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VBSS Boarding Officer Course Restructured

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS150323-15
Release Date: 3/23/2015 4:33:00 PM

By Darryl Orrell, Center for Security Forces Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The Center for Security Forces (CENSECFOR) announced the successful implementation of changes to the Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) Boarding Officer course, March 20.

'The changes to the course were nearly across the board from mission planning to the various types of boarding,' said William Goodnoh who serves as the course curriculum model manager for VBSS and advanced tactics. 'This stems from major changes to the references that drive the fleet's training requirements and to the biometric gear itself.'

Goodnoh highlighted a new blended-learning aspect to the course, which keeps students actively engaged in the learning process. Rather than have boarding officers sit in a classroom for four days and then apply learned skills in a practical exercise, they now begin building their learned skills in lock step or sync with the course.

'Take mission planning for example. Students will learn the structure of a warning order, its purpose and will then, based on the specific mission requirements, commander's intent and bits of intelligence we provide for that mission profile, begin to build a mission plan,' explained Goodnoh.

Goodnoh pointed out that this blended-learning approach keeps the students engaged in the training and with the instructors. Instead of sharing old sea stories during breaks, students now discuss course topics such as biometrics because of this new learning approach.

'The biometrics equipment had a significant change to its software and so much so we had to completely rebuild those topics in the course. This fell in good timing because the last readiness review revealed that type commanders preferred boarding officers teach biometrics to his/her team,' said Goodnoh.

The advantage, according to Goodnoh, is that a boarding officer can now pick from among the best of his/her team and train that person or personnel to perform the collection of biometrics when required by the mission task.

'The course also features homework assignments whether it's a five paragraph order for a mission, or an assignment that relates to the current course topic discussed at the end of the class day,' said Goodnoh. 'We also show a video that features lessons learned and this serves as quite an eye-opening experience for students.'

The initial pilot took place at CENSECFOR Detachment Chesapeake, which is located in southeast Virginia. The new course structure received high favor from the instructor staff and students alike. It has since been incorporated at the remaining four schoolhouses delivering this training that are located in the San Diego, Pearl Harbor and Mayport fleet concentration areas.

Open to paygrades E-6 through O-4, the course consists of 12 hours of classroom instruction and 20 hours of laboratory instruction. Students are guided through the required procedures for boarding, the collection of biometrics, conduct while on board, and preparation of reports and evidence packaging.

The Center for Security Forces provides specialized training to more than 28,000 students each year. It has 14 training locations across the United States and around the world where training breeds confidence.