1. MSRON 3 Returns to San Diego from
CENTCOM, EUCOM Deployment
Release Date: 12/21/2012 From Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
By Lt. Cmdr. Donnell Evans
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- More than 180 Sailors from Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron
(MSRON) 3 returned to Naval Air Station North Island, Dec. 17, following a six-month
deployment to Camp Patriot in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and Naval Base Rota in
the European Command (EUCOM) area of responsibility (AOR).
MSRON 3, under the command of Cmdr. Jeremy P. Jurkoic, served as Commander, Task Group
(CTG) 56.5 in the CENTCOM AOR. Detachment Kuwait, assigned to Kuwait Naval Base
(KNB), provided seaward security and embarked security team support to Naval Forces Central
Command, Naval Forces Europe, and Naval Forces Africa.
The highly trained personnel were responsible for the safe transport and transit of theater stocks
and high-value units. During the deployment, the unit conducted 6 high-value asset escorts and
performed as many as 4 Embarked Security Team (EST) missions.
“The MSRON 3 personnel assigned to CTG 56.5 were critical to the restructure of maritime
security forces stationed in KNB,” explained Lt. John Edwards, MSRON 3 operations officer.
“They were able to demonstrate „fly-away‟ support between Kuwait, United Arab Emirates
(UAE) and Bahrain expanding their ability to support ESTs and seaward security missions
throughout the 5th Fleet AOR.”
Additionally, under the command of Lt. Ryan Markey, MSRON 3 served as CTG 68.4 in the
EUCOM and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) AORs. Teams of Sailors from CTG 68.4
conducted 42 security missions aboard U.S. aircraft and cargo vessels, and security for a NATO
communications exercise encompassing more than 40 nations.
"We need to be able to flex and execute our operational capability within EUCOM and
AFRICOM's area of responsibility at all times to answer the call for expeditionary security
operations," said Lt. Christopher Rupp, Assistant Officer in Charge for CTG 68.4. "At times, due
to world events, our Sailors would only have a few hours to deploy wherever they were needed.
Onboard ships and aircraft, small teams of Sailors were led by petty officers, and they handled
the responsibility and leadership with the extreme professionalism representative of the Navy's
core values".
Detachments from Kuwait and Rota were met by members of the third detachment of MSRON 3
who deployed to the Horn of Africa (HOA) and returned weeks earlier. Under the command of

2. LCDR Lamont Gavin, Detachment HOA also provided seaward security for all U.S. ships, motor
vessels, and other designated high value assets pulling into the Port of Djibouti and the Port of
Doraleh.
Sailors were also greeted with a tearful reunion with families and friends from San Diego,
marking the end of a successful deployment. "Our Sailors set the bar for successful mission
accomplishment in three separate geographic locations over a variety of mission types and
against a full spectrum of threats,” said Cmdr. Joseph Fauth, executive officer of MSRON 3.
“Their ability, flexibility, and professionalism cemented the stellar reputation of MSRON 3 and
Maritime Expeditionary Security Forces in EUCOM, AFRICOM, and CENTCOM alike."
MSRONs, formerly known as Mobile Security Squadrons, were established in the wake of
terrorist attacks abroad, in particular the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole (DDG 67). MSRONs
provide rapidly deployable point defense personnel and assets for force protection and anti-
terrorism operations in support of fleet commanders.