Sailors assigned to Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 2 based out of Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia, returned home Sept. 8 following a seven-month deployment supporting operations across four fleet areas of responsibility.

During the deployment, over 350 Sailors completed a variety of missions to include dynamic and static seaward security for high value assets; landward security; Visit, Board, Search and Seizure; beach assault simulations; aircraft security; and maritime domain awareness operations. Additionally, Sailors conducted the first unmanned aerial vehicle operation off the MK VI in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility and interoperability training with adjacent forces during their deployment.

CRS-2 Ombudsman Mrs. Ashley Calderon, and the CRS-2 Family Readiness Group welcome home committee were present to welcome the returning Sailors back to homeport. The arrival of Hurricane Dorian to Hampton Roads changed the command’s return home date.

"It's like Christmas,” said Calderon. “But with the night before twice."

“The families should be extremely proud of the Sailors and Officers, they performed admirably,” said Cmdr. Beau Benoit, executive officer of CRS-2. “These teams deployed to sites separated from their command headquarters all over the globe and when called upon to conduct real-world operations, their expertise brought outstanding naval results.”

CRS-2 supported operations in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain. In addition, CRS-2 Sailors provided force protection and participated in Exercise HYDRACRAB 2019 and conducted the longest range transit for the MK VI patrol boat.

Additionally, CRS-2 Sailors supported operations in 6th Fleet areas of responsibility while operating out of Rota, Spain, and conducted security missions in Panama in support of U.S. Southern Command.

"I am truly proud of each and every Sailor at CRS-2 and of their many accomplishments during our deployment,” said Cmdr. Joe Droll, commanding officer of CRS-2. “Their strength, devotion to the mission and genuine care for one another demonstrated in this dynamic and arduous operating atmosphere is a testament to their keen abilities and resolve. I am proud and deeply grateful for the enduring support the squadron received from family and friends throughout our deployment"

CRS-2 is part of the Coastal Riverine Force (CRF), which operates in harbors, rivers, bays, across the littorals and ashore. The primary mission of the CRF is to conduct maritime security operations across all phases of military operations by defending high value assets, critical maritime infrastructure, ports and harbors both inland and on coastal waterways against enemies, and when commanded conduct offensive combat operations.

The CRF is comprised of units manned, trained, and equipped to conduct port and harbor security, high-value asset security and escort, surveillance and reconnaissance, insertion and extraction of small units and command and control for supporting assigned units. The CRF is capable of conducting 24-hour operations in all weather conditions and climates.

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