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SWCC Community Looks to the Future
 
 By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Kathryn Whittenberger, Naval Special Warfare Group 4 Public Affairs
 
 LITTLE CREEK, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Special Warfare Group (NSWG) 4, U.S. Special Operations Command's premier special boat community, held a commander's conference Nov. 26-28 on Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek.
 
 The conference focused on the future of the Special Warfare Combatant-Crewman (SWCC) community.
 
 "SWCC operators are all over the globe, but not all over the map," said Capt. Evin Thompson, NSWG 4's commander. "We're very focused on where our unique and essential support is needed."
 
 During this third conference, topics ranged from how to improve the SWCC training pipeline to out-of-the-box methods to accomplish the mission. Although mostly thinking about the future, conference attendees, including the commanding officers and command master chiefs of the special boat teams and more than half of the SWCC chief warrant officers and master chief petty officers, also took the time to remember their heritage.
 
 To relate the importance of looking to the past for motivation and ways to overcome obstacles, Thompson invited Medal of Honor awardee retired Lt. Thomas Norris to speak.
 
 Norris, a SEAL during Vietnam, applauded the NSW members in attendance after telling his harrowing story of rescuing downed pilots and discussing the special operations craft he had experience with.
 
 "I've never lost my awe and admiration for the Nation's elite," said Norris.
 
 That evening, Norris was the guest of honor for an honorary dinner. Also in attendance were seven previous NSWG 4 commanders, including Adm. Eric T. Olson who is currently serving as commander, U.S. Special Operations Command.
 
 Navy SEALs and SWCCs from NSWG 4's three component commands, Special Boat Team 20, based in Little Creek, Special Boat Team 12, based in Coronado, Calif., and Special Boat Team 22 headquartered in Stennis, Miss., operate, deploy and maintain state-of-the-art mobility systems. These systems included the highly capable and advanced Mark-V Special Operations Craft, the 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boat, and the Special Operations Craft-Riverine.
 
 For more information from naval Special Warfare Group 4, visit www.navy.mil/local/nswg4/.
 

 

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