Navy Role in Global War on Terrorism (GWOT: Background and Issues for Congress

^Pr^ep^ar^{ed f}^o^r^M^e^m^b^ers^an^d^Com^mⁱ^t^t^ees^of^C^ong^r^e^ss

The Navy for several years has carried out a variety of counterterrorism (CT) and irregular
warfare (IW) activities. The Navy states that as of February 2008, more than 11,300 Navy sailors
(including Individual Augmentees) were ashore supporting ground forces in the U.S. Central
Command region (including Iraq and Afghanistan). The Navy’s role in CT and IW raises several
potential oversight issues for Congress. This report will be updated as events warrant.

Backgr ound ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Longstanding Navy Activities...................................................................................................1
Initiatives Since 2005................................................................................................................2
Navy Irregular Warfare Office..................................................................................................3
Global Maritime Partnership (Previously 1,000-Ship Navy)....................................................4
NECC ........................................................................................................................... ............. 4
Riverine Force...........................................................................................................................5
Global Fleet Stations (GFSs).....................................................................................................5
Potential Oversight Issues For Congress.........................................................................................5
Author Contact Information............................................................................................................6

The Navy for several years has carried out a variety of counterterrorism (CT) and irregular
warfare (IW) activites, including the following:
• Navy sailors, many of them individual augmentees (IAs), serving on the ground
in Iraq and Afghanistan in various mission areas, including but not limited to
medical and construction support;
• Tomahawk cruise missile attacks on suspected terrorist training camps and
facilities, such as those reportedly conducted in Somalia on March 3 and May 1, ¹

2008, and those conducted in 1998 in response to the 1998 terrorist bombings of ²

U.S. embassies in East Africa;
• operations by Navy special operations forces, known as SEALs, that are directed ³
against terrorists;
• surveillance by Navy ships and aircraft of suspected terrorists overseas;
• maritime intercept operations (MIO) aimed at identifying and intercepting
terrorists or weapons of mass destruction at sea, or potentially threatening ships
or aircraft that are in or approaching U.S. territorial waters—an activity that
includes Navy participation in the multilateral Proliferation Security Initiative ⁴
(PSI);
• working with the Coast Guard to build maritime domain awareness (MDA)—a
real-time understanding of activities on the world’s oceans;
• assisting the Coast Guard in port-security operations;⁵
• protection of forward-deployed Navy ships, an activity that was intensified
following the terrorist attack on the Navy Aegis destroyer Cole (DDG-67) in
October 2000 in the port of Aden, Yemen; and
• protection of domestic and overseas Navy bases and facilities.

¹^Edm^und^Sa^nde^rs^{, “}^U^.S^{. Mis}^s^ile^Strik^e^{in S}^o^m^a^lia^K^ills^6,”^L^o^{s Ang}^e^les^Tⁱ^mes^,^M^a^r^c^h^4,²⁰⁰⁸^;^S^t^eph^aⁿⁱ^e
^Mc^Crum^m^e^{n a}^{nd Ka}^re^{n De}^Youn^g^,^“^U^{.S. A}ⁱ^rstrik^e^{Kills Som}^a^li^Ac^c^u^se^{d of}^Lⁱ^nk^{s to A}^l^-Qa^e^d^a^,^”^Was^hⁱⁿ^gt^{on Pos}^t^,
^Ma^y^{2, 200}^{8: A}^12;^Eric^Sc^hm^{itt a}^{nd Je}^f^f^r^e^y^G^e^ttle^m^a^{n, “}^Q^a^e^d^a^L^e^a^d^e^r^Re^porte^{d Ki}^lle^{d I}ⁿ^S^o^m^a^lia^,^”^{New Yo}^{rk Times}^,
^Ma^y^{2, 200}^8.
²^F^o^{r a recen}^t^artⁱ^c^l^e^oⁿ^t^h^e¹⁹⁹⁸^s^t^ri^kes,^{see P}^a^m^e^l^a^H^e^ss,^“Rep^o^r^t^:¹⁹⁹⁸^S^t^ri^{ke Bu}ⁱ^l^t^bⁱⁿ^L^a^d^eⁿ^-^T^a^lⁱ^b^an^Tⁱ^e,^”
^Na^vyTⁱ^m^es.^c^o^m⁽^A^sso^ci^a^t^ed^P^r^ess)^{, A}^u^g^u^s^t^22,²⁰⁰⁸^.
³^SEA^L^is^aⁿ^a^c^r^ony^m^tha^t^s^t^a^nds^f^o^r^Se^a^,^Aⁱ^r^,^a^{nd L}^a^{nd. F}^o^r^f^u^r^t^he^r^dis^c^us^sⁱ^oⁿ^of^the^SEA^L^s^,^s^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^por^t
^R^S²¹⁰⁴^8,^U^.^S.^Spe^cⁱ^a^l^O^p^e^r^ati^oⁿ^s^For^c^e^s⁽^S^O^F⁾^:^Bac^k^g^r^o^u^nd^an^d^I^s^s^u^e^s^for^C^o^ngr^e^s^s^{, by}^A^ndre^w^Fe^ic^k^e^rt.
⁴^For^m^o^r^e^on^the^PSI^{, s}^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^L³⁴³^27,^Proli^f^e^r^atioⁿ^Se^c^u^rity^Initi^ativ^e⁽^P^SI)^{, by}^Ma^ry^Be^t^h^Nik^itin.
⁵^S^ee,^f^o^{r exa}^m^p^l^e,^E^m^elⁱ^e^Ru^t^h^erfo^rd^,^“Nav^y^’^{s M}^a^ri^tⁱ^m^e^Do^m^aⁱⁿ^Aw^ar^en^{ess S}^y^st^e^m^‘Up^Aⁿ^d^Ruⁿⁿⁱⁿ^g’,^”^Defen^s^e
^Daily^{, Se}^p^t^e^m^be^r^{4, 20}^08;^aⁿ^d^D^a^{n T}^a^y^l^or^{, “}^N^ew^N^e^t^w^or^k^A^llow^s^N^a^vy^T^o^T^r^ac^k^T^hous^a^nds^of^Shi^p^s^W^o^r^l^dw^ide^,^”
^In^si^d^e^t^h^{e Na}^vy^{, Se}^p^t^e^m^be^r^{8, 20}^08.^For^m^o^r^e^{on t}^h^e^C^o^a^s^{t G}^u^a^r^d^a^{nd p}^o^r^t^s^e^c^u^r^ity^{, s}^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^por^t^R^L³³³⁸^3,
^Te^{rminal O}^p^e^r^ators^an^{d T}^h^eⁱ^{r Ro}^le^{in U.}^{S. P}^o^{rt a}ⁿ^d^M^a^ritime^Se^c^u^rity^{, by}^J^{ohn Fr}^itte^{lli a}^{nd J}^eⁿⁿ^if^e^r^{E. L}^a^k^e^{, a}^nd
^C^R^S^R^e^por^t^R^L³³⁷^87,^M^a^r^itim^e^Se^c^u^r^ity^{: Pote}^ntia^{l Te}^r^r^o^rⁱ^s^t^At^ta^c^k^s^{and Pr}^ote^c^tio^{n Pr}ⁱ^o^r^itie^s^{, by}^P^a^u^l^W^.^P^a^rf^om^a^k
^a^{nd Jo}^hn^Fritte^lli^.

