Sailors assigned to Coastal Riverine Squadron 8 (CRS 8) in Groton, conducted their 500th escort of Los Angeles and Virginia-class submarines, Sept. 23, since assuming the mission in October 2013.

The detachment is primarily comprised of Sailors, a Coast Guard officer, and selective reservists who have been serving on two-year Active Duty for Special Work orders.

"We have all taken pride in completing every single one of the 500 escort missions," said Coast Guard Officer in Charge for CRS 8 Detachment Lt. Liam O'Connell, who emphasized the important role his detachment performs in enabling deployed undersea operations worldwide.

"We know we are a small piece of the pie, but an important one, so we endeavor to always execute our mission professionally and in keeping with our tasking," said O'Connell. "Conducting over 500 missions in two years is the result of a lot of very long days, and plenty of them in arduous weather."

Lt. Rebecca Troutman, the operations officer assigned to Coastal Riverine Group Two in Portsmouth, Virginia, added that other detachments provide similar escort duties in Hampton Roads, Virginia, Mayport, Florida, and Kings Bay, Georgia, San Diego and Bangor, Washington.

A total of 22 personnel are assigned to the detachment. On Oct. 1, the mission in Groton will transfer to an all Navy full-time support mission with a small Reservist contingent.

"Most of the unit personnel have previously deployed on similar missions overseas, so we recognize the importance of what we do," added O'Connell.

The Coastal Riverine Force (CRF) operates in harbors, rivers, bays, across the littorals and ashore. The primary mission of 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.

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