Navy Expeditionary Combat Command

The Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) serves as the single functional command to centrally manage current and future readiness, resources, manning, training and equipping of the United States Navy's 40,000 expeditionary forces who are currently serving in every theater of operation. The NECC was established in January 2006. NECC is a subordinate command of the Navy's Fleet Forces Command.

NECC components offer functions such as command and control of expeditionary warfare operations, training, maritime civil affairs, maritime and port security, logistics support, construction, littoral and coastal warfare and patrol, riverine warfare, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), expeditionary diving and combat salvage, and combat photography.

Purpose
NECC aligns disparate expeditionary capabilities to clearly articulate consistent and coordinated expeditionary practices, procedures and requirements in the joint battlespace. NECC integrates all warfighting requirements for expeditionary combat and combat support elements, consolidating and realigning the Navy’s expeditionary forces under a single command to improve fleet readiness. NECC’s enterprise approach intends to improve efficiencies and effectiveness through economies of scale.

NECC changed how the U.S. Navy organizes, trains and equips its forces to meet the Maritime Security Operations and Joint contingency operations requirements. NECC is not a standalone or combat force, but rather a protection force that fills the gaps in the joint warfare arena and complements capabilities of foreign military partners. As an asset to operational commanders, NECC is designed to provide an array of capabilities that are unique to the expeditionary maritime environment as opposed to the blue water and land warfare environments.

NECC seamlessly operates with the other services and coalition partners to provide cooperative assistance as requested. This redistribution of support places naval forces where they are needed the most and establishes new capabilities in support of Maritime Security Operations.

Individual training and qualifications
Members of most NECC Commands are generally expected to seek qualification for the Enlisted Expeditionary Warfare Specialist Insignia unless they belong to specialized communities which require them to qualify for the Seabee Combat Warfare Badge, Navy Diving Badge or Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge.

Component commands of the NECC
NECC component commands include:
 * 1st Naval Construction Division or "Seabees"
 * Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center
 * Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1 & 2
 * Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training Command
 * Maritime Expeditionary Security Force
 * NECC Detachment Combat Camera, Norfolk
 * Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Command (NEIC)
 * Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (United States)
 * Coastal Riverine Force (CORIVFOR)
 * Mobile Diving and Salvage Units

NECC in Iraq
The United States Navy Riverine Squadrons of the United States Navy are elements of the NECC that have taken active part in the land operations in support of the Army and USMC units. According to the Navy: “The Navy’s Riverine force focuses on conducting Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation in a riverine area of operations or other suitable area. The force is capable of combating enemy riverine forces by applying fires directly, or by coordinating supporting fires. It will share battle space with the other Services in an effort to close the seams in Doctrine, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.”

As of 2008, three riverine squadrons are active in the Navy, all under the command of Riverine Group 1, located in Norfolk, Virginia. Riverine Squadron 1 (RIVRON 1) deployed to Iraq in April 2007 and was relieved by Riverine Squadron 2 (RIVRON 2) in October 2007. Riverine Squadron 3 (RIVRON 3) was established in July 2007 and will presumably relieve RIVRON 2 in Iraq when their deployment is completed.

Other similar Navy/Marine Corps entities
Conventional United States Marine Corps and US Navy entities:
 * Fleet Marine Force (FMF), a component maritime military force that provides expeditionary and amphibious warfare (ship-to-shore beach landings), supported by appropriate U.S. Navy operational forces. Subordinate commands of the FMF, comprising the Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF)—and its subordinate Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU)—are responsible in conflicts pertaining to littoral, and its adjacent areas (green-water naval support); the MEFs no longer provides conventional riverine missions (brown-water naval support), as it handed this function on to NECC.

Unconventional Naval Special Warfare entities:
 * Special Boat Squadron (USN), who share the Navy's Coastal Warfare heritage
 * Special Boat Teams, who share the Navy's coastal, littoral, and riverine warfare heritage
 * Special Boat Team 12 and SBT-20, who share the Navy's Coastal and littoral warfare heritage
 * Special Boat Team 22, who share the Navy's riverine warfare heritage

United States Coast Guard entities:
 * Deployable Operations Group