Reserve Harbor Security Teams Put Tip on Spear
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090312-33
Release Date: 3/12/2009 10:49:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (AW) R. Jason Brunson, Defense Media Activity - Anacostia Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Reserve Sailors and Coast Guardsmen assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security 1 underwent a heavy pre-deployment training and qualification schedule to ensure they were ready to handle anything that could be thrown at them.
The exhausted Sailors lined both sides of the pier jutting out toward the Coronado Bay Bridge. The days spent out on the water were long, and sleep … well, there would be time for that later.
For now they take a break from the endless man overboard drills, first aid training, incident-at-sea scenarios and security maneuvers. During this brief cease-fire from the roar of the boat engines, they sit and enjoy a quiet meal, but not for long.
The seemingly endless days of pre-brief then drill then post-brief and start all over again until everyone gets it right, can take their toll on the most motivated of Sailors.
Preparations for deployment are never easy, and no exceptions were made for the men and women of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MESRON) 1 as they readied for deployment.
The squadron, comprised of Navy and Coast Guard Reserve units from all over the United States had converged in San Diego during September with one goal in mind – assemble a team of dedicated individuals into a single unit ready to handle anything providing harbor security at the tip of the spear could throw at them.
One of those individuals is Quartermaster 1st Class (EXW) Kenneth Wofford of Eugene, Ore. With more than 20 years experience in the Navy Reserve community, Wofford said getting his job done means representing qualities such as hard work, leadership, commitment and the loyalty to the mission at hand.
"I am a small boat coxswain with weapons release authority," Wofford said, "and my job is to provide security for high-value assets (HVA's) and other important missions that the Navy and our government deem necessary to fight the global war on terror."
He said the role of small boat Sailors is absolutely essential.
"If we deter or stop any attack on our waterborne assets worldwide, then we have succeeded in our mission," Wofford said.
He worked hard to become a coxswain, he said, because it gives him the rewarding opportunity to lead while embracing a great challenge to serve his country in a unique role. It requires a command presence and authority and most importantly the ability to put the crew in the best position to carry out the mission.
"Being a small boat coxswain in the United States Navy carries a large responsibility and one that I take very seriously," Wofford said. "It is one of few positions in the military, that an enlisted man, like myself, can command his or her own boat."
Wofford said he loves the work he does in his civilian life. He is a horticulturist and arborist for a Park and Recreation District in Eugene, Ore., where he has lived all of his life. However, he said, the talent and diversity of people that the Navy brings together are hard to find elsewhere.
"We have good Sailors who work extremely hard and don't hesitate to step forward when their country needs them," Wofford said. "Most of us are drilling Reservists who have been recalled to active duty for a period of one year leaving jobs and families behind. But we do it, because we see the opportunity and challenge."
In December, more than 400 personnel from MESRON 1 deployed to critical coastal and inshore areas of Iraq and Kuwait to provide seaward surveillance and security forces in littoral areas and harbors.
The process of preparing for a mobilization such as this is not an easy one according to Senior Chief Storekeeper (EXW) Ray Jeno, command senior enlisted advisor, Boat Division 56, but from a chief's perspective, it was made easier because of the caliber of the Sailors they have.
Jeno said the boat crews worked eight-hour rotating shifts, around the clock, during the six-week training period prior to the deployment, which led up to two weeks of qualifications and testing. They all had to qualify to stand their individual watch positions and then as a unit.
He said as soon as a crew member earns a qualification, it is time to move on to the next. The hours and nature of the job are also physically demanding.
"They do it because they want to do it. It's kind of addictive, and it's a lot of fun. But to have that fun you have to [do a lot of hard work]," Jeno said. "It is a pleasure to be around these Sailors, because they are so motivated."
Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Michael Anthony Tredo, from Seattle, has served in the Coast Guard Reserve for 13 years. He is currently assigned to Port Security Unit (PSU) 311, which is attached to MESRON 1 for their deployment.
He qualified as a coxswain in 2001 when he was activated for two years following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
He said his background prior to transferring to PSU was primarily in search and rescue and law enforcement.
These days he is a coxswain aboard a 25-foot, transportable port security boat (TPSB), outfitted with a .50-caliber Browning machine gun and two M-240B machine guns, with a four-person crew. He and his crew provide part of the 360-degree defensive perimeter to protect HVAs transiting in and out of harbors and inner coastal waterways. As an experienced coxswain, he said, the challenge wasn't as much how to do his job as it was adjusting to a different type of mission.
