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Marine FAST PAC Team Trains with USS Mustin

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090604-08
Release Date: 6/4/2009 3:49:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bryan Reckard, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Det. Japan

USS MUSTIN, At Sea (NNS) -- Marines from the Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Pacific (FAST PAC) began visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) training with Sailors aboard USS Mustin (DDG 86) to improve VBSS operations and coordination between the two branches May 25.

According to Staff Sgt. Paul Klein, a Sylvester Ga., native and platoon sergeant for the 2nd FAST 5th Platoon, the goal of the underway training is to assimilate the VBSS practices of the Navy and Marine Corps so missions that involve the two branches can be achieved as a single unit.

"Both the Navy and the Marine Corps have their own VBSS teams," Klein said. "Our mission out here is to smooth out the edges and make the integration of the training understandable to the Navy side and the Marine Corps side so in the future we can use Navy guys and our guys and carry out the mission as one team."

Klein said that the FAST PAC is onboard training with the ship's VBSS team to work on tactics from the basics, such as shipboard clearing and everything up to and including running a complete VBSS Drill.

"We're just taking the two entities and making sure that we have the two different sides intermeshed so we can both move towards the same goal," Klein said.

Klein said FAST PAC personnel are currently training with Sailors on ships and platforms, so experiences from the different training venues can be shared and the Navy and Marine Corps can learn from each training opportunity.

"We have people on three different ships right now, so when we get back to shore, we'll sit down and discuss what worked and what didn't work." Klein said. "We'll be able to see what we got out of the training on both sides, so we can work better together."

Lance Cpl. Daniel Wheeler, from Amber, N.Y., assigned to the 2nd FAST 5th Platoon, said this unique training experience was his first time underway aboard a U.S. warship.

"It's a lot different training on the ship," Wheeler said. "It's a lot smaller, the hallways are more constrictive. It's definitely a lot different."

Wheeler said that the FAST PAC and Mustin VBSS team completed a lot of training and comparing of tactics. He believes the experience and familiarization will make future joint operations easier.

"We did a little hand-to-hand combat, detainee handling and things that will help us quickly click together if we ever have to do a joint mission," Wheeler said. "The training we do now is going to make it a lot easier to work with each other in the future."

Mustin is currently on a scheduled underway. Mustin is one of seven Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 and operates from Yokosuka, Japan.

For more news from 7th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c7f.