Since July 2005, the Navy has implemented a number of initiatives intended to increase its
capabilities for CT and IW, including the following:
• establishing a Navy Irregular Warfare Office;
• establishing a multilateral global maritime partnership (originally known as the
“1,000-ship navy” concept) for ensuring global maritime security;
• establishing the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC);
• reestablishing the Navy’s riverine force;
• establishing small sea bases called Global Fleet Stations (GFSs) in various
regions around the world;
• establishing a reserve civil affairs battalion, an MIO intelligence exploitation
pilot program, an intelligence data-mining capability at the National Maritime
Intelligence Center (NMIC), and a Navy Foreign Area Officer (FAO) community
consisting of officers with specialized knowledge of foreign countries and
regions;
• assuming command of a joint task force in the Horn of Africa, the detainee
operation at Guantanamo, Cuba, and Fort Suse, a high-security prison in Iraq,
and assuming the lead in defending the Haditha Dam in Iraq;
• procuring Automatic Identification Systems (AISs) for surface ships;⁶
• developing a CT mission module for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS);⁷
• developing Global Maritime Intelligence Integration (GMII) as part of Joint
Force Maritime Component Command (JFMCC) and Maritime Domain
Awareness (MDA); and
• engaging with the U.S. Coast Guard to use the National Strategy for Maritime
Security to more rapidly develop capabilities for Homeland Security, particularly
in the area of MDA.
In discussing its CT and IW activities, the Department of the Navy, which includes the Navy and
the Marine Corps, states that naval forces:
^p^r^o^v^id^{e th}^{e b}^u^lk^o^f^th^eⁿ^a^tioⁿ^’^s^w^o^r^l^d^w^id^{e r}^o^tatioⁿ^a^l^m^ilita^r^y^p^r^eseⁿ^{ce an}^d^anⁱⁿ^cr^easiⁿ^g
^portⁱ^oⁿ^of^t^h^{e requ}ⁱ^r^{ed s}^u^pport^f^o^{r g}^r^ouⁿ^d^unⁱ^t^sⁱⁿ^O^p^eratⁱ^oⁿ^s^En^du^ri^ng^F^r^eedo^m^/^Iraqi
^F^r^eedom^(O^EF^/^O^I^F^{) [i}^{.e., A}^f^g^h^aⁿⁱ^s^t^an^aⁿ^{d Iraq].}^T^h^es^{e o}^p^eratⁱ^oⁿ^s^s^u^pport^ou^{r n}^a^tⁱ^on’s
ⁱⁿ^teres^t^b^y^coⁿ^tⁱⁿ^uⁱ^ngⁱⁿ^te^lli^gen^{ce, s}^u^r^v^eillaⁿ^{ce an}^{d reconnais}^s^aⁿ^ce^mⁱ^s^sⁱ^oⁿ^s^,^ex^paⁿ^d^ed
^m^a^ri^tⁱ^m^eⁱⁿ^t^e^rceptⁱ^oⁿ^operatⁱ^oⁿ^s^{, an}^{d coun}^t^e^r-^pi^rac^y^aⁿ^{d c}^o^uⁿ^t^er^-^d^ru^g^pat^r^ol^s^.^T^h^{ere are}
^ov^{er 11,}³⁰⁰^s^aⁱ^l^o^rs^as^h^o^{re (i}ⁿ^c^l^u^di^ng^In^di^vi^du^al^A^ugm^eⁿ^t^e^e^s^s^u^pportⁱⁿ^g^g^r^ouⁿ^d^f^o^rcesⁱⁿ
^co^r^e^mⁱ^s^s^ioⁿ^ar^{eas an}^dⁿ^e^w^ca^p^a^b^ilit^y^ar^eas)^an^d¹²^,⁰⁰⁰^at^{sea in}^th^{e U.}^S^.^C^eⁿ^t^r^a^l^C^o^m^m^aⁿ^d
^regⁱ^on^al^on^{e e}ⁿ^g^a^g^e^{d i}ⁿ^t^h^{e G}^W^O^T^[G^l^obal^Wa^{r on}^T^e^rr^ori^s^m^]^.

