Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron News

Members of the Mobile Security Squadron 3 visit, board, search and seizure team approach a vessel they will be boarding as part of exercise Seahawk 2007. Seahawk 2007 is a joint maritime security exercise involving integrated active and reserve forces from the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and U.S. Coast Guard. U.S. U.S. Navy Sailors and Coast Guardsmen combined forces Aug. 22 to conduct visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) tactics in support of Exercise Seahawk 2007. The two-week exercise gave Navy and Coast Guard security teams the chance to demonstrate joint VBSS scenarios to various fleet commanders. “This training period is a great opportunity to practice tactics with our Coast Guard counterparts,” said Chief Master-at-Arms (SW) Justin Crowe, Mobile Security Squadron (MSS) 3.

Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron (NCWS) 4 completed a six-week deployment to Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, on March 4. The mission focused on providing landward and seaward security for three high value assets (HVA) and more than 1,300 Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen participating in Humanitarian Support Over the Shore 2007 (HSOTS-2007). Exercise HSOTS 2007 simulated a disaster relief assistance response to Puerto Quetzal that involved off-loading and transporting equipment to Joint Task Force (JTF) Belize and JTF Guatemala. More than 400 pieces of humanitarian assistance equipment were brought ashore and trucked to various locations throughout the region. The equipment will be used in the rural areas of Belize and Guatemala where schools and clinics will be built.

By Mass Communication Specialist Cale T. Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron (NCWRON) 34 from Naval Coastal Warfare Group (NCWG) 1 deployed to Kuwait Aug. 22 and 24 to provide harbor and port security. They are tasked to protect ships carrying supplies for allied forces in Iraq. “This is my second time going over there, and it feels really good to help our troops get what they need to accomplish their mission,” said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Martin Garcia of NCWRON 34. NCW squadrons use sensor platforms to provide a technical picture of the ports and harbors as they patrol the harbors for threats. “Since I’ve been with this squadron…

Several units of the recently established Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) and Naval Beach Group 2 are participating in the combined DELMAR/Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) exercise on Fort Story, Virginia Beach, Va., in June. The exercise began June 5 and combines active-duty and reserve service members from various Navy and Army commands. The exercise is organized by U.S. Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC). During the exercise scenario, these units must work together to provide humanitarian assistance to an area simulated as devastated by a natural disaster. These same skills could be employed if a massive terrorist attack disrupts existing port facilities. "This is like a mission of presence," said Cmdr.

A commissioning ceremony was held May 20 for Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron (NCWRON) 4 at Hospital Point Park at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va. The pennant of commissioning was broken by the squadron’s first commanding officer, Cmdr. NCWRON 4 is the seventh NCWRON, the first active-duty unit on the east coast, and is comprised of a Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit, Inshore Boat Units (IBU) 41, 42, 43 and staff. “The overall mission of our combined units and staff is to conduct port security, coastal surveillance and interception as necessary, as well as protect any maritime asset and infrastructure that we may be tasked,” said Campbell. Campbell continued by saying he was proud of his squadron and that he has a motivated crew.