Expeditionary Expansion
As forces leave Iraq, NECC has more resources for deployments elsewhere
BY JOHN C. MARCARIO, Assistant Editor
Rising Demand
[right now] and expect more deployments [elsewhere],” Gay said.
He could not disclose specific
details of how many deployments
or where the Riverine forces might
be going.
While in Iraq, Riverine forces
worked on a number of missions,
including humanitarian aid, safety
and security, interdiction, teaching
the Iraqi police and army how to
patrol waterways, and training
judges in forensics use.
According to the NECC’s Riverine
force fact sheet, the Riverines are categorized as direct-action units, designed to serve as a maneuver element to conduct combat
operations and augment land forces within the operational
commander’s riparian maneuver space. Riverines are capable of combating enemy riverine forces by applying fire
directly or coordinating supporting fire while operating
with joint and multinational forces. They train at Fort
Pickett and Fort AP Hill, Va., and Fort Knox, Ky.
“When you go to different [countries], you see what
kind of help they need. Some need help protecting their
borders, some need interdiction help,” said Lt. Cmdr.
Hung Cao, executive officer of Riverine Squadron One.
“You then [adjust] what your training will be.”
Riverine forces will mainly train security forces
when they go on deployments outside of Iraq, accord-
ing to program officials.
The NECC manages the Navy’s 40,000 expeditionary
forces who are currently serving in theater or on operations. It serves as the single functional command and as
central management for the readiness, resources, manning, training and equipping of those forces. In fiscal
2010, the NECC budget was around $1.6 billion.
Speaking about the general NECC mission, Gay said
the demand for its forces, across the board, continues
to increase.
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) forces are seeing
an increase in interest from global partners.
■ The Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training Command is
projected to go on 124 missions, an increase from 105 missions,
in fiscal 2011.
■ The Riverine forces will be adding a fourth squadron in fiscal
2012 to meet mission demand.
■ NECC continues supporting the Africa, Pacific and Southern
partnership programs.
Following the success of missions supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, and as part of part- nership programs in Africa and elsewhere, the
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) is
seeing demand rise for the services of its Riverine
forces and Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training
Command (MCAST).
“The demand signal was so large in Iraq that we
couldn’t support any other deployments, but there
seems to be a pretty big interest in the capability [the
Riverines] provide with our global partners,” said Lt.
Cmdr. John Gay, NECC public affairs officer.
The Riverine forces comprise 730 active-duty
Sailors broken up into three squadrons. In fiscal 2012,
as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, a
fourth squadron with 120 Sailors will be added to meet
the expected increased mission demand.
Since 2006, when the NECC was established at
what is now Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort
Story, Va., Riverine forces have gone on seven deployments to Iraq. They are not expected to return, as Iraqi
military and police forces have taken over a majority of
their security missions.
“We are working with other combatant commanders