⁶^T^h^{e A}^I^Sⁱ^s^{a t}^r^an^sp^oⁿ^d^e^r-lⁱ^k^{e d}^e^vi^{ce t}^h^at^t^r^an^smⁱ^t^s^{a sh}ⁱ^p^{’s i}^d^en^tⁱ^fⁱ^catⁱ^oⁿ^,^p^o^sⁱ^tⁱ^oⁿ^,^cou^r^se,^sp^eed^,^an^d^o^t^h^e^r^d^a^t^a^t^o
^othe^r^s^h^ips^aⁿ^{d r}^e^le^v^a^{nt a}^u^t^horⁱ^tie^s^.
⁷^For^m^o^r^e^on^the^L^C^{S, s}^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^L³³⁷⁴^1,^N^a^v^y^Litt^or^{al C}^o^m^bat^Shi^{p (}^L^C^S⁾^Pr^ogr^am^:^Bac^k^g^r^oun^{d, O}^v^e^r^sⁱ^ght
^Issu^es,^aⁿ^d^Op^tⁱ^on^{s fo}^{r C}^o^ng^ress^{, by}^R^ona^{ld O}^'^R^our^k^e^.

^Sⁱⁿ^{ce ass}^u^m^p^tⁱ^oⁿⁱⁿ^F^Y^{2007, t}^h^{e N}^a^vy^coⁿ^tⁱⁿ^u^e^s^co^m^m^aⁿ^d^of^t^h^{e det}^aⁱⁿ^ee^mⁱ^ssⁱ^oⁿⁱⁿ
^Gu^aⁿ^tan^a^m^o^B^a^y^,^C^u^b^a^an^d^a^t^Ca^m^p^B^u^{cca, a}^hⁱ^g^h^-secu^rit^y^p^r^isoⁿⁱⁿ^Iraq^.^A^d^d^itioⁿ^a^ll^y^,
^Ex^ecu^tⁱ^v^e^Ag^eⁿ^{t r}^e^sp^oⁿ^sⁱ^b^ili^t^y^r^e^m^aⁱⁿ^{s in}^e^f^f^ect^f^o^r^co^m^m^aⁿ^d^o^f^th^{e GW}^OT^r^e^lated
^C^o^m^bⁱⁿ^{ed J}^oⁱⁿ^{t T}^a^s^k^{Force H}^o^rn^of^Af^{rica (}^C^J^T^{F HOA}⁾ⁱⁿ^Dj^ibou^{ti. Ou}^{r pres}^en^ceⁱⁿ^t^h^e
^H^o^rn^of^A^f^ri^ca,^w^hⁱ^c^hⁱ^s^aⁿⁱ^m^pov^eri^s^h^e^{d part}^of^t^h^e^w^o^rl^{d t}^h^at^s^t^rug^g^l^e^s^wⁱ^t^h^di^s^eas^{e, dru}^g
^ruⁿⁿⁱⁿ^g^,^hum^aⁿ^t^r^a^f^fⁱ^ckiⁿ^g^,^sm^ugg^lⁱⁿ^g^an^{d pock}^e^t^s^of^e^x^t^r^e^mⁱ^s^m^,ⁱ^s^a^k^e^y^t^o^ens^u^ri^ng^t^h^at
^terro^rism^d^o^e^sn^’^t^g^aⁱⁿ^a^f^o^o^t^h^o^ldⁱⁿ^t^h^{e re}^gⁱ^oⁿ^.^CJ^T^F^HOA^w^a^sⁱⁿ^itiall^y^f^o^r^m^edⁱⁿ
^N^o^v^e^m^b^{er 2002}^as^{a s}^eaf^ariⁿ^{g f}^o^{rce ai}^m^e^{d at}^bl^ockⁱ^ng^t^e^rrorⁱ^s^t^s^fl^eei^ng^A^f^gh^aⁿⁱ^s^t^aⁿ^f^r^o^m
^es^tablis^hⁱ^ng^{a n}^e^w^s^a^f^e^h^a^v^eⁿ^.^Soon^af^{ter, t}^h^{e tas}^k^f^o^{rce m}^o^v^e^{d as}^h^o^{re an}^{d its}^mⁱ^s^s^ion
^m^o^rp^h^e^{d in}^{to a blen}^{d of}^m^ilitar^y^cooperation^,^m^ili^tar^y^-^t^o-mⁱ^lⁱ^t^ar^y^trainⁱⁿ^g^an^d^h^u^m^aⁿⁱ^t^a^rⁱ^an
^as^sⁱ^st^an^{ce o}^v^{er a}^m^a^s^sⁱ^v^e^{, ei}^gh^t^-^coun^t^r^y^re^gⁱ^on^{. T}^h^{e N}^a^vyⁱ^sⁿ^o^w^eⁿ^g^a^g^e^{d t}^o^h^e^l^p^bri^ng
^stabilit^y^,^secu^rit^y^aⁿ^{d h}^{ope to th}^{e reg}ⁱ^oⁿ^....
^T^h^{e Navy}^s^p^earh^eads^{OEF b}^y^prov^idin^g^s^o^v^e^rei^gⁿ^deck^s^p^{ace f}^r^o^m^w^h^ic^h^{to lau}ⁿ^c^h^c^o^m^b^a^t
^s^o^rtⁱ^e^sⁱⁿ^t^o^A^f^g^h^aⁿⁱ^s^t^an^{, cont}ⁱⁿ^u^e^s^t^o^s^u^pport^g^r^oun^{d operat}ⁱ^oⁿ^sⁱⁿ^{Iraq f}^r^o^m^t^h^e^s^{ea, i}ⁿ^t^h^e
^{air an}^{d o}ⁿ^t^h^{e la}ⁿ^d^a^s^{part o}^f^{OIF, an}^{d co}ⁿ^d^u^c^t^s^deterren^c^e^operation^s^{in t}^h^{e P}^e^rs^iaⁿ^G^u^l^f^.
^T^h^{e Nav}^y^also^r^e^sp^oⁿ^d^s^to^h^u^m^aⁿ^itarⁱ^aⁿ^cr^isi^s^{, p}^a^tr^o^l^s^f^o^r^pⁱ^r^a^{tes, in}^ter^acts^wⁱ^t^h^t^h^e
^dev^e^l^opiⁿ^gⁿ^a^vⁱ^es^aroun^{d t}^h^e^w^o^rl^{d an}^{d su}^pport^s^couⁿ^t^e^r^-^t^errori^sm^operatⁱ^oⁿ^sⁱⁿ^t^h^e
^P^h^ilippin^e^s^....
^Uⁿ^d^e^r^t^h^e^N^a^tⁱ^o^na^l^S^e^c^u^rⁱ^t^y^P^r^e^sⁱ^d^en^{tial Directi}^v^{e (NSP}^D-⁴¹^{), w}^e^{are con}^tⁱⁿ^uing^{to cu}^lti^v^a^t^e
