The Navy has more than 6,000 active and Reserve Sailors who make up the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force, a command flexible enough to adapt to new missions in support of maritime security and protection of critical assets.
In recent years the U.S. Navy role as a global force has intensified its maritime surveillance and security near coasts, harbors and straits in key regions of the world. Fulfilling this role is a dedicated and professional security force driven to meet these requirements – the men and women from Maritime Expeditionary Security Force (MESF).
The Navy has more than 6,000 active and Reserve Sailors who make up MESF, a command flexible enough to adapt to new missions in support of maritime security and protection of critical assets.
MESF provides an expeditionary security force that provides defensive capabilities and conducts joint security missions. Cmdr. Bob Poling, the commanding officer of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MESRON) 2, Portsmouth, Va., said one of their most important tasks is providing embarked security for Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships and MSC-contracted civilian vessels as part of Operation Vigilant Mariner.
"[Embarked security teams] provide force protection because these are ships that have [limited] force-protection capability. The teams stay with the ships throughout their transit," said Poling.
MSC-owned and chartered dry cargo ships and tankers traverse the world's oceans carrying equipment, supplies and fuel to U.S. warfighters operating ashore and underway. In FY08, these ships delivered 7 million square feet of cargo and 2.3 billion gallons of fuel. MSC's ships are crewed by civilians but are still required to transit the world's most dangerous waterways.
The Navy fleet commanders are tasked to provide heightened security to MSC ships when necessary, and this is where the embarked security teams (EST) come in. ESTs board MSC ships before they enter dangerous waterways, provide protection and security for the duration of the voyage and leave for another ship when the transit is complete.
On average, 24 MSC ships worldwide carry ESTs every month.
"Embarked security teams are key to the safe transit of MSC ships operating in certain waterways," said Griff Hume, force protection officer for MSC. "These teams help ensure the safe and timely delivery of critical equipment, fuel and supplies to U.S. warfighters ashore and at sea."
MESF is broken into two maritime expeditionary security groups, Maritime Expeditionary Security Group (MESG) 1 homeported in San Diego, and MESG 2 in Portsmouth, Va. Their missions are not strictly reserved for embarked security. In addition to the embarked shipboard requirements, MESRONs also participate in waterborne interdiction, protection of high-value asset ships, force protection, rapid response, convoy security escort, port security and harbor defense.
Poling said Sailors, who had recently-returned from the Northern Arabian Gulf, spent their deployment riding patrol craft and supporting maritime interdiction operations. Chief petty officer for the HVBSS detachment, Chief Master-at-Arms (SW/AW) Pat Otis, said the detachment manned positions aboard patrol craft and while embarked on an aircraft carrier.
"On the ship, I had people moving weapons, [and participating in] operations and training, all in one big surface," Otis said. He also said any time the crew was not actively involved in planning or participating in an a mission, they were going over training they had received from any one of the 15 schools they can attend.
"Perishable skills are something that I think a lot of people miss," he said. "If you are used to typing every day but get out of the habit of using the QWERTY-home row, you get out of practice. Apply that concept to reloading your 9mm magazine, reloading your M-16 or completing a restraint technique or take-down procedure, anything like that. Those are all perishable skills. You have to teach muscle-memory to reload and reload and be able to do it left or right handed."
Training for members of the MESF varies by the detachment to which Sailors are assigned. For example, a master-at-arms (MA) Sailor assigned to an EST will attend standard shipboard reaction force school and weapons training. Lt.j.g. Christopher Rupp, Det. 221 security officer with MESRON 2, said the real training starts there.
"There really is nothing established for what we do here because there is no Navy school that can bring us to our required operations capabilities and projected operating environment," Rupp explained. "The average MA who checks in here will go through security reactionary force, basic and advanced, just like on a ship. When they come back, we decide on other schools, such as making them a small arms marksman instructor or a crew-served weapons instructor. The schools bring them to the baseline, and we start their training from there."
The training MESF is involved in is for their Sailors. Poling said training partner nations comes with the territory – especially when that territory includes Al Basra Oil Terminal and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal – two platforms in the Persian Gulf that serve as the main conduits for exporting Iraqi oil to the world market. Here, U.S. Sailors have a dual mission – providing force protection for the oil platforms while sharing knowledge with the Iraqi marines who share the post.
"They are working hand-in-hand with the Iraqi marines to provide defense to both platforms. Also, at both platforms our security detachments send a sweep team on board the tugs and large tankers, hand-in-hand with
The training being provided to local assets has helped members of the security teams complete their missions more effectively. During his most recent deployment, Otis boarded more than 30 boats and served as a subject matter expert in the area providing training to other country's boarding teams. At no time, he said, did the boardings become hostile.
"I think we didn't meet a lot of resistance because the local area and community are used to seeing the Navy. The shared allied boardings regularly happen," Otis said. "We did a lot of cross-training with our allies. I think that, just like when you get stopped for a speeding ticket, if you have an officer who presents himself poorly, you are more apt to think less of his authority. I believe our training provides a firm foundation. I think our training is what led us to have a lower resistance rate."
The job these men and women sign up for is beyond what they could have expected when placing orders. As a first class petty officer, the responsibility as mission commander is within reach. Poling said the confidence he has in his petty officers, and the responsibility for which they are entrusted, is unique and lends credibility to the training they have received and the trust put in them.
Leadership within the MESGs has found this approach effective and has not elevated the level of seniority within the detachments. MACS (EXW) Chris Long, Det. 221's senior enlisted advisor, said the men and women who work for him are self-motivated and willing to accept extraordinary responsibility.
"The level of responsibility that we put on our E-5s and E-6s who are willing to accept that responsibility is tremendous," Long said. "It's a unique opportunity that we can put them out there on these ships as the tactical supervisor or patrol leader in charge of the boats, providing the waterborne security. There is a lot of responsibility in that. You're responsible for the weapons [and] weapons release. You're responsible for the conduct of the crew, the equipment and the people who have been willing to take that responsibility have been successful."
The life of an MESF Sailor can be exciting and action-packed. But Poling said it's crucial for people to remember these same Sailors, who ensure the waterways are safe for shipping, do so while living in arduous conditions.
"The Sailors on the oil platforms in particular are restricted to something that is 1,500 yards long, and these guys are going to be out there for six months," he explained. "They are living in connex boxes. These guys are out there on the platforms, day and night, in the heat, the cold, the rain, the sandstorms, providing security. It's not all cool guys, running around, shooting weapons and all day excitement. It's tough work, and it's some very tough environmental conditions."
MESF Sailors serve all over the world. Abroad, they protect high-value assets, perform harbor security in primary ports of debarkation and serve as waterborne security for Navy vessels through choke points like the Panama Canal. Missions also continue on the home front, such as providing port security when USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) conducted her final port visit to Boston as well as augmenting security for the Democratic National Convention in August 2008.
As Poling said, "Those [Sailors] are doing it well and making it look easy."
Katrin Albritton (NNS)
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