GULFPORT, Miss. – Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center (ECRC) based in Norfolk, Virginia conducted a remote mobilization of 27 active duty and eight Naval Reserve Sailors at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Mississippi, Feb 1.
The mobilization process usually takes about a week and involves preparing a Reserve Sailor for active duty or, for Sailors already on active duty, a transition to a new mission.
Seventeen Reserve component Sailors on annual training assigned to ECRC Det. Bravo located in Gulfport, Mississippi, and ECRC Headquarters Augment Unit located in Norfolk, Virginia led the mobilization process.
“The mobilization of these Sailors in Gulfport allows ECRC to flex the knowledge of the ECRC Reservists assigned to its various detachments,” said Cmdr. Kathryn Ball, commanding officer, Naval Reserves ECRC Det. Bravo. “These remote events ensure ECRC Sailors will learn, train and do the actions required to process Reserve Sailors into the active component.”
During the week of processing, ECRC verifies completion of all required items listed in the member’s orders and on the expeditionary screening checklist. Additionally, ECRC issues all uniform and gear items in accordance with the Sailor’s mission specific requirements and also ensures the currency of all medical and dental screenings, security clearances and pay accounts.
“The execution of a remote mobilization provides other Navy regions exposure to the facility, technology, medical/dental, pay and personnel requirements necessary to execute the mobilization mission,” said Ball. “Every Sailor is unique and ECRC takes the time to ensure everything is taken care of for them during this week so they can focus on their mission.”
While the Reserve and active duty Sailors are gearing up to head to their assignments, the Reserve Sailors conducting the processing have a chance to practice their skills.
“We have Sailors working within the personnel support detachment to open the active duty pay accounts for the Reserve component Sailors,” said Ball. “Other Sailors are working with a special issuing facility to ensure all required uniform and gear items are issued to the [deploying members] prior to their detachment from ECRC. The expectation is then that these ECRC Sailors, who have practiced, will be able to train their shipmates during drill weekend and other events.”
“In addition to training our Reserve units, we expect to provide outstanding customer service to each deploying Sailor,” Ball goes on to say. “It is an honor to serve them and our staff will strive to address all their concerns, questions, and issues while they are with ECRC. We want the Sailors to leave on a positive note knowing we truly appreciate their service and the sacrifices they are making.”
ECRC provides processing, equipping, training, certification and proactive family support to Active Duty for Special Work Sailors, Individual Augmentees and provisional units throughout all deployment phases in support of Combatant Commander’s requirements, contingency operations, or national crises.
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