^r^e^latioⁿ^s^hⁱ^p^s^an^d^d^e^v^e^lo^p^cap^ab^{ilities to}^m^a^xⁱ^mⁱ^{ze t}^h^{e ad}^v^aⁿ^t^a^g^{e t}^h^{at o}^p^e^r^a^tin^gⁱⁿ^t^h^e
^m^a^riti^m^e^do^m^aⁱⁿ^bring^s^{to h}^o^m^e^laⁿ^d^s^ecu^rit^y^{. B}^ecau^s^e^m^o^r^e^th^an^{90 percen}^{t of}^th^e^w^o^rld’s
^c^o^mme^r^c^e^m^o^ve^{s b}^y^se^a^,^p^r^o^t^e^c^tⁱ^o^{n o}^f^m^e^r^c^ha^nt^shⁱ^ppi^ng^f^r^o^m^pot^eⁿ^tⁱ^a^l^t^e^rrori^s^tⁿ^e^t^w^orksⁱ^s
^{critical. Un}ⁱ^t^{ed States}ⁿ^a^v^a^l^forces^are^w^e^ll^tr^ain^e^d^to^car^r^y^o^u^{t t}^h^e^mⁱ^s^s^ioⁿ^o^f^d^e^ter^rⁱⁿ^g^,
^d^e^layⁱⁿ^g^{, an}^d^dⁱ^sr^u^p^tiⁿ^g^th^e^m^o^v^e^m^eⁿ^t^o^f^ter^r^o^r^{ists an}^d^te^r^r^o^r^ist-^r^e^lated^m^a^terⁱ^{al at sea.}
^Ho^w^e^v^e^{r, th}^e^Uⁿ^{ited S}^t^a^t^es^canⁿ^o^{t acco}^m^p^lish^t^hⁱ^s^m^onum^eⁿ^tal^task^aloⁿ^{e. We are}
^b^r^o^a^d^eⁿⁱⁿ^g^o^u^r^r^e^latioⁿ^s^hⁱ^p^wⁱ^th^th^{e n}^a^vⁱ^e^s^o^fⁱⁿ^terⁿ^atioⁿ^a^{l a}^{llies to}^p^r^o^s^ecu^{te th}^{e GW}^OT^.
^W^e^{are ex}^pan^dⁱⁿ^g^t^h^{e P}^r^oliferation^Secu^rit^y^Iⁿⁱ^tiati^v^e^to^o^t^h^e^r^co^uⁿ^t^rⁱ^e^s^an^d^w^o^r^kⁱⁿ^g
^b^ilater^a^{l b}^o^a^r^dⁱⁿ^gⁱⁿ^itiatⁱ^v^e^{s i}ⁿ^{all h}^e^mⁱ^sp^h^e^r^e^s.
^W^e^ar^{e also}ⁱⁿ^teg^r^atiⁿ^gⁱⁿ^te^llig^eⁿ^{ce a}ⁿ^d^co^m^m^aⁿ^d^aⁿ^d^coⁿ^t^r^o^{l s}^y^ste^m^s^wⁱ^t^h^o^t^h^e^r
^go^ve^rⁿ^me^nt^a^g^eⁿ^cⁱ^e^s^lⁱ^k^e^t^h^e^D^e^p^a^r^t^m^e^nt^o^f^H^o^me^l^a^nd^Se^c^u^rⁱ^t^y^t^o^e^f^fe^c^tⁱ^v^e^l^{y e}^v^a^l^ua^t^e^t^h^e
^m^a^riti^m^e^envⁱ^ronm^eⁿ^{t an}^{d any}^t^hing^t^h^{at cou}^l^{d adv}^e^rs^el^yⁱⁿ^f^l^u^eⁿ^{ce t}^h^{e s}^e^c^u^rit^y^{, s}^a^f^e^t^y^or
^ecoⁿ^o^m^y^o^f^Am^er^{ica an}^d^o^u^r^{allies. W}^e^coⁿ^tin^u^e^to^d^e^v^e^lo^p^t^h^{e Nav}^y^’^s^r^o^{le in}^th^{e Mar}ⁱ^tⁱ^m^e
^Do^m^aⁱⁿ^Aw^ar^en^e^{ss co}ⁿ^cep^{t, i}ⁿ^clu^dⁱⁿ^g^s^h^ip^tr^ackⁱⁿ^g^aⁿ^d^s^u^r^v^eillaⁿ^{ce, to}^id^en^tⁱ^f^y^t^h^r^{eats a}^s
^earl^y^an^{d a}^s^di^s^t^aⁿ^t^f^r^o^m^o^u^{r borders}^as^pos^sⁱ^bl^{e i}ⁿ^{order t}^o^det^e^r^mⁱⁿ^{e t}^h^e^optⁱ^m^al^co^u^r^s^e^of
^a^c^tⁱ^o^n.^W^e^a^r^e^w^o^r^kⁱⁿ^g^wⁱ^t^h^t^h^e^D^e^p^a^r^t^m^e^nt^o^f^H^o^m^e^l^a^nd^Se^c^u^rⁱ^t^y^t^o^d^e^ve^l^o^p^a
^c^o^m^p^r^e^heⁿ^sⁱ^v^e^N^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^a^l^M^a^rⁱ^tⁱ^m^{e Sec}^u^rit^y^R^e^s^pon^s^e^P^l^an^{to addres}^s^s^p^ecifⁱ^{c s}^ecu^rit^y^t^h^reats⁸
^an^{d co}^m^m^aⁿ^{d an}^{d con}^t^{rol rela}^tion^s^hⁱ^ps^.
In July 2008, the Navy established the Navy Irregular Warfare Office, which is intended, in the
Navy’s words, to “institutionalize current ad hoc efforts in IW missions of counterterrorism and
counterinsurgency and the supporting missions of information operations, intelligence operations,
foreign internal defense and unconventional warfare as they apply to [CT] and

