NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Whether it’s in the U.S. or international waters, the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force shows us how it gets ready to protect the waterways.
In our ports and harbors, the job of the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force is to provide security for high-value assets. The crews showed 10 On Your Side what it looks like on a simulator.
“If it’s not realistic, if the way it’s not right, or if you’re not wearing your kit that you would actually be wearing on a mission, then when you get out and are actually performing your duty, you know, in a hostile or a contested environment, you’re not going to be as prepared as you need to be,” said Master-at-Arms First Class Matthew Frickx.
Frickx said all the weapons used weigh exactly what they would if he was deployed. He said you have to train how you would fight.
“We always want to try the worst-case scenario just in case something were to happen,” Frickx said. “So this is our opportunity to hone our skills, make mistakes and improve our skills before we deploy.”
The Maritime Expeditionary Security Force bridges the gap between traditional Navy blue water operations and land forces, providing security in maritime environments and shallow waters.
“Our focus is to deploy on board to provide them that 360-degree external security in the event of any hostile actions taken against it while they’re supporting their mission,” Frickx said.
