VIRGINIA BEACH, Va - Imagine the most stressful situation you have even encountered.  Now imagine experiencing that on purpose, while you go through a physically strenuous obstacle course.
 
That is exactly the type of training that expeditionary Sailors assigned to Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Command (NEIC) participated in this October.
 
Information Warfare Sailors perform Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) critical skills and Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray confidence course’s as part of Security Reaction Force – Basic (SRF-B) training. 
 
SRF-B is a two-week course consisting of small unit tactics, mechanical apprehension control and weapons training.  During the confidence course, the culminating event, Sailors are exposed to OC spray and are subsequently met with a series of scenarios that require a mastery of the previous two weeks of training.  The course concludes a dynamic and complex challenge, the Red Man. 
 
“The red man is an all-inclusive obstacle designed to force the Sailor to fight through various stages of the stress continuum while maintaining critical thinking skills as they combat an actively resistant suspect.  It is a demanding hurdle that everyone must pass where no two scenarios are exactly the same” said Master at Arms 1^st Class Mathew Schuldt, NEIC’s Chief Master-at-Arms. 
 
During the course, Sailors use skills such as voice commands, baton strikes and hand-to-hand combat.
 
The critical skills trainer was envisioned and acquired in response to NEIC’s requirement to build and maintain combat skills proficiency and readiness that is needed to support Fleet Commander’s priorities focused on the great power competition, Crisis, and Conflict continuum. 
 
“The Climbing Trainer is critical to ensuring we are ready and capable to conduct boarding’s across the full spectrum of naval operations” said Petty Officer Intelligence Specialist 2^nd Class Braden Hovel, an Intelligence Exploitation Team member. 
 
NEIC Sailors deploy year-round delivering critical tailored intelligence skills and sensitive site exploitation for maritime interdiction operations as only one of four core competencies provided to fleet commanders through maritime operations centers processes.
 
“Both SRF-B and the critical skills trainer are just examples of how NEIC enables Intelligence Exploitation Teams to clear illicit activity from critical maritime commons, secure a persistent naval presence to support national interests, and build the information advantage for both the fleet and joint force commanders. “ said Cmdr. Al Corkran, commander of NEIC. 
 
NEIC is a subordinate command under Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) and represents the Navy’s only unit of deployable multi-disciplined intelligence and cryptologic warfare professionals operating globally, employing expeditionary tactics, techniques, and procedures to conduct intelligence operations across the operational spectrum to answer priority intelligence requirements for the fleet. 
 
NECC is responsible for organizing, manning, training, equipping, and sustaining the Navy Expeditionary Combat Force (NECF) to execute combat, combat support, and combat service support missions across the full spectrum of naval, joint, and combined operations which enable access from the sea and freedom of action throughout the sea-to-shore and inland operating environments.
 
The Navy Expeditionary Combat Force (NECF) is postured to anticipate and rapidly respond to the changing security environment. NECF’s warfighting capabilities as a whole are greater than the sum of its individual parts, and we ensure the integrated naval force continues to dominate on the high seas and across the littorals in an era of Great Power Competition. The NECF is manned, trained, and equipped to clear, secure, build, and protect critical assets and waterways in order to execute full spectrum military operations in support of the Fleet and Joint Force.