⁸^U^.^{S. D}^e^pa^r^t^m^e^{nt of}^the^N^a^vy^.^Hⁱ^ghli^ghts^of^the^D^e^p^a^r^t^m^e^nt^{of t}^h^e^N^a^v^y^FY2⁰⁰⁹^B^u^d^g^e^t^.^Washⁱⁿ^gt^on^,²⁰⁰⁸^.
⁽^F^e^b^r^u^a^r^y²⁰⁰⁸⁾^p^p^.^2-¹^thr^oug^h^2-^3.

[counterinsurgency].” The office works closely with U.S. Special Operations Command, and ⁹
reports to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for information, plans, and strategy.
The Global Maritime Partnership, previously known as the 1,000-ship Navy concept, is a U.S.
Navy initiative to achieve an enhanced degree of cooperation between the U.S. Navy and foreign
navies, coast guards, and maritime police forces, for the purpose of ensuring global maritime
security against common threats. The Navy states that
^t^h^e^fu^t^u^{re o}^f^m^a^ri^tⁱ^m^e^s^ecu^ri^t^y^depen^d^s^m^o^{re t}^h^{an ev}^er^onⁱⁿ^t^e^rn^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^a^l^cooperatⁱ^oⁿ^aⁿ^d
^uⁿ^d^ers^t^aⁿ^ding^{. T}^h^{ere is}ⁿ^o^on^{e n}^a^tion^th^{at ca}ⁿ^prov^{ide a s}^o^l^u^tion^alon^e.^A^g^l^obal^m^a^riti^m^e
^partⁿ^e^rs^hⁱ^{p i}^s^requⁱ^r^{ed t}^h^at^unⁱ^t^es^m^a^ri^tⁱ^m^e^f^o^rces^{, port}^operat^o^rs^{, com}^m^e^rci^a^l^s^hⁱ^pper^s^,^aⁿ^d
ⁱⁿ^t^e^rⁿ^a^tⁱ^o^na^l^,^go^ve^rⁿ^me^nt^a^l^aⁿ^d^no^n-^go^ve^rⁿ^me^nt^a^l^a^g^eⁿ^cⁱ^e^s^t^o^a^d^d^r^e^ss^mu^t^u^a^l^c^o^nc^e^r^ns.
^Oⁿ^g^oⁱⁿ^g^di^s^c^u^s^sⁱ^on^{s of}^a^“¹^,000-^s^hⁱ^pⁿ^a^vy^{” co}ⁿ^tⁱⁿ^u^e^{. T}^h^{e na}^m^eⁱ^t^s^e^l^f^capt^u^res^t^h^e^s^c^{ope of}
^t^h^{e eff}^o^rt^{. T}^h^{e con}^ceptⁱ^sⁿ^o^t^a^c^t^u^al^l^y^about^h^a^vⁱ^ng^{1,000 i}ⁿ^t^e^rn^atⁱ^oⁿ^a^l^s^hⁱ^p^s^a^t^s^e^a^.^R^a^t^h^e^r^,ⁱ^t
^is^m^o^r^e^ab^o^u^{t cap}^ab^{ilities, su}^c^h^{as sp}^eed^{, ag}^ilit^y^aⁿ^d^ad^ap^ta^bⁱ^lⁱ^t^y^.^M^e^m^b^e^r^shⁱ^pⁱⁿ^thⁱ^sⁿ^a^v^y^is
^p^u^r^e^l^y^vo^l^u^nt^a^r^y^aⁿ^d^ha^s^no^l^e^ga^l^o^r^eⁿ^c^u^mb^e^rⁱⁿ^{g t}ⁱ^e^s.^I^tⁱ^s^a^fr^e^e^-^fo^r^m^,^se^l^f^-o^r^g^aⁿⁱ^zⁱⁿ^g
ⁿ^e^t^w^ork^o^f^m^a^ri^tⁱ^m^e^partⁿ^e^rs—^g^{ood n}^eⁱ^g^h^borsⁱⁿ^t^e^res^t^{ed i}ⁿ^usⁱⁿ^{g t}^h^e^po^w^e^{r of}^t^h^e^s^{ea t}^o¹⁰
