Philippine Sailors, U.S. Coast Guard Team For Maritime Security Training
By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian Brannon,
Commander, Task Group 73.5 Public Affairs

Posted: May 28, 2009

CEBU STRAITS, Philippines – A team of Philippine Navy and U.S. Coast Guard personnel took advantage of a unique training platform on May 25 in a simulated visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) mission onboard the U.S. guided missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) as part of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2009.
 

CEBU STRAITS, Republic of the Philippines (May 25, 2009) Personnel from Philippine Navy Special Operations Group Unit 5 and the U.S. Coast Guard prepare to board USS Chafee (DDG 90) for a simulated visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) mission during exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2009. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian Brannon/Released)

“It helped us a lot,” said Philippine Navy Ensign Jay T. Roxas. “It increased our capabilities in non-compliant boarding.”

With Chafee Sailors posing as potentially hostile individuals aboard a civilian vessel suspected of carrying an improvised explosive device (IED), the Philippine Navy team embarked on a rigid hull inflatable boat from the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49).

Covering each other with simulated weapons, the VBSS team ascended a ladder and came aboard Chafee before splitting into two groups. One group secured the engine room, while the other secured the bridge before forming a sweep team to search for the suspected bomb makers and find the simulated IED.

Chief Intelligence Specialist Joshua Busey, Chafee’s VBSS boarding officer, was impressed with the Philippine Sailors’ performance.

“They did really well, especially for only two days of training,” Busey said. “They have very good rules of engagement.”

Lt. j.g. Scott Verhage, officer-in-charge of a Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) embarked aboard Harpers Ferry, led the evaluation team that accompanied the boarding team. He said that the two services’ working together helped sharpen his own team’s skills.

“Their tactics, techniques and procedures are quite similar to ours, so it was a good exercise for us to both stay proficient,” Verhage said.

The Coast Guard MSST spent the first week of CARAT training with the Philippine Navy at the Naval Forces Central base in Cebu, focusing on maritime security and law enforcement.

Cmdr. Heedong Choi, Chafee’s commanding officer, was happy to welcome the Philippine team aboard for the VBSS evolution.

“I’ve operated with the Philippine Navy since 1991, when I came in,” Choi said. “Like all professional mariners, they are very hard-working and very diligent, and they want to work with us to enhance maritime security.”

CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces.