Attach them to the Marine Expeditionary Units, subordinate them to Marine Command on deployments and get them out and about with the Amphibious Ready Groups.
As it now stands, these forces are sitting on the beach with a mission but without the means to get into the fight with a Surface Navy that doesn't want to use them...A Special Warfare Community that already has its own Boat Drivers...and a Command (NECC) that doesn't have the clout to get them where they need to be.
That all changes if they're assigned to an MEU.
Consider this sad fact. Piracy is running rampant off the coast of Africa. Riverine's aren't there. The 22nd MEU is deploying to the waters off Libya. Riverine's aren't going. Unless we're going to disband this asset then it going to take assigning them to an MEU to get use out of them.
Training foreign forces...or training with allied nations isn't good enough. Its time to get them into the fight.
*UPDATE*
Hey all.
I don't want the Marines to take back the Riverine Mission. I do however, want the Riverines to get deployed. If you believe that Riverine Forces will get there own amphibs then you're smoking crack. If you think that Riverines will be able to deploy with MPS ships then you're still smoking something illegal. If you think that you can position gear at forward bases and have personnel fly out and marry up with it you're dreaming. This unit WILL go away unless you tie it to units that are out doing work. If its with the Destroyer Force, ARG or Carriers then so be it but NECC does not have the ability to lobby for its own large ships.
It's the problem of placing such units clearly in the category of "Army" "Navy" or "Marine Corps"...the mission was just transferred from the Marines to the Navy during the stability phases in Iraq but,
ReplyDeleteHistorically, it was a joint mission of Navy boat operators and Marine (or Navy Special Warfare) trigger-pullers. The idea that it's something else is a product of organizational squabbling and competition.
Hopefully, the 'heavier' 4th RivRon will actually engage with and train with the Marines to bring more relevance to both forces in future fights.
you misunderstand me.
ReplyDeletei don't want them to become Marines but if they're part of the MEU then they travel and get to deploy. we have navy detachments all over the Marine Corps...i'm just adding another one.
think of it like this. Marine Aviation becomes part of the Carrier Air Wing...its still a Marine Unit just subordinated to a Wings Commander. I want the same but in reverse with MEU's and Riverine Units.
Ok guys this topic has been kicked around on Warboats.org for a couple of years and at River Rat reunions ever since the new riverines stood up.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, there are two RivRons which where trained at LeJuene's School of Infantry. Historically Navy Sailors have always operated landing craft taking Marines ashore. There are ships crews and NSE units doing that today. So it would seem to be right? Let's drill down some.
Putting 4 to 6 boats and crews on a Gator will impact their loadout and the Marines are already crying for more ships and capacity, so that is a CON to the proposal.
NECC units always have to hitch a ride on some one else's ship, so that would be a PRO. But that ship does NOT have to be a Gator. There are several other types which have the capacity.
Why put more Navy assets on Gators when putting NECC units such as new riverines to conduct naval raids on other ships spreads the assets and capability to more hulls and thereby more places. I come down on it a matter of balancing the force and being in more places with what is neeed.
BTW the new Riverines relieved the Marine Small Craft Co. in Iraq and therefore HAS been in the fight for several years now!