^uⁿⁱ^{te, r}^a^th^er^th^aⁿ^to^dⁱ^vⁱ^d^e^.
The Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), headquartered at Naval Amphibious Base,
Little Creek, VA, was established informally in October 2005 and formally on January 13, 2006.
The Department of the Navy states that NECC
^wⁱ^l^l^h^e^lp^m^{eet t}^h^{e irreg}^u^l^{ar c}^h^alleⁿ^g^e^s^of^th^{e 21}^st^Ce^nt^ur^y^.^I^t^wⁱ^l^l^se^r^v^e^a^s^a^f^unc^tⁱ^o^na^l
^co^m^m^aⁿ^d^to^o^r^g^aⁿⁱ^ze,^m^aⁿ^,^tr^ain^,^an^d^eq^uⁱ^p^f^o^r^{ces t}^h^at^o^p^e^r^a^{te in}^an^ex^p^e^d^itioⁿ^a^r^y
^en^vⁱ^r^oⁿ^m^eⁿ^{t. I}^t^w^{ill b}^e^t^h^{e si}ⁿ^g^l^{e ad}^v^o^{cate f}^o^r^{all Nav}^y^E^x^p^e^d^itioⁿ^a^r^y^Fo^r^{ces to}ⁱⁿ^cl^u^d^e
^Ex^pl^osⁱ^v^e^O^r^dn^aⁿ^{ce D}ⁱ^s^posal^(EO^D⁾^{, N}^a^v^a^l^C^ons^t^r^u^c^tⁱ^on^F^o^{rce (N}^C^F^{), Mari}^tⁱ^m^e
^Ex^p^e^d^itioⁿ^a^r^y^Secu^rⁱ^t^y^Fo^r^{ce (}^M^ESF,^f^o^r^m^er^l^y^Na^v^y^Co^{astal W}^a^r^f^ar^e)^aⁿ^d^Na^v^y
^Ex^pedition^a^r^y^L^o^gⁱ^s^t^ics^Support^Grou^p^(NA^V^E^L^SG),^an^d^k^e^yⁿ^e^w^capabilities^:
^Ex^p^e^d^itioⁿ^a^r^y^T^r^ainⁱⁿ^g^Co^m^m^an^d⁽^E^TC⁾^,^E^x^p^e^d^itioⁿ^a^r^y^Co^m^b^a^t^Readⁱⁿ^e^{ss Ce}ⁿ^t^er⁽^E^CR^C⁾^,
^Mar^iti^m^e^Ci^v^il^Af^f^a^ir^s^Gr^o^u^p⁽^M^C^A^G)^aⁿ^d^Ri^v^e^rⁱⁿ^e^Fo^r^c^{e. T}^h^{ese f}^o^r^ces^wⁱ^{ll co}ⁿ^d^u^c^t
^Mari^tⁱ^m^e^S^e^c^u^ri^t^y^O^p^eratⁱ^ons^an^{d T}^h^eat^{er S}^ecu^ri^t^y^C^ooperatⁱ^oⁿ^an^{d are capa}^b^l^e^of
^p^r^o^t^ectin^g^cr^itica^lⁱⁿ^f^r^a^s^tr^u^c^t^u^r^e^{, secu}^rⁱⁿ^g^th^e^ar^{ea f}^o^r^m^ili^t^a^r^y^o^p^e^r^a^tioⁿ^s^o^r^co^m^m^e^r^ce,
^prev^en^tiⁿ^g^t^h^{e flo}^w^o^f^con^t^raban^d^{, en}^abling^po^w^e^{r proj}^ectⁱ^oⁿ^operatⁱ^oⁿ^s^{, j}^oⁱⁿ^t^,^bi^-^l^at^eral^or
^m^u^ltilater^a^l^ex^er^ci^ses,^p^e^r^s^oⁿⁿ^e^l^ex^c^h^an^g^e^s^,^aⁿ^d^h^u^m^anⁱ^t^a^rⁱ^an^a^s^sⁱ^s^t^an^c^e^.^Wh^e^t^h^e^r^e^x^t^eⁿ^dⁱⁿ^g
^{a h}^e^lping^h^aⁿ^d^{or f}ⁱⁿ^d^ing^an^d^pros^ecu^ting^ou^{r en}^e^m^ies^,^w^e^{are redef}ⁱⁿⁱ^ng^th^{e li}^mⁱ^t^s^an^d^st¹¹
^m^eaniⁿ^g^of²¹^Ce^nt^ur^{y Se}^a^p^o^w^e^r^.

