Mobile Security Squadron News

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Campbell, Africa Partnership Station Public AffairsWhile transiting off the coast of Monrovia, Liberia as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS), March 20 High Speed Vessel 2 Swift received a distress call, relayed from the Maritime Regional Coordination Center (RMCC) in Lisbon, of a Portuguese fishing vessel, the Princesa Di Guadiana, stranded 100 nautical miles off the Liberian Coast with no food, water or fuel. The RMCC contacted Lt. Cmdr. Jose Neto of the Portuguese Navy, who is the APS operations officer aboard the USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), APS flag ship. Cap Lara, a Greek flagged vessel, remained in the vicinity until Swift arrived to assist the Princesa.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (NNS) -- Sailors from Mobile Security Squadron (MSS) 7, Det. 72, demonstrated U.S. Navy small boat tactics to the Indonesian Navy’s Kopaska Pasukan Katak (Frogman Force) here July 22 as part of a series of events for MSS 7 and their counterparts prior to the Indonesia phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT). The small boat tactics demonstration consisted of classroom lectures followed by hands-on demonstrations in two rigid hulled inflatable boats (RHIB). Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (SW) Nathan Ryan and Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Christopher White opened the classroom session with a brief on boat maneuvers, which included techniques for clearing choke points and setting security zones with small boats.

Members of the Mobile Security Squadron 3 visit, board, search and seizure team approach a vessel they will be boarding as part of exercise Seahawk 2007. Seahawk 2007 is a joint maritime security exercise involving integrated active and reserve forces from the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and U.S. Coast Guard. U.S. U.S. Navy Sailors and Coast Guardsmen combined forces Aug. 22 to conduct visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) tactics in support of Exercise Seahawk 2007. The two-week exercise gave Navy and Coast Guard security teams the chance to demonstrate joint VBSS scenarios to various fleet commanders. “This training period is a great opportunity to practice tactics with our Coast Guard counterparts,” said Chief Master-at-Arms (SW) Justin Crowe, Mobile Security Squadron (MSS) 3.

The Indonesia phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) began at Surabaya Naval Base July 11, with leaders from the Indonesian and United States navies agreeing on the continuing need for mutual cooperation and interoperability. More than 2,000 participants from both countries will train together during the next week in a variety of scenarios, including visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) demonstrations, amphibious operations, diving and salvage, and small craft force protection tactics. “The closer cooperation and friendship between our two navies and the stronger friendly relations between our two nations, as well, will give a great benefit and contribution to the international effort to increase the prosperity of people in a peaceful world,” said Rear Adm.

U.S. Navy and Republic of Singapore navy (RSN) sailors and officers shared their views on terrorism and maritime security during a seminar on the subjects May 31 at the RSN’s Changi Naval Base. The seminar included a presentation on the U.S. Navy’s 21st century maritime strategy by a visiting U.S. Naval War College (NWC) professor here in support of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), a series of bilateral exercises held annually throughout Southeast Asia. “My visit is twofold. I hope we can have a dialogue so I learn from the experts who live in this region of the world,” said Jeffrey Norwitz, professor, National Security Decision Making at the NWC.