U.S., Philippines Hold Maritime Security Training

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From January 13 to 24, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Southeast Asia Training Team (SEATT), in partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), conducted a multinational Boarding Officer Course to enhance the capabilities and cooperation of maritime law enforcement agencies in the region.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the course brought together U.S.-trained PCG instructors, as well as trainers from the USCG and Vietnam Customs, to equip participants with skills for safely conducting vessel boardings at sea.

The training covered maritime law, evidence collection and preservation, safety and risk mitigation, and arresting techniques.

A total of 32 participants attended, including 20 members of the PCG and the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group, alongside representatives from the Vietnam Coast Guard, Vietnam Customs Anti-Smuggling and Investigations Department, Vietnam Department of Fisheries Surveillance, and the Indonesia Coast Guard. The Australian Border Force observed the first week of activities.

“It’s exciting to witness the professional growth and confidence displayed by our multinational instructor group and student participants. We are impressed by their desire to not only master the technical aspects of the course but also to seamlessly interact with and assist one another,” said USCG Team Lead Lieutenant Dana Schmitt.

“U.S. expertise, resources, and guidance are invaluable in ensuring that we are better equipped to address maritime threats. Together, we reaffirm our commitment to making our maritime sovereignty a zone of peace, safety, and prosperity for all,” said Commodore Rejard V. Marfe, Commander of Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao.

This was the first INL-USCG training event held in Mindanao and the first Philippine-hosted SEATT course to feature a Vietnamese instructor. Previous SEATT maritime law enforcement courses were conducted in Palawan (May 2023), La Union (November 2023), and Cebu (May 2024).

The SEATT program will continue hosting training events in the Philippines in 2025 while integrating PCG instructors into courses co-hosted by partner nations.