VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The Wisconsin Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve visited Navy Expeditionary Combat Command to familiarize themselves with NECC’s capabilities July 19.
“The principle mission of our visit is to have these employers go back to Wisconsin with a greater appreciation for these expeditionary reserve and active Sailors,” said Brig. Gen.l Scott Legwold, chief of staff Wisconsin Army National Guard. “For some of these employers this is their first exposure to an active component of any type, and after talking to them they are already impressed with what they’ve seen.”
The 57 members from ESGR consisted of company presidents, vice presidents, company chief executive officers, chief financial officers, and military representatives from the state of Wisconsin.
“We are visiting vessels and training sites of the Navy. It has been a great visit to NECC so far,” said Legwold. “The riverine capability is very impressive I have an appreciation for the boats and their capabilities.”
The visit showcased NECC capabilities consisting of Riverine; Maritime Expeditionary Security Force; Naval Construction Force; Underwater Construction; Expeditionary Combat Camera; Explosive Ordnance Disposal; Mobile Diving and Salvage; Naval Expeditionary Logistics; Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training and Navy Expeditionary Intelligence.
A Navy riverine veteran of the Vietnam War and a National Military Services Representative for Veterans of Foreign Wars Dave Behrend understands the complexity of supporting the U.S. as a reservist.
“I know the commitment it takes to be a Reserve Sailor in the Expeditionary community goes above and beyond personal sacrifice,” said Behrend. “It’s all or nothing to be a reservist and be in a community such as NECC.”
Fifty-three percent of NECC’s force structure is made up of reservists. NECC operational reservists deploy around the world, to places like the Middle East, the Pacific, and South America, seamlessly the same as their active duty counterparts. They conduct the same missions as our active duty forces and are critical to complete operational commitments.
NECC forces support all six core capabilities of the maritime strategy which are forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.