CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE, Basra – “Riverine duty is a voluntary program,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Ty Britt. “The training we receive is unlike anything else we do in the Navy. It’s physically demanding as well as mentally challenging, requiring us to learn small unit tactics and apply them on the water.”
Britt, a Brandon, Miss., resident, commands Riverine Squadron 2, which is under 17th Fires Brigade tactical control. Known as the “brown-water” Navy, because of “RIVRON’s” association with coastal waters, RIVRON 2 has three detachments based in Multi-National Division-South.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Harold M. Crockett, assistant public affairs officer for RIVRON’s headquarters and one-time RIVRON bow gunner, is based on COB Basra, where detachments 2 and 3 are responsible for patrolling the inland waterways of Basrah Province to include the Shatt al Arab and Qarmat Ali rivers. The Fort Worth, Texas native echoes Britt’s statement regarding RIVRON’s sometimes demanding schedule.
Crockett remembers past deployments with RIVRON working sometimes 18 hours or more daily. He said such hours are mission-dependent, and not the case now in Iraq, but that doesn’t mean his Riverines are any less prepared to accomplish the most demanding task.
“It’s very different from the rest of the Navy,” Crockett said. “We require a lot more. There’s no time to baby-sit anyone. When we’re ready to roll on a mission, there’s time for a pre-combat check and we go. Riverines are expected to have the experience and the motivation to excel and stand on their own, and they do. We deliver.”
Not used since the Vietnam War, RIVRON resumed official operations after Sept. 11 to cope with ongoing coastal operations throughout the world. Serving under the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, the Norfolk-Va.-based RIVRON 2 is on its second deployment to Iraq since its formation in 2007.
In securing the waterways of Iraq, and in accordance with the security agreement between Iraq and the U.S., RIVRON forces conduct combined operations with the Iraqi Security Forces, training them in operations, intelligence and surveillance.
Being relatively new to Basrah Province, Britt said his squadron is still in the beginning phases of establishing working relationships with Iraq’s Coastal Border Guard, River Police and Iraqi Army. Tasked with conducting both day and night operations, Britt said their current operating schedule remains flexible.
“We try to base our patrols on . . . times that our Iraqi partners feel suit the training and mission objectives they’re looking for,” he said.
When patrolling, Britt said Riverines need fine-tuned interpersonal skills when called upon to interact with local civilians, whether through boat -to-boat searches or during their routine shoreline foot patrols. Each detachment also has a quick-reaction Riverine Security Team, prepared to set out in Riverine Patrol Boats at a moment’s notice to provide land-based operations including security, extractions and searches for cache finds.
“It is our job to interact with the locals to let them know why we are there,” Britt said, “to stop dangerous illegal activities.”
Britt said that during joint patrols with their Iraqi counterparts, a Riverine’s main job will be to provide overwatch. In certain circumstances when joint patrols are not required, such as in base defense, unilateral patrols can be conducted.
“If we are doing unilateral patrols and we can verify personnel are conducting suspicious activities, then we can detain them briefly while our higher headquarters notifies local ISF units of the situation,” he said.
Britt said the Riverines would then receive direction to release the suspect or transfer the detainee to ISF control.
RIVRON Sailors appreciate their chance to train alongside the Iraqis.
“It’s really interesting to work with another culture and getting to know their customs and values,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Tim M. Bower, who’s from Wahiawa, Hawaii. “Working with them is an experience that I’ve enjoyed.”
Although his squadron has not faced any serious incidents during their current deployment, Britt said the Riverines remain steadfast in their training and are mentally prepared for any scenario.
“We constantly look to anticipate and train for worst-case scenarios,” he said, “whether it is an IED attack as we move to our boat launch site or a complex attack from the shoreline.”
Perhaps it’s the variety and never-ending “what if” scenarios of RIVRON’s training that motivates sailors to request the duty in the first place – the opportunity for quick, decisive decision-making, as well as the camaraderie of team-work.
“I like the brotherhood I have here,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason N. Ellis, from Cypress, Texas. “The people I work and serve with are family to me and I will do anything for them.”
Petty Officer 1st Class Justin A. Slager, operations leading petty officer, belongs to Det. 1, which is headquartered on Camp Bucca in the port city of Umm Qasr and monitors the Khawr az Zubayr River. The Loveland, Colo. native agreed the job requires teamwork, but also an ability to adapt independently to ever-changing situations.
“It’s a challenging atmosphere we work in,” he said, “with the out-of-the-box mentality and need to adapt to any situation that comes your way. But that is a definite leadership-building tool.”
Britt said the retention rate across the Riverine force remains high – more than 90 percent – which he attributes to the small-unit relationships sailors develop within each detachment and boat crew.
Overall, Britt said he and the squadron’s officers and NCOs view their time in RIVRON as a once-in-a-lifetime experience in their Navy careers, and strongly appreciate the chance to lead a strong-willed squadron of Sailors, all motivated toward a single objective in securing Iraq’s waters.
“Their dedication and enthusiasm is truly remarkable,” Britt said. “These Sailors only know how to tackle every mission and task with a ‘can-do’ attitude."
