Month: October 2023

R3 Honors MESF Legacy Aboard PCF-816

In acknowledgment of our team’s invaluable contributions to the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force (MESF) mission, members of the R3 family had the unique opportunity to embark on a memorable voyage aboard the U.S. Navy-designated PCF-816 (Mk-II), a meticulously restored Swift Boat categorized as a “Patrol Craft-Fast.” The dedicated professionals within R3’s accounting and finance, human resources, security, business development, and contracting sectors have consistently demonstrated their unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional corporate support and expertise, with a continued commitment for the years ahead.

During this off-site team-building event, R3 team members had the privilege to immerse themselves in the profound history and enduring legacy of the MESF, encompassing a period marked by dynamic organizational transformations as it transitioned from the Coastal Riverine Force to the MESF.

The PCF-816 holds an esteemed place in military history due to its pivotal role in training and preparing thousands of Sailors who served on this vessel type during the Vietnam War. Between 1965 and 1970, Swift Boats played pivotal roles in conducting coastal and inland waterway patrols during this historically significant period, including engaging in interdiction activities along the Vietnamese coast and inland waterways.

Following the conclusion of the Vietnam War, the Navy’s Mobile Riverine Force was placed in reserve. It was not until after the 2003 Iraq War that the U.S. Navy re-established a new riverine force known as RIVRON 1, which deployed in 2007. This deployment marked the first active riverine unit since 1975 and was placed under the command of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). RIVRON 1 achieved notable success during Operation Iraqi Freedom by operating on the River Euphrates and in the reservoirs of northern Iraq near the Syrian border, where they effectively countered insurgent activity.

Upon the conclusion of Operation Iraqi Freedom at the end of 2011, the NECC’s RIVRON units were consolidated into the newly formed Coastal Riverine Force (CRF). The CRF’s primary mission was to safeguard designated landside and maritime high-value assets against determined adversaries.

On September 16, 2020, the NECC officially announced the name change from CRF to Maritime Expeditionary Security Forces (MESF). The core competencies of MESF units of action are skillfully task-organized and applied across a wide spectrum of military operations, encompassing major combat operations, maritime security operations, force protection, antiterrorism, theater security cooperation, stability activities, noncombatant evacuation operations, foreign humanitarian assistance, and foreign disaster assistance. MESF is predominantly focused on combat support, providing essential functions such as force protection, operational support, and operational assistance to combat units.

Our time together at this off-site event served as a poignant reminder of the profound history and enduring legacy of MESF and underscored the unwavering support provided by R3. We eagerly anticipate continued success and growth in our collaborative endeavors.

 

R3 to sponsor Veterans Day ceremony

R3 proudly supports this year’s Veterans Day ceremony at the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial. We invite you to join us on this significant and reverent day as we express our gratitude and pay tribute to our nation’s veterans and their families. This event commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, focusing on those who served in this conflict. At R3, we wholeheartedly embrace the memorial’s mission of honoring the brave individuals who served and sacrificed, ensuring that their legacy endures for generations to come.

Mt. Soledad stands out as one of the most distinctive veterans memorials in the United States. It pays homage to veterans, both past and present, spanning from the Revolutionary War to the current era. The memorial features eleven gracefully curved walls adorned with over 5,000 black granite plaques, each bearing the names of our dedicated servicemen and women. Perched at an impressive 822-foot elevation above sea level, Mt. Soledad offers a breathtaking vantage point over the entire San Diego region. On clear days, the view extends southward to Mexican towns and northward to the mountains of Los Angeles. As the highest point in the La Jolla area, Mt. Soledad provides a panoramic vista that includes sights like Miramar Air Station, Torrey Pines Golf Course, UC San Diego, and more.

R3 attends 5th annual “Emerald Coast is Grateful” event

R3’s Ryan Bedner, Dean Muriano, Rex Rosseau, Ken Normand, and Ken Martin

R3’s Northwest Florida Team spent the afternoon with the Stronghold SOF Solutions Team who hosted the 2023 Special Operators Transition Foundation (SOTF) – “The Emerald Coast is Grateful event.” The SOTF event was held on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at the Stronghold compound near Bonifay in Northwest Florida.

 

SOTF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to helping Special Operations Forces (SOF) veterans transition from the military into their next successful career. SOTF hosts SOF veteran transition events across the United States and provides them with opportunities to meet and potentially be recruited by companies that value their military service and recognize their potential for future success. Ten special operators and their families attended this SOTF event with diverse SOF backgrounds including Army Green Berets, special operations pilots, and Air Force Pararescue.

Stronghold SOF SolutionsIn addition to opening their world-class SOF training facility for the event, the Stronghold Team provided live fire demonstrations with a team of SOF operators conducting a hostage rescue. Exciting as the live fire event was, the live music event featuring SOF veterans Donnie Reis and Scooter Brown of the War Hippies energized the evening and got everyone fired up for the main fundraising event—the auction. Like the EOD Warrior Foundation’s Memorial Auction held every year in May, military memorabilia is donated and auctioned off to raise money for a good cause. The SOTF event was a resounding success raising tens of thousands of dollars with all proceeds supporting a non-profit that helps SOF veterans transition to their next successful career following their dedicated service to our great nation.

As an agile, employee-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, R3 is committed to supporting organizations and causes that make a positive impact on veterans’ lives.  At R3, we believe that our success is measured not only by our bottom line but also by the impact we have on our communities and the world around us. R3 is honored to have been a part of this important event and is committed to continuing its support for the SOTF and other organizations like it.