NSWG-4 Expands Cognizance Over Special Warfare Capability
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090126-11
Release Date: 1/26/2009 4:17:00 PM
From Naval Special Warfare Group 4 Public Affairs
NORFOLK (NNS) -- Commander, Naval Special Warfare Group (NSWG) 4 accepted control of a fourth subordinate command, Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS), on Stennis Space Center, Miss., from the Naval Special Warfare Center (NSWC). The turnover will be complete Feb. 1.
NAVSCIATTS mission is to provide partner nation security forces with the highest level of riverine and coastal craft operations and maintenance technical training. The change in structure aligns the operational expertise of the Naval Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) with the NAVSCIATTS schoolhouse.
This will ensure the very latest techniques and procedures are being taught in addition to allowing closer engagement opportunities with friendly countries.
NAVSCIATTS has been conducting security force assistance since 1963 to prepare partner nation forces to conduct small craft operations in riverine and littoral environments, as well as develop and sustain professional and personal relationships.
"The reason NAVSCIATTS exists is to provide technical training to our partner nation security force students, not only to improve their individual technical skills, but also to enhance the readiness of select maritime security forces within key partner nations," said NAVSCIATTS Commanding Officer Cmdr. Bill Mahoney.
This mission is closely aligned with the Navy's maritime strategy of increasing security and alliances in waterways across the globe. With this waterborne mission, it is a natural evolution for NAVSCIATTS to fall under NSWG-4, U.S. Special Operations Command's (SOCOM) maritime mobility component.
"This is phase zero of the Navy's maritime strategy: pre-conflict capacity building. NAVSCIATTS provides us with the initial contact with a potential ally or partner nation force, and helps set the stage for training with nations around the world," said Capt. Chuck Wolf NSWG 4.
Additionally, NAVSCIATTS conducts security force assistance missions in support of combatant commanders in accordance with SOCOM priorities using in-resident courses and mobile training teams (MTT) to prepare partner nation security forces to conduct small craft operations in riverine or littoral environments within their own countries.
The goal of an MTT is to teach both how to operate and maintain the craft used by the partner nation in their own environment, and often includes establishing a logistics chain from the ground up. These are skills that the SWCC instructors are specifically trained for as SOCOM's premier maritime experts.
"There will be a closer lashing-up of NSW maritime components with partner nations we should be and are currently working with," said Wolf.
NAVSCIATTS in-resident training is an effective first step of U.S. government development of partner nation forces, focusing on teaching independent maintenance, limited planning and the basics of combined operations. This initial training often leads to MTT deployments and more advanced training.
After a period of sustained interoperability the unit will ideally become more involved with the United States, specifically with special operations forces, and develop their own training capabilities.
"Continual and persistent engagement with specific units and key partner nations through additional and advanced training, regional exercises, follow-on MTTs, and combined operations will ultimately improve their overall readiness. It's in our mutual interest to improve security through enhanced interoperability, improved alliances and increased cooperative security," said Mahoney.
Mahoney predicts that the shift in control of his command to NSWG-4 will improve security force assistance efforts to build select maritime security force capacities within key partner nations.
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