Navy Maritime Expeditionary Security Group 2 Trains with Montenegrin Navy

Photo By David Said | BAR, Montenegro (Dec. 6, 2024) – U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Group (MESG) 2 and the Montenegrin Navy Fast Boat Response Unit meet on a pier. MESG 2 and Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 2 conducted a subject matter expert exchange alongside the Montenegrin Navy in Bar, Montenegro from Dec. 2-6. (U.S. Navy courtesy photo)  

BAR, MONTENEGRO

12.06.2024

Courtesy Story

Navy Expeditionary Combat Command

By CMDCM Clayton Alek-Finkelman

BAR, Montenegro (Dec. 9, 2024) Sailors from the U.S. Navy Maritime Expeditionary Security Group (MESG) 2, MESG 2 Training and Evaluation Unit, and Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 2 conducted a subject matter expert exchange alongside the Montenegrin Navy Fast Boat Response Unit in Bar, Montenegro from Dec. 2-6.
The engagement was part of an ongoing commitment between the two nations to strengthen regional security and to develop and share best tactics, techniques, and procedures ensuring good interoperability between the US and Montenegrin Navies.
“Training with MESG 2 was amazing! It was important that we understood their procedures for port security, vessel escort, and force protection and that we had an opportunity to practice and refine our tactics,” said Deputy Commander of Montenegro Navy Multi-Mission Ship Squadron, Kapetan Korvete Slobodan Musovic.
Kapetan Fregate, Milan Jeftovic, Commander of the Montenegrin Navy opened up the training and observed underway evolutions with the crews while instructors from MESG 2 Training and Evaluation gave more than 40 Hours of instruction on Mission Planning, Craft Navigation, and Small Craft tactics, operations, handling, and leadership.
“The instructors did a really great job,” said Executive Officer of the Montenegrin Fast Boat Response Unit, Potporucnik Vuk Rogosic. “They gave us time to execute commands and work through translation into our language. Overall, the quality of training was top notch.”
“It is vitally important to have common understanding of our partner nations operations and tactics,” Musovic added on the importance of working with other NATO countries. “The improved teamwork will enable us to best provide effective and safe capabilities to enhance regional security.”
It wasn’t just the Montenegrin Navy that benefitted from the exchange. Sailors from the US Navy gained just as much insight and left the training with new knowledge and appreciation for Sailors in the Montenegrin Navy.
“Their passion and willingness to learn stood out to me,” said MSRON 2 Maritime Officer in Charge, Lt. Vincent Zehentbauer. “These are very experienced Sailors that picked up on our training quickly, but they also would provide feedback and comparison with their own experience and expertise. Our team learned just as much from them as they probably learned from us.”
MESG 2 is a component of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command deploying specialized Naval Security units to defend high value naval assets and installations and when ordered conducting combat operations. Their sailors operate ashore, on ships at sea, in harbors and rivers, and across the challenging littoral environment.
The primary focus of MESG 2 is to conduct maritime security across the range of military operations by providing harbor security, high value unit escort and protection, defense of critical infrastructure, embarked security and landward defense.

• Date Taken: 12.06.2024
• Date Posted: 01.13.2025 15:05
• Story ID: 487699
• Location: BAR, ME