 2008, just as its leader over that time retires. Rear Adm. Donald K. Bullard, who led the command since its inception, retired Jan. 11 at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va.
As one of the Navy's type commanders, NECC centrally manages the current and future readiness, resources, manning, training and equipping of approximately 40,000 expeditionary Sailors – including Navy individual augmentees – who are currently serving in every theater of operation.
During Bullard's tenure, NECC has become a global force provider of adaptive force packages of expeditionary capabilities to maritime and joint warfighting commanders. Expeditionary Sailors are deployed around the globe in support of the new "Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower," a joint maritime strategy signed by the Chief of Naval Operations, Commandant of the Marine Corps and Commandant of the Coast Guard that applies maritime power to the crucial responsibility of protecting U.S. assets in an increasingly interconnected and multi-polar world.
NECC forces and capabilities are integral to executing the new maritime strategy which is based on expanded core capabilities of maritime power: forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. To enable these, NECC provides a full spectrum of operations, including effective waterborne and ashore anti-terrorism force protection; theater security cooperation and engagement; and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
"NECC is right in the middle of that strategy and a major contributor across the full spectrum of maritime security operations," Bullard said.
The Navy Expeditionary Combat Command's capabilities include: explosive ordnance disposal; maritime expeditionary security; riverine; expeditionary diving and salvage; naval construction; expeditionary logistics; maritime civil affairs; expeditionary training; expeditionary intelligence; expeditionary combat readiness; combat camera; expeditionary guard battalion; and soon, expeditionary medical.
Although many of these capabilities have existed for more than six decades, some have recently been established as part of NECC. In two years, all NECC's capabilities have been established, with Sailors properly trained and equipped. Now, all capabilities are currently deployed in support of worldwide maritime security operations. In its short history, NECC's expeditionary Sailors have operated in more than 40 countries.
Prior to his retirement, Bullard reflected on several of the accomplishments the force has made since its establishment. Among them are the equipment upgrades throughout the force. Across the command, the priority was ensuring proper force protection for expeditionary Sailors who often work in unstable and possibly hostile, near shore and inner coastal maritime environments. All of NECC in theater now has Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAP). The MRAPs will help protect the expeditionary forces, particularly those close to action like individual augmentees, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians, and Seabees – two of the most stressed, in-demand forces in the Navy today.
For Seabees, NECC-related upgrades meant replacing existing, outdated equipment with state-of-the-art heavy machinery. NECC procured many new boats, including new command and control platforms that can be used by Riverine or Maritime Expeditionary Security Forces.
In addition to properly equipping the force, Bullard and his staff have worked to professionalize the force. A key initiative included developing the Expeditionary Warfare qualification. Now, enlisted Sailors serving in expeditionary forces can earn the qualification, entitling them to wear this new warfare pin.
"The establishment of the EXW pin recognizes how critical these skills are and how mature our Sailors are. We need fully trained and qualified Sailors to operate in this dynamic expeditionary maritime environment," said Bullard.
To date, more than 1,200 Sailors have earned the EXW qualification.
Going into its third year, one goal for the command is to establish an expeditionary community which would allow officers and enlisted Sailors the opportunity to stay in the expeditionary realm throughout their entire careers. If established and institutionalized, the expeditionary community will provide warfighter identity, gain efficiency, foster diversity and increase warfighter effectiveness of both active and reserve forces.
"We need to capitalize on the skills and experience these expeditionary Sailors are gaining during their NECC-related tours, and we need to maximize all the training we've invested in them, including our extensive cultural and language training. [The establishment of an expeditionary community] will take the NECC warfighter to another level," Bullard said.
Another area in which NECC has made remarkable strides was integrating active duty and Reserve Sailors. According to Bullard NECC has become the standard and the ultimate success story of integration. The combined forces' ability to operate together in real-world situations has increased force capability and capacity in the expeditionary environment.
"Reserves are essential to NECC's combat capability and are necessary to meet mission requirements around the world," said Bullard whose force is made up of 47 percent Reserve Sailors.
The command Bullard helped build is now fully established and ready to enable the current maritime strategy and working to meet the Secretary of the Navy's current objectives, which include optimizing NECC; increasing interdependencies with the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and Naval Special Warfare units; provide combatant commanders with Navy EOD tools and professionals who will help counter the threats of improvised explosive devises; and instituting critical family readiness programs.
"If a Sailor's family isn't ready, it's hard for the Sailor to be ready. To ensure our total force – including our families – is prepared at every stage of our deployment cycle, I've put together a team charged with establishing a forcewide family readiness policy," Bullard said.
"Ours is a unique and diverse force, but this overarching policy will standardize the processes, expectations and deliverables with regard to NECC's total family readiness and the overall warrior continuum," added Bullard. "This warrior continuum includes educating our families and ensuring sustained maintenance and development – whether professional, physical, mental, emotional or spiritual – at every phase of the [Fleet Readiness Training Plan] training cycle."
Although NECC provides combatant commanders with skilled forces for the full spectrum of operations in the Global War on Terror, Bullard and his team are also committed to preventing war and increasing the United States' maritime security cooperation with other navies around the globe.
Through the Maritime Civil Affairs Group and the Expeditionary Training Command, both of which are deployed now in support of the Africa Partnership Station, NECC is helping expand regional navies' capabilities so those navies can ultimately achieve long term security and have credibility among their own populations.
"Many other countries around the globe don't have big, traditional navies; their navies may look more like our expeditionary forces. But they all have maritime security concerns, and we can help them build their capability," Bullard said.
Bullard says he's honored to have been at the helm, working with NECC Sailors who provide a continuum of capability in the expanded – near coastal, inner harbor, and riverine – maritime battlespace.
"The Sailors who go into the world and accomplish the NECC missions are some of the finest Sailors I have ever known," he said. "The past two years would not have been this successful had it not been for them and their efforts."
Bullard, a career aviator, retires after 35 years of service. Rear Adm. Mike Tillotson – the Navy's first EOD admiral – assumed responsibility for the command.
For more news from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/necc/.
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