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Security Squadron Ready to Deploy Anytime. Anywhere.

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090307-06
Release Date: 3/7/2009 8:52:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ron Kuzlik, Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 3 Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 3 will mobilize in March, taking with them police officers, corrections officers, a human resources manager, a business owner, a commercial airline pilot and even a teacher as they embark on a deployment to Southwest Asia and Rota, Spain.

These individuals are only a few of the almost 150 Reserve Sailors who will join another 400 active-duty Sailors in the largest to-date active-Reserve integration of a West Coast security squadron.

MSRON 3's primary mission is force protection conducted through fleet support with operations around the world. Anti-terrorism and force protection missions include harbor and homeland defense, coastal surveillance and special missions.

Since December, the MSRON 3 training department has scheduled and executed a wide range of training evolutions to ensure the squadron is ready to deploy as scheduled.

Training included basic elements of expeditionary warfighting including communications, medical, field operations, small arms and crew-served weapons, entry control point (ECP) procedures and embarked security team (EST) operations.

ESTs currently make up one of the most critical elements of maritime security. They are charged with ensuring the safe passage and protection of Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships and their civilian crews as they transport food, fuel, ordnance and other equipment and supplies to troops in the 5th Fleet Area of Operation, protecting them from any potentially hostile forces or pirates.

These 12-person teams often remain embarked on the Military Sealift Command ships for the duration of the ship's transit from the time it leaves the Mediterranean Sea into the 5th Fleet Area of Operation and debarking in the Persian Gulf or remaining with the ship until it returns to the Mediterranean Sea.

Last year, MSC ships carried 691,000 measurement tons of dry cargo and 2.3 billion gallons (or 54,762 barrels) of fuel. EST teams assured the safe and timely delivery of equipment, fuel and supplies to U.S. warfighters around the globe.

"We conducted two weeks of intense weapons training to include qualification courses of fire. During these two weeks, over 100 thousand rounds were fired down range with zero mishaps resulting in the weapons qualifications of over 200 personnel," said Lt. Michelle Fontenot of Pensacola, Fla., the squadron training officer.

Sailors also engaged in boat operations utilizing 34-foot Dauntless Sea Ark patrol boats for high value asset (HVA) escorts and boat patrols.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and Maritime Expeditionary Security Group (MESG) 1 judge advocate general provided training in counter-intelligence, law of armed conflict and rules of engagement.

Other training involved embarking landing craft (LCUs) and the newest maritime prepositioning force (MPF) utility boats belonging to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 1 from nearby Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Coronado for additional EST training.

Also included was guarding two ECP sites, running numerous boat patrols and drills in San Diego Harbor and utilizing the MESG-1 Warning Shot Simulator. The simulator is located in a warehouse at the Naval Outlying Landing Field in Imperial Beach, Calif., and is a mock-up of a squadron patrol boat where trainers can run a variety of computer-generated mock scenarios to train boat crews for actual combat-related situations.

"This is the closest thing that you're going to get without actually getting on the water and engaging the actual enemy," said squadron command training team (CTT) member Engineman 1st Class (SW/EXW) Daniel Garrett of Jackson, Calif.

Continuous training is inherent to accomplishing the maritime expeditionary security force (MESF) mission.

Established in 2007, MESF involved the transition of naval coastal warfare (NCW) into a more capable, adaptable and ready force.

Restructuring the MESF community resulted in a change from maritime security detachment (MSD) structure into a security detachment/boat detachment (SECDET/BOATDET) structure.

The new organization resulted in a mission-focused organization that can more readily meet operational requirements and provides the advantage of a focused structure that can adapt to new and emerging security missions versus the older model of deploying nearly-identical units to meet every security mission.

With this reorganization came new missions and skill sets, new business rules and new school and training requirements.

"By keeping abreast of changes in the MESF community, we can better tailor our training program to meet requirements," Fontenot said. "This keeps our skills sharp in an era of complex national security requirements. In doing so, we produce and sustain mission-capable units that are ready to execute at a moment's notice."

On a recent visit to MSRON 3, Chief of Navy Reserve Vice Adm. Dirk Debbink reminded all Sailors of how critical their contributions are to the success of the mission and to the Navy as a whole, regardless of whether they are active or Reserve component Sailors.

The Navy is moving beyond active-Reserve integration and is transitioning into the Navy's total force that will integrate active and Reserve components with civilians and contractors, Debbink said.

"We are a Navy total force," Debbink said during an all-hands call with MSRON 3's Sailors. "It is a very important deployment. The waterways, the oil platforms, the ports are what drive the whole economic engine of the region and to have the security in those areas is extremely important for the economics, and it's our opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to their security."

MSRON 3 deputy commander Cmdr. Patrick Carey talked about the value-added experience that Reserve component Sailors bring to the mission.

"The Reserve MESF force is like no other for two key reasons," Carey explained. "Where active duty billets are largely filled by those with the specific rate or NEC, our billets have expanded codes associated with them that allow us to fill them with Sailors from outside the specified rate. Therefore, you have a fantastic cross-section of rates, ranks and fleet experience throughout."

Both Carey and Fontenot highlighted other tools and skills that Reserve Sailors offer the Navy.

"In addition to their fleet experience, they have civilian careers. Many have advanced degrees and specialties they bring to their Reserve units (and the Navy), and that pays dividends to their commands that you just can't be measured." Carey said.

"Reserve component Sailors make up a huge percentage of our deploying force for this deployment," Fontenot added. "Aside from their years of military experience, they also bring value added tools from their current civilian jobs."

This is not the first deployment for Storekeeper 1st Class Michael Lake, the owner of an internet marketing business from Lake Dallas, Texas. He was first mobilized in 2003 to Ash Shu`aybah, Kuwait.

"There are various Sailors from so many different places with so many different skill sets." Lake said. "The continuous training and readiness is necessary for us to come together as a team and to be ready for the mission. It is incumbent to us to be ready, to be prepared for any contingency that we might encounter."

"I serve in the Reserves for many reasons," Carey said. "One of the most satisfying is the people that I have the honor to serve with. Active duty or Reserve, they are our country's best, brightest and truly motivated. We continue to train and be ready so we can surge forward anytime, anywhere."

For more news from Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 3, visit www.navy.mil/local/ss3/.