Marines Train U.S. Naval Infantry
September 20, 2006: The U.S. Navy's new amphibious unit, Riverine Squadron 1, was supposed to have had troops in Iraq this year. But there were the usual delays, the main one being the perceived need to provide some intense training for the sailors who would be manning the boats, and doing the fighting. So the first riverine units are undergoing more infantry and amphibious training, much of it provided by U.S. Marine Corps instructors. Until now, the army and marines have been providing most of the riverine units in Iraq. There are some sailors there as well, but not as organized riverine units. The navy unit currently being trained, Riverine Group One, will have three squadrons (each with 220 sailors and twelve 39 foot boats). With headquarters and support troops, the group has 900 personnel and 36 armed boats.
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The navy officially established its "Naval Expeditionary Combat Command" (NECC) a year ago. This organization will eventually grow to contain 40,000 sailors, all of whom will be trained to work, and fight, on land. The U.S. Marine Corps has mixed feelings about this, for the marines have long been the navy's ground combat troops.


http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htamph/articles/20060920.aspx?comments=Y

Have heard many people "poo-poo" this article. Questions are being asked "how is the USN going to create 40,000 new billets?". And "when did the USN 'lose control' of the USMC?" I think these are legitimate questions.....The "why" they created this is somewhat understandable, but the "how" sounds a little crazy. Why not create 40,000 more Marines to take care of this? Are the Marines that much "out of control" that the USN can't order Marines to take care of this mission? Marines have been doing small scale riverine operations for decades (at least).

Best answer to this post is in the posted web-site(Coments)at the bottom.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SULLY1,

ha! The Navy's already tripping over the Marines it does have, thats why they don't want to increase the ranks in the Marines by 40K more!

thegunny -Sounds like the Navy wants to help more than it does on Shore maybe the Marines are afraid if the US Navy get its own Combat Saliors they might just have to put a Special Request Chit in to get a Ship to get their Toys to their Destination.The Riverine Force should have been kept updated to start with I read the report the only thing different is the insert of Urban Combat.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SULLY1,

Sully....the way we look at it, the more the merrier. There's no shortage of bad guys to shoot.

I can see it now a new rate for the Navy. Combat specialist 3rd class. haha Have a fine navy day!!!!!!!!!

new rate, nah. All sailors are part of the military and I don't see any problem with pounding some sand. Course I say that after I just finished my Level 1 OC (pepper spray) certification, and still have 2 weeks left to finish my security force training. The instructors work for Homeland Security. Mostly made up of retired Marines, but we do have one who was never in the military (police force).

Salior85 -it still takes the same kind of Rate to run that Boat just add a GM and you got a Crew you can only put so many people on a 39 ft Boat.I am not even sure how big the Rivers are in Iraq.

thegunny-thats for sure I did not think to much of the Article from above he kinda ran a bunch of different Rates together for the 40,000 their has been quiet a few Saliors in Iraq since the git go Seabees,EOD,Seals, Advisors for the Iraq Navy Special Boat Units Marines, Navy, Coast Guard I have been folling this NECC for quiet a while.

I was talking about a new ground infantry rate for the navy. I was joking about that one, but I know what your talking about.

Salior85 we have a ground Infantry Rate it is called United States Marine Corp.

http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=28208 Glad to see this 1st Riverine Force since Vietnam.We were combined with US Army last time worked great don't see why we can not work with the USMC.

I don't understand...Naval infantry? I agree with Sully, isn't that the Marines job? What's the purpose?

Chevron77-I think a lot of this talk was refering to Naval Personal riding guard for these Military support convoys in Iraq.The post I just put up was the restablishment of the Riverine Force Rivron #1 which was the first in Vietnam which has existed by name only but has also had small units in Iraq every since we went in.As far as USMC being Navy Infantry they are the assult troops used by or delivered by US Navy. They also are US Navy protection or Security almost all Naval Units and Bases are protected by the US Marine Security.