Commander, Coastal Riverine Group (CRG) 1, relieved Cmdr. Eric Rasch of his duties May 12 as commanding officer of Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 3.

Rasch was relieved due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command. He has been temporarily reassigned to CRG-1.

Capt. Stanfield Chien, prospective deputy of CRG-1, will assume interim command of the squadron.

Capt. Gary Leigh, commander, CRG-1, made this determination following his review of a preliminary investigation into the incident near Farsi Island in the Arabian Gulf, Jan. 12-13, involving 10 CRS-3 Sailors. Rasch was assigned as the executive officer of CRS-3 during this timeframe.

CRS-3 is a Coastal Riverine Squadron homeported in San Diego that provide maritime security in coastal and shallow-water areas, effectively bridging blue water and landward operations for U.S. naval forces and denying the use of these areas to adversaries.

Units globally provide port and harbor defense, maritime infrastructure protection, ship escort support and other forms of security. In addition, coastal riverine forces conduct intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance patrols and visit, board, search and seizure missions.