Seahawk 2007 Strengthens Navy, Coast Guard Maritime Security Team

Members of the Mobile Security Squadron 3 visit, board, search and seizure team approach a vessel they will be boarding as part of exercise Seahawk 2007. Seahawk 2007 is a joint maritime security exercise involving integrated active and reserve forces from the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and U.S. Coast Guard. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew Bash By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) James Seward, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

U.S. Navy Sailors and Coast Guardsmen combined forces Aug. 22 to conduct visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) tactics in support of Exercise Seahawk 2007. The two-week exercise gave Navy and Coast Guard security teams the chance to demonstrate joint VBSS scenarios to various fleet commanders. “This training period is a great opportunity to practice tactics with our Coast Guard counterparts,” said Chief Master-at-Arms (SW) Justin Crowe, Mobile Security Squadron (MSS) 3. “Besides training with the Coast Guard over the last two weeks, my team and I have had the chance to hone in on our skills and make necessary improvements.” Coast Guard VBSS teams and Navy Mobile Security Squadrons simulated assaults on combat support ships, concentrating on the joint aspect of the training.

“The Coast Guard/Navy team is evolving into a joint maritime expeditionary security force,” said Capt. Scott Jerabek, Seahawk's exercise commander. “The Seahawk exercise will teach Navy Sailors and Coast Guardsmen to work as efficient units, specializing in their area of expertise.” Seahawk also trained the two services in familiarization with different equipment and new mission specific technology. “We have already begun integrating the Navy’s deployment schedule with the Coast Guard’s,” continued Jerabek. “Coast Guard ships will play vital roles in Navy Strike Groups, each ship keeping constant communication during operations.” According to Coast Guard Cmdr. Guy Pearce, both services realize that maritime enforcement is crucial to the global war on terrorism. “Seahawk is melding these two forces together, making up a highly effective fighting force,” said Pearce. “This is very important in regards to securing the seas.” More than 900 expeditionary Sailors participated in the two-week exercise. In addition to MSS 3, Seahawk participants included Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3; Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron 5; Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Units 103, 110, and 501; Inshore Boat Units 13, 51, and 52; Amphibious Construction Battalion 1; and components of the Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group.

The exercise has become a way for Coast Guardsmen and Navy Sailors to stress the importance teamwork joint cooperation while conducting multiple missions.