Phoenix Sailor Excels with Riverines

Photo By Lt.j.g. Drew Verbis | U.S. Navy Reserve Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Chris Motiejunas advanced to Petty Officer First Class at Navy Operational Support Center Phoenix September 23, 2018, following a successful mobilization with Coastal Riverine Squadron 1. During the ceremony he was frocked to 1st Class by his mother and wife.  

PHOENIX, AZ, UNITED STATES

10.14.2018

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Drew Verbis 

Navy Reserve - Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

GLENDALE, Ariz. (NNS) - Phoenix resident U.S. Navy Reserve Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Chris Motiejunas advanced to Petty Officer First Class at Navy Operational Support Center Phoenix September 23, 2018, following a successful mobilization with Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 1.

CRS-1 provides anti-terrorism defense for American assets, critical maritime infrastructure, ports and harbors both inland and on coastal waterways around the globe using well-trained and highly mobile security forces. They operate in harbors, rivers, bays, across the littorals and ashore.

Motiejunas spent nearly four-months sharpening his skills at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia as part-of the build-up for a year with CRS-1 while augmenting for CRS-2 in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

CRS-1 operates pre-deployment training in three phases; the individual, the unit and the assessment which determines readiness during the final evaluation period for deployment certification.

“While I was in Virginia my job was a Navigator on a 34 ft patrol boat. When we got boots on ground in Kuwait, I earned the position of Coxswain and took charge of a five-man crew,” Motiejunas stated.

Motiejunas excelled at small arms training for the M9, M4 and M500 earning a category three (CAT III) weapons qualification. In addition to CAT III quals, his squadron practiced proficiency in the Navy’s crew-served weapons, the M2HB .50 Cal and M240 7.62 mm machine gun.

Motiejunas remembers some of the challenges.

“Trainers would dump pieces of our crew-served weapons in a pile and require us to assemble the weapons within a short period of time.”

Motiejunas and was among a select few chosen to attend a private lunch with Rear Admiral Brian J. Brakke, Commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.

“We talked about training and I mentioned that I enjoyed learning how to manage other sailors. I had the distinct pleasure of having a younger sailor ask me to be his mentor and this meant a great deal.”

CRS-1 supported operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, including the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. A variety of missions included dynamic and static seaward force protection and domain awareness operations.

“The deployment was difficult at times, but I enjoyed the camaraderie and being out on the water getting real-life experience while conducting critical missions of importance. I got my expeditionary warfare pin and I was honored to be among a select few to earn a Navy Achievement Medal. All of this helped me to pick-up first-class.”

Motiejunas was frocked to first-class petty officer September 23, 2018, shortly after returning to his assignment at Navy Operational Support Center Phoenix.

• Date Taken: 10.14.2018
• Date Posted: 10.18.2018 21:07
• Story ID: 296336
• Location: PHOENIX, AZ, US