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MSRON 5 Deploys to Central Command Area of Responsibility

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101110-13
11/10/2010

From Maritime Expeditionary Strike Group (MESG) 1 Public Affairs

CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- Approximately 280 U.S. Sailors from Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 5, augmented by Sailors from MSRON-3 and reserve squadron MSRON-9, deployed Nov. 8 to the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility.

MSRON-5 will become Commander, Task Group 56.7 and will be responsible for the security and defense of ports in the Arabian Gulf.

"We will operate out of two of the ports there [Arabian Gulf] to provide seaward force protection for naval assets as they transit in and out of port," said Lt. Cmdr. Robert Hamilton, MSRON-5 executive officer. "This is my second deployment with this unit and this mission is extremely important."

These units are Navy hardware-equipped, deployable units that provide security and protection of strategic shipping and naval vessels operating in coastal areas and port facilities to ensure uninterrupted flow of cargo and units to combatant commanders.

MSRON-5 previously deployed to the Arabian Gulf from June 2009 to January 2010 to provide protection of strategic shipping and military assets. During the deployment, MSRON-5 conducted 366 high value asset escorts and performed more than 4,300 underway patrols.

Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadrons, formerly known as Mobile Security Squadrons (MSS), were established in the wake of terrorist attacks abroad, in particular the 2000 bombing of USS Cole (DDG 67).

MSRONs provide rapidly deployable point defense personnel and assets for force protection and anti-terrorism operations in support of fleet commanders.

Approximately 350 Sailors are assigned to MSRON-5, homeported at Naval Outlying Landing Field, Imperial Beach, Calif. Reserve component Sailors from MSRON-9 are assigned to MSRON-5 are homeported out of Whidbey Island, Wash.