First Navy riverine unit deploys to Iraq

Reported here:

Riverine Squadron 1 will take over the security of the Euphrates River from Marines; the Corps has performed that mission since the war began.

An advance party of 60 Navy riverines is already in Iraq. The group of 150 leaves Thursday, joined soon by a third phase.

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“They said, ‘Be flexible,’ ” he said. “We are multi-versatile.”

More here.

Photo caption:

Sailors assigned to Riverine Squadron One (RIVRON-1) participate in a combat evolution, during a unit level training exercise. RIVRON-1 is part of the newly formed Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). NECC integrates all warfighting requirements for expeditionary combat and combat support elements. This transformation allows for standardized training, manning and equipping of Sailors who will participate in the global war on terrorism as part of the joint force. It also results in more capable, responsive and effective expeditionary Sailors. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mandy McLaurin

UPDATE: Some previous posts that sort of trace the evolution of the "new" brown water Navy: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

UPDATE2: Linked in one of the UPDATE posts, but worth mentioning again is this post by CDR Salamander "Back to Brown Water" from July of 2005.