Navy Expeditionary Combat Command

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Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
Seal of the United States Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.png
The seal of the U.S. Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.
Active2006 present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States of America
BranchFlag of the United States Navy (official).svg  United States Navy
TypeEchelon III command
RoleExpeditionary Warfare
Size21,000
Garrison/HQ Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia Beach, U.S.
Engagements Global War on Terrorism
Commanders
Current
commander
RDML Bradley J. Andros, USN

The Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) is an echelon III command of the United States Navy, which serves as the single functional command to centrally manage current and future readiness, resources, manning, training and equipping of the United States Navy's 21,000 expeditionary forces who are currently serving in every theater of operation. The NECC was established in January 2006. [1] NECC is a subordinate command of the Navy's Fleet Forces Command.

Contents

NECC components offer functions such as command and control of expeditionary warfare operations, training, maritime and port security, logistics support, construction, littoral and coastal warfare and patrol, coastal riverine warfare, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), expeditionary diving and combat salvage, and combat photography.

Purpose

NECC aligns disparate expeditionary capabilities to coordinate expeditionary practices, procedures and requirements in the joint battlespace. NECC integrates all warfighting requirements for expeditionary combat and combat support elements, consolidating and realigning the Navy's expeditionary forces under a single command to improve fleet readiness. NECC's goal is to improve efficiencies and effectiveness through economies of scale.

NECC changed how the U.S. Navy organizes, trains and equips its forces to meet the Maritime Security Operations and Joint contingency operations requirements. NECC is not a stand-alone or combat force, but rather a protection force that fills the gaps in the joint warfare arena and complements capabilities of foreign military partners. As an asset to operational commanders, NECC is designed to provide an array of capabilities that are unique to the expeditionary maritime environment as opposed to the blue water and land warfare environments.

NECC seamlessly operates with the other services and coalition partners to provide cooperative assistance as requested. This redistribution of support places naval forces where they are needed the most and establishes new capabilities in support of Maritime Security Operations.

Individual training and qualifications

Members of most NECC Commands are generally expected to seek qualification for the Enlisted Expeditionary Warfare Specialist Insignia. Unless they belong to specialized communities and training which require them to qualify for their respective badge such as Seabee Combat Warfare Badge, Navy Diving Badge or Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge.

Component commands of the NECC

Sailors of US Navy Riverine Squadron 2 patrol waters near Haditha Dam, Anbar Province, Iraq Riverine Squadron 2 Iraq 2007.jpg
Sailors of US Navy Riverine Squadron 2 patrol waters near Haditha Dam, Anbar Province, Iraq

The NECC's component commands included in January 2007: [2]

On the 2007 "Navy Times" list of component commands was Maritime Civil Affairs. In May 2014 the Navy disestablished its only civil affairs formation, the Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training Command (MCAST). McFate, writing in 2020, argued that the disestablishment of MCAST illustrated the Navy's relative prioritisation of partnerships and partnership building as opposed to combat capability. [3]

NECC in War on Terrorism

The United States Navy Riverine Squadrons of the United States Navy are elements of the NECC that have taken active part in the land operations in support of the Army and USMC units. According to the Navy: "The Navy's Riverine force focuses on conducting Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation in a riverine area of operations or other suitable area. The force is capable of combating enemy riverine forces by applying fires directly, or by coordinating supporting fires. It will share battle space with the other Services in an effort to close the seams in Doctrine, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance." [4]

As of 2008, three riverine squadrons are active in the Navy, all under the command of Riverine Group 1, located in Norfolk, Virginia. Riverine Squadron 1 (RIVRON 1) deployed to Iraq in April 2007 and was relieved by Riverine Squadron 2 (RIVRON 2) in October 2007. [5] Riverine Squadron 3 (RIVRON 3) was established in July 2007 [6] and will presumably relieve RIVRON 2 in Iraq when their deployment is completed.

Other forces that NECC supports

Amphibious Warfare: transporting, ship-to-shore and across the beach, personnel, weapons, equipment, and cargo of the assault elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

Amphibious Naval beach units:

LCAC Units:


Naval Special Warfare entities:


Conventional United States Marine Corps and US Navy entities:

United States Coast Guard entities:

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Security Unit</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Expeditionary Strike Group 3</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Coastal Warfare (United States)</span>

The Naval Coastal Warfare Community is a component of the United States Navy, part of Naval Expeditionary Combat Command. The Maritime Expeditionary Security Force (MESF), formerly known as the Mobile Security Forces (MSF), has the primary mission of force protection conducted through fleet support with operations around the world. Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection missions include harbor and homeland defense, coastal surveillance, and special missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maritime Expeditionary Security Force</span> U.S. Navy force protection unit

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The Riverine Squadrons of the United States Navy are elements of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). According to the Navy: “The Navy’s Riverine force focuses on conducting Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation in a riverine area of operations or other suitable area. The force is capable of combating enemy riverine forces by direct fire, or by coordinating supporting fire. It will share battle space with the other Services in an effort to close the seams in Doctrine, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.”

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maritime Special Purpose Force</span> United States Marine Corps specialized sub-unit of a Marine expeditionary unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable)</span> US Marine Corps designation for a Marine expeditionary unit

Marine expeditionary unit (special operations capable) (MEU(SOC)) is a program created by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the United States Navy (USN) in 1985 for Marine expeditionary units (MEU). The program enhances MEUs providing them with additional training and equipment to become certified as special operations capable with a Maritime Special Purpose Force (MSPF). The designation special operations capable is unique to the Marine Corps and means in relation to special operations. The role of a MEU(SOC) however is not equivalent to the special operations role of special operations forces. Although considered special operations capable a MEU(SOC) does not form part of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) established in 1987 or the United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) later established in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deployable Specialized Forces</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tactical Divers Group</span> Special operations force of the Argentine Navy.

The Tactical Divers Group is the premier special operations force of the Argentine Navy. The Buzos Tácticos are based at Base Naval Mar del Plata (BNMP) on the Atlantic coast of Argentina. Its men are highly qualified combat divers, EOD/demolition technicians, and paratroopers.

The Coastal Riverine Force (CORIVFOR) is a unit of the United States Navy within the organizational structure of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). The unit was established following the merger of Riverine Group 1 and the Maritime Expeditionary Security Group 1 & 2 on June 1, 2012. Its express purpose is to provide port and harbor security, and offshore protection for maritime infrastructure and Military Sealift Command ships operating in coastal waterways.

References

  1. "About Us" . Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  2. "Year-old NECC tackles ever-growing list of jobs". Navy Times. 15 January 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  3. Montgomery McFate, "Being there: US Navy organisation culture and the forward presence debate," Defence and Security Analysis, Vol. 36, No. 1, 55.
  4. U.S. Navy Expeditionary Combat Command: “Riverine: About Us”
  5. Navy NewsStand: “RIVRON 1 Sailors Return Home”, Story Number: NNS071023-24, date: 2007-10-23
  6. Navy NewsStand: “NECC Establishes Riverine Squadron 3”, Story Number: NNS070710-13, date: 2007-07-10
  7. http://www.eodgru1.navy.mil/ Archived 31 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine