Naval Coastal Warfare Group 1 Units Deploy For Middle East

Nearly 200 Navy Reservists from Inshore Boat Unit (IBU) 14, from St. Louis, Mo., and Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit (MIUWU) 101, from Everett, Wash., deployed July 10 to support U.S. 5th Fleet operations in the Persian Gulf. Together, the combined units arrived in San Diego in late April to begin pre-deployment training and qualifications with Naval Coastal Warfare Group One (NCWG 1). "We will be providing force protection, assuring that no one gets too close to military installations," said Lt. Cmdr. Dave Rahmer of MIUWU 101. "Training consisted of security measures, tactical convoy movements, first aid, and weapons qualifications," said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Shel Cox of IBU 14. "We are ready to defend, if needed." NCWG 1 has been deploying units for eight to ten months since 9/11; each time drawing from Navy Reserve units from across the United States. NCWG 1 is the operational commander for four Naval Coastal Warfare Squadrons, 11 MIUWUs, seven IBUs and two Mobile Security Squadrons (MSS), which have five detachments located throughout the western United States and Guam. The primary mission of NCWG 1 is force protection.