⁹^Zach^ary^{M. P}^e^tersoⁿ^{, “New}^Na^v^y^Irre^g^u^{lar W}^a^r^f^{are O}^f^fⁱ^ce^W^o^rk^s^to^A^d^d^r^{ess ISR S}^h^o^r^tf^all,”^In^si^d^e^t^h^{e Na}^vy^,
^Se^pte^m^be^r^{1, 20}⁰⁸^.
¹⁰^U^.^{S. D}^e^pa^r^t^m^e^{nt of}^the^N^a^vy^.^Hⁱ^ghli^ghts^of^the^D^e^p^a^r^t^m^e^nt^{of t}^h^e^N^a^v^y^FY2⁰⁰⁹^B^u^d^g^e^t^.^Washⁱⁿ^gt^on^,²⁰⁰⁸^.
⁽^F^e^b^r^u^a^r^y²⁰⁰⁸⁾^p^p^.^1-³^to^1-⁴
¹¹^U^.^{S. D}^e^pa^r^t^m^e^{nt of}^the^N^a^vy^.^Hⁱ^ghli^ghts^of^the^D^e^p^a^r^t^m^e^nt^{of t}^h^e^N^a^v^y^FY2⁰⁰⁹^B^u^d^g^e^t^.^Washⁱⁿ^gt^on^,²⁰⁰⁸^.
⁽^F^e^b^r^u^a^r^y²⁰⁰⁸⁾^p^.^2-^2.

The riverine force is intended to supplement the riverine capabilities of the SEALs and relieve
Marines who have been conducting maritime security operations in ports and waterways in Iraq.
The consists of three squadrons of 12 boats each, and include a total of about 900 sailors. The
Navy established Riverine Group 1 (which oversees the three squadrons) at the Naval
Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA, in May 2006. The first riverine squadron was established in ¹²
FY2006, deployed to Iraq in March 2007, and returned in October 2007. The second squadron
was established in February 2007 and deployed to Iraq in October 2007 to relieve the first ¹³¹⁴
squadron. The third squadron was established in July 2007. Following the completion of the
first squadron’s deployment, the Navy in 2007 reportedly was considering expanding the riverine ¹⁵
mission to other parts of Iraq.
The Navy envisages establishing as many as five GFSs around the world, each of which might be
built around a single amphibious ship or high-speed sealift ship. Under Navy plans, GFSs could
host or support Marines, Navy LCSs or patrol craft, Coast Guard small boats, and Army and Air
Force personnel. GFSs under Navy plans would be capable of conducting or supporting various ¹⁶
operations, including some that could relate to CT or IW.

Potential oversight issues for Congress include the following:
• To what degree can or should Navy CT and IW activities be used to reduce the
burden on other services for conducting such activities? Are the Navy’s steps to
increase its role in CT and IW partly motivated by concerns about its perceived
relevance, or by a desire to secure a portion of CT and IW funding?
• How many Navy personnel globally are involved in CT and IW activities, and
where are they located? How much funding is the Navy expending each year on
such activities?
• Is the Navy adequately managing its IA program?¹⁷

