Photo By Chief Petty Officer Robert Northnagle | Guardsmen from Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 401 teach Djiboution servicemembers...... read more read more
By Journalist 3rd Class Bobby Northnagle
MANAMA, Bahrain - U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 401, based out of Mayport, Fla., recently provided training to Djibouti's navy and coast guard, April 25 -27.
LEDET 401, embarked aboard USS Typhoon (PC 5), gave the Djiboutians lessons that ranged from basic boarding techniques to apprehension of non-compliant mariners.
The ship conducted maritime security operations (MSO), along with U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Wrangell (WPB-1332) and Royal Dutch Navy support ship HNLMS Amsterdam (A-836), in and around the Arabian Sea.
Coast Guard law enforcement has been conducting training in Southwest Asia for nearly 12 years and currently there are two detachments deployed to the area providing training, such as drug interdiction, human smuggling prevention, anti-terrorism and intelligence collection.
Prior to deploying to the Arabian Sea, LEDET 401 was in the North Arabian Gulf protecting Iraqi oil platforms, which are significant sources of revenue for the Iraqi people and for the country's rebuilding efforts.
"[The Coast Guard] is very flexible," said Lt. j.g. Jason Finison, officer-in-charge of LEDET 401. "We're in the theatre to be the experts in law enforcement and to not only [train regional nations], but to handle non-compliant boardings and extreme scenarios out at sea."
The training's focus was largely on advanced training in law enforcement in the 5th Fleet area of operations.
"[Regional] nations are primarily working within their territorial waters, conducting security patrols, basic boardings and searches of vessels that come into their waters," said Finison, who hails from Sharell, S.C.
The intention is for regional nations to take part in there own security," said Lt. Erin Sherry, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 50's assistant operations officer. DESRON 50 staff members were embarked onboard Amsterdam during the underway period.
"The Djiboutians are among the countries that want to build up their navy and coast guard," she said. "[They want] to be a legitimate presence."
Training efforts in the region are a Navy and Coast Guard joint effort, with the Navy providing operational input and the Coast Guard providing a bulk of the expertise.
According to Finison, the Djiboutians were very receptive.
"[Djiboutian coast guardsmen and sailors] were leaning forward and paying attention to what the facilitators were saying and taking it seriously," he said. "They want to learn. They're passionate about what they're doing and very proud."
According to Finison, equipping regional nations such as Djibouti with sufficient training will enhance MSO in the region.
"[They're] essentially the front-line," he said. "Coalition forces maintain security for their own assets, but there's also another layer of security. That's going to be the responsibility of the [Djiboutians]."
MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons, or other material.
| Date Taken: | 05.03.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 05.03.2006 14:05 |
| Story ID: | 6245 |
| Location: | MANAMA, BH |
| Web Views: | 373 |
| Downloads: | 205 |
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