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EODMU 6 Det. 20 Provides Force Protection for GW

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060502-10
Release Date: 5/2/2006 8:00:00 PM

By Photographer’s Mate Airman Kenneth R. Hendrix, USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- The Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) Dive Team aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) and Carrier Air Wing 17 are conducting security operations at every port call while GW is deployed to the Caribbean this spring for “Partnership of the Americas.”

The dive team's mission is to deny any type of attack on the ship from the sea. They search for risks and hazards through a vessel search from the waterline, topside and below.

“Force protection diving is warranted whenever a Navy ship or coalition ship will be coming into an area that hasn’t been searched or inspected for any type of underwater explosives or anything unusual that will do harm to ships or personnel on board,” said Chief Electrician's Mate (DV/DSW/SW/MTS) Jeffrey Miller.

The team dives upon each vessel that might touch the carrier, prior to contact. The procedures encompass four steps that consist of planning, logistics, operations and the mission at hand.

“Through a liaison on shore, we find out which vessels need to be dived upon. We will establish their order and where they are going to be located during the diving operations,” said Electronics Technician 1st Class (EOD/SW/AW/FPJ) Chad Black.

A minimum of four divers are needed, but five are preferred to do a sweep of a hull, conduct underwater searches, pier searches and AT/FP effectively and efficiently.

“We have two divers, a supervisor, a tender and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician,” Miller said. “As the divers clear the underside of the vessel, the EOD techs will clear the topside, looking for anything unusual. Our job is to ensure that the topside and underwater parts of all craft, surfaces craft, barges or any type of tugs that go alongside of the ship are cleared and safe from explosives and any terrorist/suspicious type of activity.”

The course of action takes place every day that GW is in port, and before any Sailor can board a liberty boat to make a port visit. In addition, the team is getting the experience they need to better their skills for future operations.

“This is an awesome opportunity for us for to train, because we can actually take what we have used in the past and use it operationally,” Black said. “We’re able to find out the things that work and find out the things that don’t work, allowing us to move tactics and procedures around that flow more effectively and smoothly.”

More operations executed help increase the individual’s awareness and focus on the prevention of terrorism, as well as the deterrence value of force protection diving.

“I enjoy the end of the job the most,” said Hull Technician 2nd Class (DV) Brian D. Bennett. “Because at the end of the job, when we have found nothing that is going to hurt us or anybody else, this is where the job satisfaction is.”

The George Washington Carrier Strike group is currently participating in “Partnership of the Americas, a maritime training and readiness deployment of the U.S. naval forces with Caribbean and Latin American countries in support of the U.S. Southern Command objectives for enhanced maritime security.