Maritime Expeditionary Security Force (MESF) and Operational Orders Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering Standing Orders, Navigation Policies, Craft Redlines, ORM, SROE/SRUF, CUES, CCIR/CSNE, and High-Value Unit Transit Protection.

Standing Order 1: Trust

MSRONTENINST 3120.1I order establishing that trust in professional competence, leadership, people, and doing the right thing is the foundation of command culture.

Standing Order 2: Safety

MSRONTENINST 3120.1I non-negotiable order requiring every crewmember to act as a safety observer, identify hazards, stop unsafe actions, and report emergencies.

Standing Order 3: Required Reports and Approval Items

MSRONTENINST 3120.1I order mandating immediate reporting for critical incidents and requiring approval prior to actions like bypassing safeties or exceeding operating parameters.

Standing Order 4: Underway Operations

MSRONTENINST 3120.1I order establishing rules for safe navigation, lookouts, speed limits, stand-off distances, and vessel maneuvering while underway.

Restricted Visibility

An underway environmental condition defined as visibility less than $3000\,\text{yards}$ in any direction.

Standing Order 5: Operations other than Underway

MSRONTENINST 3120.1I order specifying that MSRON TEN safety, reporting, and professionalism requirements continue to apply even when operating under TACON of another command.

Standing Order 6: Weapons Handling

MSRONTENINST 3120.1I order governing strict weapons discipline, mandatory two-person integrity, and verifying weapon conditions before and after missions.

MESFINST 3530.1

Instruction establishing basic navigation policies, procedures, equipment requirements, and organizational standards for the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force.

COGENT Electronic Chart System (COGENT ECS)

The approved primary electronic chart navigation system for MESF craft when receiving GPS input from an approved military-grade receiver.

Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR)

Primary and secondary military-grade GPS receiver required onboard every craft due to its resistance to jamming and spoofing.

Standard Nautical Charts

Paper or electronic charts maintained onboard and used as the primary backup navigation method whenever Electronic Chart System accuracy is in question.

Shoal Water

Water equal to or shallower than the craft's draft, rounded up to the next foot, then multiplied by $2$.

Shallow Water

Water defined as depth less than or equal to $15\,\text{feet}$.

Plan of Intended Movement (PIM)

The required approved route and movement plan built on an approved Electronic Navigational Chart prior to getting underway.

Fix

A navigational position determined without reference to a previous position using visual, radar, GPS, fathometer, or composite data.

Expeditionary Navigation Requirements Table

Type Commander standard matrix defining distance from land/shoal water, fix accuracy or Figure of Merit (FOM), and maximum fix interval across operational water areas.

COMNECC/COMNECCPACINST 3500.5

Instruction establishing minimum personnel and equipment redlines and standardized mission readiness reporting for craft.

Redline

A minimum safety and readiness standard representing the maximum personnel or equipment risk the CO or OIC may accept without notifying the operational commander.

Departure From Specification (DFS)

An approved substitution or deviation from a required standard that may serve as an approved substitution for an affected redline condition.

Dead-stick Moves

Non-operational administrative transits used for repair or port management that are permitted under reduced minimum safety requirements.

Fully Mission Capable (FMC)

Craft status indicating it is fully manned, trained, and equipped with no redlines triggered, no C3/C4 Casualty Reports, and engine output over $80\%$ for all engines.

Partial Mission Capable (PMC)

Craft status indicating it can meet assigned mission requirements but operates with minor capability degradation, redundancy loss, or a waived redline.

Non-Mission Capable (NMC)

Craft status indicating unwaived redlines, a C4 Casualty Report, or severe deficiencies prohibiting getting underway or continuing mission tasking.

Operational Risk Management (ORM)

Process governed by OPNAVINST 3500.39D to identify hazards, assess risk, apply controls, and balance operational risk against mission benefit.

In-depth ORM

Level of ORM utilized when time is not a limiting factor, such as long-term planning, complex operations, and new system development.

Deliberate ORM

Level of ORM used when sufficient time exists to plan and analyze, typical for mission planning, SOP reviews, and maintenance/training procedures.

Time Critical ORM

Level of ORM applied during mission execution or at the point of starting a task using rapid mental or verbal assessments due to severe time limits.

Standing Rules of Engagement (SROE)

Baseline rules established in CJCSI 3121.01B governing military operations and contingencies outside U.S. territory and territorial seas.

Standing Rules for the Use of Force (SRUF)

Baseline rules established in CJCSI 3121.01B governing DoD civil support, Antiterrorism/Force Protection, and security/law enforcement duties within U.S. territory.

Inherent Right of Self-Defense

The fundamental right and obligation retained by unit commanders to exercise unit self-defense in response to a hostile act or demonstrated hostile intent.

National Self-Defense

Defense of the United States, U.S. forces, and designated U.S. persons or property against a hostile act or demonstrated hostile intent.

Collective Self-Defense

Defense of designated non-U.S. military forces, foreign nationals, or foreign property from hostile act or hostile intent, requiring presidential or defense secretary authorization.

Declared Hostile Force

A force or terrorist group declared hostile by proper U.S. authority, permitting U.S. forces to engage without waiting for a hostile act or hostile intent.

Hostile Act

An attack or other use of force against the U.S., U.S. forces, or designated property, or force used to prevent or interfere with mission execution.

Hostile Intent

The threat of imminent use of force against the U.S., U.S. forces, or designated property, or threat of force used to prevent or interfere with official duties.

Imminent Use of Force

A threat assessment based on known facts and circumstances indicating a threat is developing; it does not necessarily mean immediate or instantaneous.

De-escalation

The practice of warning threatening forces and providing an opportunity to cease actions before using force, when time and circumstances permit.

Necessity

Self-defense condition existing when a hostile act occurs or hostile intent is demonstrated, authorizing force while the threat continues.

Proportionality

Self-defense requirement that force used be decisive but restricted in nature, duration, and scope to what is necessary to counter the threat.

Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES)

A coordinated non-legally binding communication protocol used during unexpected encounters between naval ships or aircraft to safety-check intentions and reduce uncertainty.

Unplanned Encounter at Sea

An incident where naval ships or aircraft of one state meet casually or unexpectedly with those of another state.

Commander’s Critical Information Requirements (CCIR)

Critical pieces of information defined by COMMESGTWOINST 3100.2 requiring immediate reporting to the Commodore for decision-making.

Commander’s Significant Notification Events (CSNE)

Important operational, safety, or administrative events reported to maintain the Commodore's situational awareness.

5Ws Report

A structured follow-up report detailing Who, What, Where, When, and Why submitted after initial CCIR notification.

High-Value Unit (HVU)

A United States Navy asset whose loss or removal from service would severely impact warfighting capabilities, including all nuclear-powered vessels.

Restricted Waters (HVU Context)

Waters where High-Value Units must use designated channels or fairways to enter or exit port facilities due to limited maneuverability.

Maritime Homeland Security-Operational Planning System (MHS-OPS)

The web-based approved scheduling system used by Fleet Commanders for HVU transit escorts in the continental United States.

Naval Vessel Protection Zone (NVPZ)

Security zone within U.S. territory where the U.S. Navy is authorized to stop and detain vessels that violate protection boundaries around naval assets.