¹²^For^a^dis^c^us^sⁱ^oⁿ^of^th^is^de^pl^oy^m^e^{nt, s}^e^e^Tⁱ^m^Fis^h^{, “}^R^I^V^R^O^N^{1 C}^l^aⁱ^m^s^Suc^c^e^s^s^{in T}^a^ck^ling^I^r^a^{qi I}^E^D^s^{, B}^u^{t N}^e^w
^Bo^at^{s M}^a^y^{Be Ne}^ed^ed^,^”^J^ane^’^s^N^a^v^y^Iⁿ^te^rⁿ^a^tio^nal^{, J}^a^nua^r^y^/Fe^b^r^u^a^r^y^2008:^12-^13.^Se^e^a^l^s^o^J^o^hn^Suⁱ^t^s^,^“^R^I^V^R^O^N¹
^Sa^{ilors Re}^turⁿ^Hom^e^,”^Na^{vy News S}^e^rvice^{, O}^c^tobe^r²³^,²⁰^07.
¹³^“^R^iv^e^r^ine^Squa^dr^on^{2 D}^e^p^l^oy^s^,^”^Na^{vy News S}^e^rvice^{, O}^c^tobe^r^4,²⁰^07.
¹⁴^L^ouis^H^a^ns^eⁿ^{, “}^T^hir^d^Rⁱ^v^e^rⁱ^ne^S^qua^dr^on^For^m^a^l^l^y^Es^ta^blis^he^{d A}^t^Y^o^r^k^towⁿ^,”^Norfolk^Vir^gⁱⁿ^ia^n-Pil^o^t^{, J}^u^ly^{7, 20}⁰⁷^;
^C^h^rⁱ^s^J^o^hns^oⁿ^{, “}^N^a^v^y^C^r^ea^te^s^T^h^ir^{d S}^qua^dr^on^For^Rⁱ^v^e^rⁱ^ne^Mis^sⁱ^oⁿ^s^{in I}^r^a^q^,”^In^si^d^e^t^h^{e Na}^vy^{, July}^{9, 2}⁰⁰⁷^;^Ma^tthe^w
^{D. L}^e^istik^o^w^{, “}^N^{ECC Esta}^blishe^{s Riv}^e^rine^Sq^ua^droⁿ³^,^”^Na^{vy News S}^e^rvice^{, J}^u^ly^{10, 2}⁰⁰⁷^.
¹⁵^{Chris Jo}^hns^on,^“^N^a^v^y^Mulling^E^x^pa^nsion^of^Riv^e^rine^Mission^to^More^A^r^e^a^s^{in Ira}^q,”^In^si^d^e^t^h^e^N^a^vy^{, J}^u^ly^23,
²⁰⁰^7.
¹⁶^For^m^o^r^e^on^G^FSs^{, s}^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^p^o^r^t^R^S²¹³³^8,^N^a^v^y^Shi^{p D}^e^pl^oy^m^e^nts^:^N^e^w^Ap^pr^oac^he^s^-^Bac^k^g^r^o^und^a^nd^I^s^s^u^e^s
^for^C^o^ngr^e^s^s^{, by}^R^ona^ld^O^'^R^our^k^e^.
¹⁷^For^a^dis^c^us^sⁱ^oⁿ^of^the^N^a^v^y^’^s^m^a^na^g^e^m^e^{nt of}^the^I^A^pr^og^r^a^m^,^s^e^{e A}^ndr^e^w^Sc^utr^o^{, “}^F^le^e^t^For^c^e^s^T^a^k^e^s^C^h^a^r^g^e^o^f
^IA^P^r^o^g^ram^,^”^Na^vyTⁱ^m^es.^c^o^m^{, J}^u^ly^{7, 200}^8.

• Is the Navy striking an appropriate balance between CT and IW activities and
other Navy concerns, such as preparing for a potential future challenge from ¹⁸
improved Chinese maritime military forces?
• Is the Navy devoting sufficient attention and resources to riverine warfare?¹⁹
• Aside from the establishment of the riverine force and a reserve civil affairs
battalion, what implications might an expanded Navy role in CT or IW have for
Navy force-structure requirements (i.e., the required size and composition of the
Navy)?
• Is the Navy adequately coordinating its CT and IW activities and initiatives with
other organizations, such as the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and the
Coast Guard?
• Are the Navy’s recent CT and IW organizational changes appropriate? What
other Navy organizational changes might be needed?
^Ro^na^l^d^O^'^Ro^ur^ke
^Sp^{ecialist i}ⁿ^Nav^a^l^A^f^f^a^ir^s
^rorou^r^k^e^@^c^rs^.l^oc.g^ov^{, 7-}⁷⁶¹⁰

¹⁸^For^a^dditi^ona^l^dis^c^us^sⁱ^on^of^thisⁱ^s^s^u^e^,^s^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^por^{t R}^L³³¹^53,^C^hⁱⁿ^{a N}^a^v^a^{l M}^ode^rⁿ^iz^ati^on:^I^m^pl^ic^atio^ns^for^U^.^S.
^Nav^y^Cap^abil^itie^{s - B}^a^c^k^g^rouⁿ^d^and^Issue^s^{for C}^oⁿ^g^re^ss^{, by}^R^ona^{ld O}^'^R^our^k^e^.
¹⁹^For^aⁿ^a^r^tic^le^tha^t^dis^c^us^s^e^s^this^que^s^tio^{n f}^r^om^a^c^r^itic^a^l^pe^r^s^pe^c^tiv^e^,^s^e^e^D^a^nie^l^A^.^H^a^nc^oc^k^,^“^T^he^N^a^vy^’^s^N^o^t
^Serio^u^s^A^b^o^u^{t Riv}^e^rin^e^W^a^rf^ar^e,”^U.S^.^N^a^va^{l I}ⁿ^stitu^{te Pro}^ceedⁱⁿ^g^s^{, J}^a^nua^r^y^2008:¹⁴^-¹^9.