Crisis Response Marines Intelligence Training to Ghanaian Forces help counter illegal fishing and drug trafficking

SEKONDI, GHANA

04.26.2016

Courtesy Story

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

SEKONDI, Ghana -- U.S. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response- Africa helped instruct the third of four modules of Tactical Intelligence Support to Maritime Operations Centers for the Ghanaian Navy April 4-15th, 2016, at Ghana’s Navy Trade Training School at Sekondi, Ghana.
The course was designed as an introduction to tactical site exploitation, particularly in support of maritime operations, and to prepare the students to become intelligence instructors for the Ghanaian Navy's internal intelligence courses, as well as to facilitate Ghanaian interagency cooperation to combat illegal fishing and drug trafficking.
This two-week course in tactical site exploitation—which is the act of collecting information, persons, and material from a designated location and analyzing them to answer information requirements—was the third of four planned courses for the fiscal year 2016.
“All three of the four TIS2MOC events directly correlate with each other and build on the foundations built in the previous iterations. I am much better equipped to combat illegal fishing and drug smuggling as well as better prepared to teach my new recruits,” said ASP Charles Osei, of the Maritime Police.
Marines from the Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa and sailors from Combined Task Force-68 focused on site exploitation, mission planning for TSE, operational considerations, search methods, handling and tagging procedures of captured enemy documents and personnel as well as practical application exercises during the first week.
Sharing these skills with partner nations helps improve internal security and enable host nations to conduct their own stability operations, denying adversaries an environment in which to operate.
“The sharing of best practices between the U.S. and Ghanaian forces as well as the Ghanaian Maritime Security Forces, in the intelligence realm, has increased partnerships and interagency cooperation. This cooperation can only increase Maritime domain awareness in countering illicit smuggling, illegal fishing, and other nefarious activities,” said U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Joshua Mazer.
After the initial instruction students began teaching back the first week of courses to the instructors. This allowed the students to demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge gained by creating lesson plans, using personal stories and practical applications.
“One of the keys to successfully countering illegal fishing and drug smuggling is the close coordination between the Navy and Maritime Police,” Stated the Intelligence Security Cooperation Officer. “One of the main objectives of these events is to increase the interoperability levels between the Ghanaian Navy and Maritime Police,”
The Africa Partnership Station-supported training in Ghana is one of many joint intelligence engagements in West Africa. Intelligence engagements in among U.S. forces and host West African nations are set to continue throughout 2016 and 2017.

• Date Taken: 04.26.2016
• Date Posted: 04.26.2016 10:46
• Story ID: 196517
• Location: SEKONDI, GH