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Republic of Djibouti. (November 9, 2022): In this photo by Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Perry Lafoe, Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Xavier Sierra, left, and Engineman 2nd Class Michael Shultz conduct a crew swap in port after a patrol mission. The sailors are assigned to Coastal Riverine Squadron 10 under the U.S. 6th Fleet operating on the horn of Africa. Riverine sailors like these trace their heritage to the American Revolutionary War and none other than Benedict Arnold.
Republic of Djibouti. (November 9, 2022): At the outset of the War of 1812, American commanders, including our nation’s most notorious traitor, learned the British would attempt to split New England from the other colonies by seizing Lake Champlain. Anticipating the threat, none other than General Benedict Arnold led a daring pre-dawn riverine raid against the British garrison defending the St. John. Capturing a 70-ton sloop along with dozens of watercrafts and badly needed cannon and munitions, Arnold managed to stave off a British invasion.
This was one of the first of many riverine (of or related to rivers or shallow coastal waters) engagements by American forces to secure the American colonies northern flank against a well-equipped British Navy. For the outnumbered Americans, lakes and rivers would prove a challenging and costly environment to make war.
The American riverine warriors pictured above are part of the U.S. Navy’s law enforcement and force protection program to protect U.S. warships in port. Coastal Riverine Squadron 10, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is tasked with protecting critical assets and supplies coming in and out of foreign and U.S. ports. Squadron 10 provides expeditionary detachments to the U.S. 6th Fleet based in Naples, Italy whose tactical responsibility includes both the European and African theaters. Typically, these sailors deploy for eight months to ports, like Djibouti, where terrorists threaten U.S. Navy vessels. Part law enforcement and part small ship’s captain, a riverine operator is trained to interdict drug smugglers and human traffickers while guarding American lives from terrorist attack.
In the Navy, the military police function is the Master-at-Arms, responsible for base security, force protection, and other law enforcement duties on land and at sea. Candidates must pass a rigorous 9-week course at San Antonio, Texas, and then deploy to a squadron around the world. Duties of a Master-at-Arms vary widely from traditional base security patrols to detecting explosives as part of a K-9 team. It is one of the most interesting and challenging jobs in the Navy.
For two centuries, American servicemembers have patrolled the dangerous waters of the world to keep us safe. There are thousands of sailors, like these, on duty right now far from home as the holidays approach. Won’t you take a moment to help us send a little comfort their way for the holidays? You can join the thousands of Americans who make monthly contributions to Support Our Troops' Patriots Brigade® which provides comfort items and recreational activities for our troops, particularly those deployed overseas. Please visit our secure website https://supportourtroops.org/donate to donate to America’s finest today!
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Stennis Space Center, MS. (February 22, 2022): In this photo by Michael Williams, Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School students from Estonia, Germany, Poland, and Romania participate in a Patrol Craft Officer Riverine training exercise on the Pearl River, Mississippi. This seven-week course is designed to provide international students with the knowledge and skills to operate a riverine patrol craft. To date, the school has trained more than 13,000 students from 120 partner nations.
Stennis Space Center, MS. (February 22, 2022): To the military, rivers and streams are not an obstacle to overcome but an opportunity for victory. The riverine environment, which includes both inland and shallow water coastlines, has provided natural routes for transportation and communication among communities for centuries. In combat, the force that controls these waterways enjoys a major tactical advantage. These waterways are equally valuable to special operations forces as ideal avenues for insertion or escape.
The Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School was established in 1961 at what is now the John C. Stennis Space Center, named in honor of U.S. Sen. John C. Stennis for his staunch support of the nation's space program. The site was originally a static test facility for launch vehicles to be used in the Apollo manned lunar landing program. Less than eight years later, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the lunar surface, safely transported thousands of miles by a space vehicle whose boosters were tested and proven flight-worthy at Stennis Space Center. In a testament to the workers at Stennis, all the Apollo space vehicle boosters did their job without a single failure, including those for the Apollo 11 mission landing of the first men on the moon.
Read more: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TRAIN IN RIVERINE OPERATIONS
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Mack Belts™ has stepped up for the troops as a Patriotic Product® team member to support those currently serving. At the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the little town of Augusta, Montana lies the headquarters of Mack Belts. Founded by a retired Navy SEAL, Mack Belts is 100% veteran owned and operated. Every belt is handmade by veterans in the great state of Montana. Mack Belts is on a mission to support the military community which is why a portion of each sale goes back to those in uniform. If you are looking for a gift this holiday season, support a patriotic brand that prides itself in the American Made promise, visit www.MackBelts.com to gear up today with The Toughest Belts on Earth™.
