Coast Guard to Establish MFPU
The Coast Guard will establish a Maritime Force Protection Unit (MFPU) in Bangor, Wash., Thursday. The MFPU will be a team of vigilant guardians who provide fleet security to the U. S. Navy through: deterrence by presence; protection by escort; defense by force; and terrorism prevention through strategic partnerships. The newly created MFPU will provide a dedicated force of active duty and reserve personnel that possess specialized skills, capabilities, and expertise to perform a broad range of port security and harbor defense missions.
First Maritime Force Protection Unit is Commissioned at Kings Bay
The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned the Maritime Force Protection Unit (MFPU) July 24 at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. The unit, the first of its kind, was officially activated during a formal commissioning ceremony presided over by Vice Adm. D. Brian Peterman, commander of the Coast Guard's Atlantic Area. “This is a new and unique mission,” Peterman said during his commissioning remarks. He also praised the Navy for helping develop training, techniques and specialized equipment for the new mission from scratch. The Coast Guard unit will provide enhanced security for the Trident submarines (SSBN) within their homeport transit area. Tridents generally operate on the surface during transit and the MFPU will provide additional security measures while operating under these conditions.