Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) and NECC Pacific announced the type command's Battle Efficiency Award winners.

NECC commands selected for the Battle "E" include the following: Coastal Riverine Squadron 2, Coastal Riverine Squadron 8, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 6, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 27, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11, and Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 5.

NECC Pacific commands selected for the Battle "E" include the following: Coastal Riverine Squadron 1, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 22, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5.

"Congratulations to the expeditionary warriors of CRS 2, CRS 8, EODMU 6, NMCB 27, NMCB 11, NCHB 5, CRS 1, NMCB 3, NMCB 22, and EODMU 5," said Rear Adm. Brian Brakke, commander, NECC/NECC Pacific. "You have consistently and unequivocally proven your commitment to excellence in providing our Navy with forces ready to fight and win. I am immensely proud of you, your units, and your selfless service."

Rear Adm. Keith Jones, commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group discussed the healthy competition when battling for the coveted Battle "E."

"The Battle 'E' competition does an outstanding job of establishing a healthy competition between our high-performing cargo battalions to identify the best of the best for a given year," said Jones. "This year's competition was extremely tight, and I am extremely delighted with Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 5's ability to demonstrate their superior readiness throughout the entire year. Every Sailor should be very proud of their contribution to the team's accomplishment."

Capt. Dean Muriano, commodore of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1 discussed the significance of the Battle "E" award.

"Battle Efficiency Award is not awarded for excellence for a single operation or exercise, it awarded for sustained excellence day-to-day," said Muriano. "The entire EOD/MDSU force is doing great things, but EODMU 5 stood out with their persistent engagement in the Asia-Pacific region."

Capt. John Moulton, commodore of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 expressed pride for EODMU 6's accomplishments.

"Throughout their work-ups and deployment, the 'Kegbusters' of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 6 have set the standard for excellence," said Moulton. "I am proud of their record of accomplishment this past year, culminating in their receiving the Battle 'E.'"

Capt. Robert Cepek, commodore of Coastal Riverine Group 2 praised his expeditionary forces for receiving the Battle "E."

"I am very proud of the Sailors of Coastal Riverine Squadron 2 and Coastal Riverine Squadron 8," said Cepek. "Their hard work and dedication to mission accomplishment is evident in everything they do. From a high-paced training cycle to demanding deployments, the men and women assigned to these squadrons met every challenge head on and showed the determination necessary to be a riverine Sailor."

Cepek added while the competition between the squadrons is fierce every year, "their performance on and off the water made them clear choices for the Battle Efficiency Award."

NECC/NECC Pacific is an enduring warfighting force providing sea-to-shore and inland operating environment capabilities across the full range of military operations which is focused on delivering combat-effective expeditionary forces ready for worldwide operations now and into the future.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, visit www.navy.mil/.