Prior planning forms investigative partnership

Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Kylie Jagiello | PEARL HARBOR (July 14, 2022) Naval Criminal Investigative Service Special Agent Justin Smith, left, and Australian Army Capt. Nicholas Wood pose in front of Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022.Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (Royal Australian Navy photo by LSIS Kylie Jagiello)  

PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, UNITED STATES

07.14.2022

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kylie Jagiello 

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

In the spirit of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 mantra, “Capable Adaptive Partners,” the Joint Military Police Unit (JMPU) team reached out to their U.S. counterparts to foster a cooperative relationship during the exercise and beyond.

Australian Army investigator Captain Nicholas Woods believed it was important to get in touch with Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and starting a dialogue.

“To be able to put faces to names, know who the appropriate points of contact were and where to go in case an incident occurred even before arriving, was essential for us before commencing RIMPAC,” Capt Woods said. “It would be ignorant for us not to speak to the right people,” he said.

Starting as a field agent in 2012, NCIS Special Agent Justin Smith is the lead for all things RIMPAC.

“From coordination with shore patrol, incidents while members are on liberty and conducting briefs to all vessels supporting RIMPAC,” Special Agent Smith said.

“We give the layout of Hawaii, criminal trends, places to be on the lookout and the overall safety and wellbeing of our serving members,” he said.

Partnership or mentorship, either way the two organisations are working on familiarization between each other.

“This helps us understand, from an Australian Defence Force perspective, as we generally only have one overarching policing unit being the JMPU,” Capt Wood said.

“Here, they have many. From military police, criminal investigation divisions, NCIS, to multiple different organization split over different services.

“It's important for us to get together and liaise, to understand what it is that each person does and what their role is.

“We haven’t worked together on any major cases, but there is a contingency plan, so to speak, if something were to take place,” he said.

First time being part of RIMPAC, Special Agent Smith is impressed with Hawaii and its ability to host this event.

“To be able to have 26 countries participate in this type of evolution and see the backdrop of all these vessels here is a highlight,” Special Agent Smith said.

“25,000 extra personnel on the base and for them to go ashore, have a good time with only minor incidents has been truly remarkable.

“Our collaboration between NCIS and JMPU is two similar backgrounds, but also different, being able to come together for a joint effort.

“It has been seamless since we met, just by the value you bring to the table,” he said.

NCIS is a civilian federal law enforcement responsible for investigating felony crime, preventing terrorism, and protecting secrets for the U.S Navy and Marine Corps.

They operate from 18 field offices and 191 satellite sites, with offices in 41 foreign countries.

Investigative arm of the ADF service police, JMPU is responsible for complex and major disciplinary and criminal investigations.

• Date Taken: 07.14.2022
• Date Posted: 07.21.2022 23:18
• Story ID: 425435
• Location: PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, US