"It's completely different; the search and rescue mindset [was all about assistance and rendering aid]," Tredo said. "Where as now, there is kind of a line [drawn] in the sand 'or water,' and nobody crosses that line."
Tredo said adding the Coast Guard TPSBs to MESRON 1's defensive line enhances its speed and agility. The Navy boats are a better platform for visibility and tactical control.
"You are a better quarterback from the Navy platform," Tredo said.
Tredo works in finance as a civilian, so life changes forms quite drastically between his two chosen career fields. However, he enjoys working with the Navy. He said going into the initial phases of training he was concerned that they would have issues bringing the two elements together, but those concerns are long gone now.
"These guys are squared away. Where I thought there might be issues, there really weren't any," Tredo said, "so it worked well."
According to Tredo, in addition to the normal crew development, the Coast Guardsmen are actually looking forward to being able to earn the Navy's expeditionary warfare qualification while on deployment.
Information Systems Technician 1st Class Mike Kasper of Rathdrum, Idaho, is the leading petty officer in the training department for Boat Detachment 932, which merged with Boat Detachment 562 to form Boat Division 56.
Kasper explained the progression of the final training and qualification for the squadron began in September with the work-up phase. This is where the members are out on the water or standing their watch, going through drills, practicing and learning how to deal with the countless numbers of scenarios they might encounter.
He said the boat crews get hands-on experience working with the supporting elements such as the communications personnel and embarked security teams to bring all of the elements together as a cohesive unit. They encounter any number of medical situations: swimmer attacks, man-overboard drills and equipment failures. They also conducted multiple HVA escorts.
Kasper said the challenge from the training department's perspective was bringing all the different units together.
"They all have different training concepts," Kasper said. "[To integrate the various units into one] you pull in representatives from each of those commands and really work closely with them, ahead of time, to gather ideas. Then you lay out the best training package you can knowing what strengths and deficiencies each unit brings to the table."
Immediately following the work-up phase, unit level training readiness assessment (ULTRA) began. ULTRA is designed to evaluate the command training team's (CTT) ability to train its personnel. The next step, once ULTRA was completed was the final exercise problem (FEP), which is the method for evaluating members going forward to ensure battle readiness.
In the end, the objective was to equip, train and qualify 24 Navy boat crews plus 12 Coast Guard boat crews along with all of the support elements.
Kasper said being able to watch the members develop both as individuals and as a crew is very rewarding.
"I get to watch the coxswains mold the crew members individually. They start out green," Kasper said. "The next thing you know they are pulling up pierside, throwing lines 25 feet away, hooking the cleat on the first try, tying off the way they are supposed to. You can see the unit cohesion on the boat. It really is a pleasure to witness that because then you know the hard work, and the 18 hour days you are putting in, are paying off."
Electrician's Mate 2nd Class (SW) Eric Mend, a qualified crewman is, relatively new to the small boat community. He said the work-up phase started out necessarily slow.
Mend said personnel had to spend some time making sure they were squared away administratively and medically. Uniforms and gear were issued. They then went into a classroom environment for some basic seamanship to ensure everyone was on the same page before moving out onto the water. It was at that point, he said that the training schedule began to ramp up.
"We have done pretty much everything here that we'll be doing once we get in country, standing watches, looking out for surface contacts, man-overboard and safety drills," Mend said. "I'm new to the community. I don't have much experience. So, everything I've learned here has been important for me."
Tactical Boat Coxswain, Sonar Technician Submarines 2nd Class (SS) Shane Watanabe of Salt Lake City rejoined the Reserves after 9/11.
Watanabe said he could see firsthand why the training had to be so aggressive. As a coxswain, he is responsible for the safety and success of his crew.
"That's why we do everything over and over again," Watanabe said. "This way it becomes second nature."
Like Watanabe, Engineman 2nd Class Kpaku Palay of Dallas, was preparing for his second small boat deployment. He said it was a great opportunity for him, because on his last deployment he was able to advance in his qualifications from crewman to engineer and then to navigator. This deployment will give him the opportunity to earn his coxswain qualification.
"On an active-duty mission like this, it could take four to six months," Palay said, "[and back in a Reserve unit it can take years], only because you aren't on the water as much."
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