Expeditionary Training Command News

U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard training teams concluded the first visit to Colon, Panama, during the pilot Global Fleet Station (GFS) on May 11 aboard High Speed Vessel (HSV 2) Swift. Training teams from Navy Expeditionary Training Command in Little Creek, Va., along with U.S. Coast Guard training teams from International Training Division, based in Yorktown, Va., facilitated five training sessions in areas requested by the nation of Panama. These courses included a coxswain course, two sessions of the port security and vulnerability course, as well as two leadership seminars. “The past two weeks in Panama have been very productive,” said Capt. Douglas Wied, commander, Task Group (TG) 40.9.

U.S. Navy and Coast Guard training teams began their portion of the pilot Global Fleet Station (GFS) on May 1, aboard High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2), while in port here. Global Fleet Station is designed to validate the GFS concept for the Navy and support U.S. Southern Command objectives for its area of responsibility by enhancing cooperative partnerships with regional maritime services and improving operational readiness for the participating partner nations. Training teams from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and Expeditionary Training Command in Little Creek, Va., along with U.S. Coast Guard training teams from International Training Division, based in Yorktown, Va., are facilitating three training sessions requested by the nation of Panama.

Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) established Expeditionary Training Command (ETC) in a ceremony held at Drexler Manor on Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek April 13. The new ETC’s main function will be to deploy teams to foreign countries to train their militaries in such areas as port security, non-commissioned officer (NCO) professional development, control craft operation, maintenance management and operational risk management. According to Lt. Cmdr. Scott Chafian, ETC executive officer, the new command will assess what partner countries and allies need in terms of maritime security training, construction and explosive ordnance disposal — any of the disciplines that NECC encompasses. “We will develop training programs to meet those needs," Chafian said.