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Seoul, South Korea. (November 6, 2022): It is pretty certain that Roman Soldiers complained about one thing above all… the food. Military Cooks have been on the receiving end ever since.
Despite the grumbling, troops everywhere respect the difficult job cooks do and the extra effort they make to mimic a family meal during the holidays. Believe it or not, they derive great personal satisfaction watching their comrades enjoy a meal they created.
Official designated Culinary Specialists, a military chef prepares meals for hundreds of troops a day, both in garrison and in the field. They are also responsible for keeping their equipment spotless regardless of conditions as they protect health as well as fill stomachs. After Basic Training, recruits attend The Joint Culinary Center of Excellence at the U.S. Army Quartermaster School at Fort Lee, Virginia. The entry level course graduates over 6,500 Soldiers and Marines a year, and the Army offers an Advanced Culinary Skills Training Course for leaders in the field.
Their life is not easy.
Read more: Most “Unappreciated” At Thanksgiving? MILITARY COOKS DO THEIR BEST… STILL GET THE GRIEF
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Juneau, Alaska (December 23, 2021): In this photo by Lieutenant Junior Grade Rebecca Chambers, Coast Guard Petty Officer Clinton P. Mooers (aka Santa) is all smiles after handing out Christmas gifts to children in Angoon recently. Mooers is a crewman aboard the Auke Bay-based cutter Liberty who participated in this year’s annual food, blanket, and toy drive in Southeast Alaska. The Auke are an Alaskan Native people, whose autonym Aakʼw Ḵwáan means "Small Lake People”, and they are a subgroup of the Tlingit tribe.
Juneau, Alaska (December 23, 2021): To commercial ships at sea, they are lifesavers. To drug smugglers, they are a nightmare. But to little kids in the remote regions of Alaska, they are a symbol of giving and Christmas joy. They are the U.S. Coast Guard, and they are all these things and more.
What is truly touching is seeing these servicemembers take time to make the holidays joyful for others while they are far from home serving their country. Since February, the U.S. Military has deployed over 20,000 additional forces to Europe in response to the Ukraine crisis. That means over 100,000 American Army, Air Force, Naval, and Marine Forces are standing ready to defend democracy and freedom from the world’s tyrants. Most will be far from home for the holidays.
In the case of the U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska, the name of the game is air/sea rescue, and they are the best in the world. Operating in the often-violent Bering Sea, the 2,500 members of Coast Guard Alaska patrol over 43,500 miles of coastline conducting maritime rescues, drug interdictions, distributing humanitarian aid, and fisheries control.
Read more: Taking Time To Give... COAST GUARD DEPLOYS TO BRIGHTEN CHILDREN’S HOLIDAYS
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Gulf of Aden. (December 24, 2021): In this photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Word, Lieutenant Paul Guzman, a Catholic Chaplain deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, performs Christmas Eve Mass for U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex. For thousands of American servicemembers, the holidays can be a lonely time serving far from loved ones at Christmas. Military clergy, of all denominations, are there to counsel young troops to help them cope with their first holiday season away from home.
Gulf of Aden. (December 24, 2021): They are aboard ship in a very bad neighborhood thousands of miles from home and it is Christmas Day. Even the most hardened Sailors and Marines must have sympathy for those serving their first holidays deployed overseas and the Navy has a partial solution… military clergy to help them cope.
As long as man has had armies, military chaplains have accompanied soldiers into battle, often risking their lives ministering to the wounded while under heavy fire. They are the military’s expression of support for people of faith while they work to improve morale and comfort the sick or wounded. Today, some 3,000 military clergy serve on active duty backed up by another 2,000-clergy assigned to Reserve or National Guard units. The U.S. Military ensures that the five major faith groups, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist are represented and over 120 denominations.
The USS Essex is part of America’s expeditionary forces operating on the horn of Africa whose mission is to provide security for Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. The only U.S. military installation on African soil, Camp Lemonnier sustains ships and aircraft operating in one of the worlds most troubled regions. The Base supports approximately 4,000 U.S. joint and allied military forces and civilian personnel and U.S. Department of Defense contractors. Additionally, the base provides employment for approximately 1,000 local and third country nation workers.
Read more: For Servicemembers... MILITARY CLERGY TREAT LONELINESS AND THE SOUL