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U.S., Indonesian Maritime Security Teams Work Together

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080724-12
Release Date: 7/24/2008 5:09:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kim McLendon, Commander Task Force 73 Public Affairs

SURABAYA, Indonesia (NNS) -- U.S. Coast Guard's maritime safety and security teams (MSST) instructors and their Indonesian counterparts began a joint training exercise in Surabaya July 22 as part of an annual naval engagement activity (NEA) between the two countries.

Eight members of the U.S. Deployable Operations Group (DOG), two military operations (MILOPS) trainers and six law enforcement officers traveled to Surabaya for the joint law enforcement training. The two MILOPS trainers will engage their Indonesian counterparts responsible for responding to maritime environmental incidents.

The MSST members are demonstrating the Coast Guard's procedures for encountering suspicious vessels at sea and conducting visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations.

U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Dan Clifford said the VBSS training will follow a standard approach to boarding operations.

"We assemble the team on the target ship. After going up the Jacob's ladder, we move forward together. They will first perform an initial safety inspection, which is a quick and limited sweep of the vessel to ensure that it is safe. The mission will dictate where we go from there."

The boarding exercise includes defense tactics training designed to help boarding team members retain their weapons and their control when encountering resistance.

To demonstrate the professionalism practiced by the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. team will talk about the Commandant of the Coast Guard's Use of Force Policy.

The policy articulates standards from minimal use of force up to and including, deadly force based on circumstances. The highest level of force the training will address will be aggressive response techniques to active resistance.

Additional training will include officer presence, verbal command with a consequence, and physical control techniques.

For more news from Commander Task Force 73, visit www.navy.mil/local/clwp/.