Groton Riverines Complete 1000th HVU Mission

Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Lisa Reese | 180404-N-NZ491-001 GROTON, Conn. (Apr. 4, 2018) Coastal Riverine Squadron 8 Detachment Groton completes their 1000th high value unit escort mission in a 34-foot patrol boat off the coast of Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut. Coastal Riverine Squadrons operate ashore, at sea and in the waters of harbors and bays and across the littorals providing port and harbor security, high value asset protection and maritime security operations in coastal and inland waterways. (U.S. Navy photo by Electronics Technician 1st Class Patrick Howard/Released)  

GROTON, CT, UNITED STATES

04.04.2018

Story by Chief Petty Officer Karen Rybarczyk 

Navy Expeditionary Combat Command

GROTON, Conn. -- Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 8 Detachment Groton completed their 1,000th high value unit escort mission April 5, 2018.

A small detachment with a big mission, the team operates 34-foot patrol boats to provide force protection for high value units transiting in and out of Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut.

“I’m proud of them every day,” said Officer in Charge Lt. Andrew Mauney, from Lincolnton, North Carolina, about the detachment’s significant operational achievement. “Doing this mission as a small unit is amazing, and I couldn’t ask for a better group. They have worked through every challenge you could imagine and have flawlessly conducted 1,000 missions.”

The detachment’s senior enlisted advisor, Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Wayne Leite, from Hyannis, Massachusetts, talked about how a high operational tempo and recent periods of bad weather served to increase the detachment’s cohesiveness and ability to operate as an effective team.

“They give 200 percent every day to make the mission happen,” said Leite. “We have had a lot of our Sailors advance, reach the next level of qualification, and others have been recognized for their accomplishments by winning Sailor of the Quarter, Junior Sailor of the Quarter, and Blue Jacket of the Quarter.”

For Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Matthew Bilbrey, from Clarksville, Tennessee, being a member of Detachment Groton means setting the bar high for other squadrons to emulate.

“At the end of our 2016 certification, we had a warrant officer tell us that we are the standard, other squadrons need to be on our level, and we just need to keep doing what we’re doing,” Bilbrey said. “That just shows the quality of our leadership and professionalism, and our dedication to complete the task at hand, regardless of obstacles.”

CRS 8 is one of seven Coastal Riverine Squadrons part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. The men and women of the Coastal Riverine Force operate ashore, at sea and in the waters of harbors and bays and across the littorals providing port and harbor security, high value unit protection and maritime security operations in coastal and inland waterways.

“As cliché as it sounds, there is no ‘typical day,’” said Mauney. “Our work schedule is heavily driven by the mission schedule.”

• Date Taken: 04.04.2018
• Date Posted: 04.06.2018 16:31
• Story ID: 272112
• Location: GROTON, CT, US
• Hometown: CLARKSVILLE, TN, US
• Hometown: HYANNIS, MA, US
• Hometown: LINCOLNTON, NC, US