Riverine Training: The Next Generation

By Darryl Orrell, Center for Security Forces Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The Center for Security Forces is working towards developing a new training continuum for the Coastal Riverine Force, in response to new training requirements identified by the fleet last December.

The Navy's Coastal Riverine Force (CRF) was formed in June 2012, as part of the Chief of Naval Operation's directed force consolidation. As a result, the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force and Riverine Group One were merged to form a single combat ready force.

William McFarland, who serves as the Expeditionary Warfare Course Curriculum model manager (CCMM) at the Center, shared some of what Sailors can expect to see in the new courses.

"The major difference between what is currently taught at the schoolhouse and the new training will be the addition of 'Coastal' and 'Expeditionary Security' skill sets," said McFarland. "This new content will teach the knowledge and skills that Sailors will need in order to perform additional maritime and expeditionary missions undertaken by the CRF."

Trying to develop these new courses in an unpredictable fiscal environment has proven to be a major challenge at times according to McFarland. The instability caused by continued overseas operations adds to the mix of challenges faced as well.

"The Center has facilitated several JDTA's [Job, Duty, Tasks Analysis] that are directly related to the CRF HPRR [Human Performance Readiness Review] held last December. Each of these JDTA's helped define critical skills that need to be taught within the new Coastal Riverine Continuum," said McFarland.

Facilitating a JDTA is just the first step in the Naval Education and Training Command's (NETC) End-to-End or E2E process. E2E is a process specifically designed to guide training from cradle to grave. This serves to ensure the training community remains responsive to new and changing training requirements, and provides the most relevant, efficient and effective training to the fleet.

"The JDTA is just the first step in the E2E process; therefore, much more work is still ahead to determine exactly who, what, when, where and how this training will be delivered," said McFarland.

"When complete, the fleet could expect to see topics that will support the Coastal Riverine Force's mission requirements and capabilities, as specified in OPNAV's Required Operational Capabilities (ROC) and Projected Operational Environments (POE) documents," he added.

Once the business case analysis is complete, OPNAV will then decide how and what training will be funded in order for the Center to move forward with development.

The Center for Security Forces provides specialized training to more than 28,000 students each year. It has 14 training locations across the U.S. and around the world.