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Partner Nations Train Together, Foster Security Cooperation

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100811-10
8/11/2010

By Darian Wilson, Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School Public Affairs

JOHN C. STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. (NNS) -- Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS) and the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) conducted the fourth in an ongoing series of joint field training exercises (FTX) July 17–23.

The training partnership is designed to support U.N. peacekeeping operations, interdict drugs, respond to disasters, provide relief to those in need and ultimately to help save lives.

NAVSCIATTS students representing three countries and WHINSEC students representing eight countries took park in the weeklong FTX, according to Cmdr. Bill Mahoney, commanding officer, NAVSCIATTS.

NAVSCIATTS, specifically designed to take full advantage of the unique riverine training environment provided in and around the Pearl River within Naval Special Warfare Group 4's Western Maneuver Area (WMA) joint training facility.

"WHINSEC does not have ready access to an effective riverine training environment in order to conduct their Counter Drug Operations course," said Mahoney.

"However, since the WMA provides access to some of the finest riverine and coastal training areas in the world, NAVSCIATTS and WHINSEC leadership agreed to work together so that we could enhance the skills and expertise of students from both of our organizations by executing training pertinent to the common challenges that we all face."

NAVSCIATTS and WHINSEC schoolhouses focus on training international students in maritime and ground-based operations respectively. However, students from both schools learn more than just tactics and operations as part of this special training alliance.

"A very important part of this training experience is to give students an opportunity to participate, exchange ideas and experiences, and otherwise collaborate with officers from other regional and non-regional partner nations," said Mahoney. "In so doing, the capacity for partners to sustain and build upon shared experiences dramatically increases."

The demand for maritime focused training - especially in riverine and littoral environments - is growing exponentially, according to Mahoney. Combatant commanders, embassy security assistance officers and theater special operations commands are increasingly looking for training opportunities like NAVSCIATTS to train their partner nations. The training is also closely aligned with the nation's maritime strategy of increasing security and alliances in waterways across the world.

"We look forward to continuing this partnership with WHINSEC as we build vital partner nation skills, foster security cooperation, and build relationships," said Mahoney. ""Building relationships with our U.S. partners such as WHINSEC, as well as with other partner nations, is the most important thing we do here at NAVSCIATTS. We are very serious about helping our partners build their maritime defense capabilities as that is what we do best."

The first joint FTX took place in March 2009, according to Mahoney, with the next FTX tentatively planned for March 2011. A total of 74 international students took part in the most recent training.

For more news from Naval Special Warfare Group 4, visit www.navy.mil/local/nswg4/.