RIVRON 3 Conducts Live-Fire Training

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Michael R. Hinchcliffe

FORT KNOX, Ky. (NNS) -- Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 3 Sailors conducted category IV live-fire training on the Salt River aboard Fort Knox, Ky., June 6-11.

Category IV live-fire consists of taking riverine boat crews through one to four-boat formations, reacting to land and waterborne events, contacts and various possible angles of pursuit, and patrolling river ways. Four-boat formation is a tactic used by riverines to defend against enemy attacks both on the river ways and on land when they are extracting hostiles or inserting a riverine security team ashore.

"We are progressing each day and taking it step-by-step," said Lt. Mark Howell, RIVRON 3 Det. 2 officer in charge. "This training allows us to venture out to new territories and operate effectively on any river. This is basic riverine unit level training, more or less, the fundamentals of our craft and the way we operate on any river."

The RIVRON boat teams practiced various exercise scenarios they could encounter in live combat. Some of the events included defending against enemy assaults, towing inoperative boats and firing various different weapons at posted targets simulating enemy contacts on the hill sides. After each evolution the boat crews debriefed and discussed discrepancies and strategy during the training.

During the live-fire evolutions one of the riverine boats would power down to simulate a loss of power during an attack. The boat closest would use a line to tie-up and drag the downed boat out of danger while the other two boats provided cover fire.

Riverine boat crews are composed of gunners training on their specific area of responsibility and sector of fire, the coxswain who trains on navigating the boat and positioning the boats in formations away from the danger areas, and the boat captain who assesses every aspect of his boat from the functions and capabilities down to the Sailors and their responsibilities.

The Sailors manned the boats donned in full-body armor. Each gunner had a range safety officer standing behind them to provide guidance and advice, and to ensure the safety of the Sailors on the boat. Every scenario and drill helps to proficiently hone the skills of riverine Sailors, ensuring they are qualified and capable of deploying with their detachment.

"Those three positions are what we are training on here and how they not only work as one boat, but also as a four-boat formation," said Howell. "There will never be an untrained Riverine Sailor deployed. We have a standard to stick to and wickets to meet, and we will not send anybody out that doesn't have the tools and skills to combat the threat at hand."

Howell said after this training, Det. 2 can deploy and handle the worst case scenario, which would be an assault by a squad-size (platoon) enemy infantry threat or light vehicles with heavy armor.

"This exercise is the culmination of what riverines train for so they have the ability to go out on any river and have the tools to succeed," he said.

Howell stated, RIVRON 3 Det. 2 is in a deployment window and will be ready to answer the call when needed.

"The Riverine force is an extremely flexible fighting force providing operations across the entire spectrum of military operations," said Cmdr. Peter Berning, chief staff officer Riverine Group 1. "We also provide the unique ability to bring the Navy's core mission of maritime security operations into the riverine environment. No other unit has the ability to operate in that unique and strategically important geographic area."

The Riverine Force, part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, is a combat-arms force that performs point defense, fire support and interdiction operations along coastal and inland water ways to defeat enemies and support U.S. Marines and coalition forces.

Senior Enlisted Leader Visits Fort Knox

By Maureen Rose
Special to American Forces Press Service

Oct. 29, 2007 - The military's top enlisted servicemember visited this Kentucky base Oct. 26 and addressed an audience for the post's Retiree Appreciation Days event. "We owe a good deal to retirees sitting in the coffee shops talking about the good old days. The past is the reason we're a great nation," Army Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey said. "We all focus on the young men and women of now, but if it were not for the young men and women of the past, we would not be in the position we're in now -- which is free."

Gainey, a former Armor Center command sergeant major, is the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position created by the former chairman, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, and filled by Gainey since its inception in 2004.

Gainey's primary job is to gather information for his boss, Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, who succeeded Pace as chairman Oct. 1. "He uses me as his eyes and ears to get out where he can't travel to and come back and, no kidding, tell him how the young men and women on the ground are feeling," Gainey said.

However, the information flow is in the opposite direction this time. "I told Admiral Mullen I was going to be here," Gainey said, "and he wanted me to express how proud he is of (the retirees)."

Gainey observed a retiree wearing a Vietnam logo on his cap talking to a younger, active-duty Marine who was traveling with Gainey.

"I try to make our generation -- the young people I'm with every day -- understand every time they pass a retiree, like this former Marine sitting right here, stop and look them in the face and say, 'Thank you for your service,'" he explained. "That's the message; I'm trying to let them all know to do it. Every time we pass a retiree, we should all say 'thank you.'"

The street of gratitude goes two ways, Gainey said. When he visits young people serving in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, he tells them Americans appreciate their service.

"It's not all me saying, 'Hooah, we're doing a great job.' I let them know constantly, because I travel a good bit, how proud our country is," he said. "It's important, no matter what political affiliation you belong to, that we support our soldiers, men and women, Marines, airmen, Coasties -- anybody, our warriors who fight this war -- it's important that we let them know that we're behind them. We might not agree to the overall policy, but who cares? We have to support those men and women."

Gainey said he always thanks new enlistees, as well. "I see the guys and gals coming in off the streets and, with the mission they're about to hit, I thank them, too," he said. "They're enlisting knowing they're going to go to war."

Interrupted frequently during his visit by those who recognized Gainey from previous assignments, he waved and shook hands like a politician.

One retiree, however, got a bear hug from Gainey. His name is Dale Cleveland. "He's the reason I am what I am today," Gainey said with a laugh. "He was my platoon sergeant years ago, so if you don't like me, blame him!"

Cleveland returned the compliment, thumping Gainey on the back. "I can give you the skinny on him," said Cleveland, a retired Fort Knox first sergeant.

"We used to have young soldiers over to our house for dinner all the time in Germany, but we had no idea he would end up there," Cleveland's wife, Gabi, said with a gesture skyward.

Crystel Swaite also wanted a chance to shake hands with Gainey. She was the soldier of the year in 2002 at Fort Hood, Texas, where Gainey was her post sergeant major. "He was very motivational; he's one of the reasons I stayed in," she said.

Realizing that retirees sometimes are overlooked, Gainey said he soon will understand firsthand how that feels. "I'm retiring April 25, after 33-1/2 years," he said. "I'm nothing more than a torch-carrier for (the retirees).

"And someday," he added, pointing to his young aide, "he will be a torch carrier for me."

(Maureen Rose is a staff writer for the Fort Knox Turret.)