Photo By Lt.j.g. Drew Verbis | U.S. Navy Reserve Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Chris Motiejunas advanced to Petty Officer...... read more read more
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GLENDALE, Ariz. (NNS) - Phoenix resident U.S. Navy Reserve Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Chris Motiejunas advanced to Petty Officer First Class at Navy Operational Support Center Phoenix September 23, 2018, following a successful mobilization with Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 1.
CRS-1 provides anti-terrorism defense for American assets, critical maritime infrastructure, ports and harbors both inland and on coastal waterways around the globe using well-trained and highly mobile security forces. They operate in harbors, rivers, bays, across the littorals and ashore.
Motiejunas spent nearly four-months sharpening his skills at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia as part-of the build-up for a year with CRS-1 while augmenting for CRS-2 in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
CRS-1 operates pre-deployment training in three phases; the individual, the unit and the assessment which determines readiness during the final evaluation period for deployment certification.
“While I was in Virginia my job was a Navigator on a 34 ft patrol boat. When we got boots on ground in Kuwait, I earned the position of Coxswain and took charge of a five-man crew,” Motiejunas stated.
Motiejunas excelled at small arms training for the M9, M4 and M500 earning a category three (CAT III) weapons qualification. In addition to CAT III quals, his squadron practiced proficiency in the Navy’s crew-served weapons, the M2HB .50 Cal and M240 7.62 mm machine gun.
Motiejunas remembers some of the challenges.
“Trainers would dump pieces of our crew-served weapons in a pile and require us to assemble the weapons within a short period of time.”
Motiejunas and was among a select few chosen to attend a private lunch with Rear Admiral Brian J. Brakke, Commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.
“We talked about training and I mentioned that I enjoyed learning how to manage other sailors. I had the distinct pleasure of having a younger sailor ask me to be his mentor and this meant a great deal.”
CRS-1 supported operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, including the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. A variety of missions included dynamic and static seaward force protection and domain awareness operations.
“The deployment was difficult at times, but I enjoyed the camaraderie and being out on the water getting real-life experience while conducting critical missions of importance. I got my expeditionary warfare pin and I was honored to be among a select few to earn a Navy Achievement Medal. All of this helped me to pick-up first-class.”
Motiejunas was frocked to first-class petty officer September 23, 2018, shortly after returning to his assignment at Navy Operational Support Center Phoenix.
| Date Taken: | 10.14.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 10.18.2018 21:07 |
| Story ID: | 296336 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 165 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Phoenix Sailor Excels with Riverines, by LTJG Drew Verbis, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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