Sailors assigned to Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 2, based out of Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia, returned home July 19 following a six-month deployment supporting operations across four areas of responsibility.

"I am truly proud of each and every Sailor at CRS 2 and of their many accomplishments during our deployment," said Cmdr. Samuel Davis, commander, CRS 2. "Their strength, dedication to the mission and sincere care for one another demonstrated in this dynamic and arduous operating environment is a testament to their keen abilities and resolve. I am deeply grateful for the enduring support we all received from family and friends throughout our deployment."

Master-at-Arms 1st Class Jeffrey Allen Crook, one of the new fathers, greeted his six-week old son upon returning from deployment.

"Absolutely a blessing," said Crook, who was also welcomed home by his extended family.

CRS 2 Ombudsman Kimberly Essenburg was on hand to welcome the returning Sailors back to Virginia and discussed the joy of homecomings.

"It's like Christmas, but the night before," said Essenburg, who was joined by CRS 2 Family Readiness Group President Rebecca Hamilton.

During the deployment, the over 350 Sailors completed a variety of missions to include dynamic and static seaward security for high value assets, landward security, aircraft security and maritime domain awareness operations. Additionally, Sailors conducted unmanned aerial vehicle operations and interoperability training with adjacent forces during their deployment.

CRS 2 supported operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. In addition, the Sailors of CRS 2 provided force protection and participated in International Mine Countermeasures Exercise and Eager Lion 2016 in Aqaba, Jordan.

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

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.

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

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