Naval Special Warfare Special Boat Team Conducts MEATS Evolution
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robyn B. Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) from Special Boat Team (SBT) 12, stationed at Naval Base Coronado, Calif., conducted a Maritime External Air Transportation System (MEATS) training evolution, Dec. 12, with the help of a Marine Corps CH-53 helicopter. Typically MEATS is a way to move an 11-meter rigid inflatable boat (RIB) or a special operations craft-riverine (SOC-R) from a point on land or in the water to somewhere else in the water. SWCCs rig the boat to the helicopter as it hovers 10 to 15 feet above their heads and then climb a rope ladder to board the helicopter before transiting to the drop zone, where they will rappel down a line to the boat and prepare to get underway.
Anti-Terror Exercise Begins In Coronado
An anti-terrorism exercise jointly conducted by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard over the next two weeks began Monday on San Diego Bay, according to Naval Base Coronado public affairs. SEAHAWK 2006 is designed to enhance interoperability between the Navy and Coast Guard and build war-fighting capabilities and capacity for regional coastal maritime security, military officials said. Throughout the duration of the operation, which runs through Aug. 31, Navy and Coast Guard patrol boats will take part in training on San Diego Bay, but have been ordered not to impede civilian boat traffic. SEAHAWK 2006 is the first anti-terrorism and force protection exercise to be held on the West Coast by Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.
