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MSS 7 Detachment Imparting Security Skills to Thai Forces

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060524-06
Release Date: 5/24/2006 5:00:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam R. Cole, Task Force 76 Public Affairs

UTAPAO, Kingdom of Thailand (NNS) -- Members of Mobile Security Squadron (MSS) 7, Detachment (Det) 73 conducted Close Quarters Battle (CQB) training with Royal Thai sailors and marines here May 20.

This is one of many training scenarios the mobile security unit has completed with the Royal Thai forces to increase their force protection (FP) skill sets as part of Cobra Gold 2006, taking place May 15-26.

The objective of the CQB training was to have Royal Thai forces enter an abandoned building and recapture a piece of fabric from a simulated enemy, made to symbolize the recapture process of hostages or secret documents. The specific objective is not the focus, said MSS 7 members, but working through language barriers to meet a desired objective is the importance of the training.

“It has been challenging to work through language barriers at times, but we have been creative with our training to achieve the desired end results, like for the CQB,” said Master-at-Arms 1st Class (SW) Jeffrey P. Simpson. “Our goal is to ‘train the trainer,’ so that these sailors and marines, most of them NCOs (non-commissioned officer), will have the tools they need to train their forces.”

MSS 7, Det. 73 is forward deployed to Guam and is assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet, though the detachment is operating under Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 for the duration of Cobra Gold.

The squadron was commissioned in July 2005 as part of a Navy initiative to provide quick response security capability all over the world. The squadron’s primary duties include providing security to special-mission ships, augmenting port security, providing personnel security for high-value assets and a number of other duties.

Such aspects of security made to meet the needs of the global war on terrorism are being imparted to the Royal Thai Forces. Cobra Gold training elements include airfield security/counter-sniper, non-lethal weapons/self-defense, personnel searches/vehicles and apprehension techniques among others.

The end goal, according to Lt. Aaron T. Bergman, MSS 7, Det. 53 officer-in-charge, is to create a Thai security force that will be a partner in ensuring security, specifically port security, when U.S. forces are on station within the country. Port security, especially for the civilian-operated Marine Corps high-speed vessel WESTPAC Express (HSV 4676) necessitates a joint effort to truly be effective.

“We are training these forces to meet high standards of security because we know that we will heavily rely on them in helping to provide security for U.S. Naval assets,” said Bergman. “The Thai forces have been receptive to the training we’ve offered, and we know they will continue to grasp the concepts we have given them.”

Task Force 76 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force and is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.

For more information on CTF 76, visit www.ctf76.navy.mil.

For more information on Cobra Gold 2006, visit the Web site www.apan-info.net/cobragold/.

For related news, visit the Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/ctf76/.