Coast Guardsman trains in board-and-search during PANAMAX exercise

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Erica R Gardner | U.S. Coast Guard Seaman Keiron Williams of USCGC Mohawk secures the forecastle of HMNLS Amsterdam during a compliant-boarding exercise in the Caribbean Sea, Sept. 15. The training occurred during FA PANAMAX 2009, one of the largest multinational training exercises in the world. PANAMAX is taking place in the waters off the coasts of Panama from Sept. 11 to 22 with the participation of civil and military forces. More than 20 vessels and a dozen aircraft are involved in the exercises. Participants are focusing on a variety of responses to any request from the government of Panama to protect and guarantee safe passage of traffic through the Panama Canal, ensure its neutrality, and respect national sovereignty. Simulated ground forces are also participating at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.  

USCENTCOM, AT SEA

09.15.2009

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Erica R Gardner 

U.S. Navy           

CARIBBEAN SEA — First hustling up a rope ladder to board HMNLS Amsterdam, U.S. Coast Guard Seaman Keiron Williams then surveyed the scene and interviewed crewmembers, while a sweep team searched the vessel for weapons or contraband items.

Williams was one of the newest members of a seven-member board-and-search team that conducted a Maritime Interdiction Operation exercise aboard Amsterdam, as part of Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX 2009.

Williams' role in the compliant-boarding scenario was to request permission to board the vessel, establish communications with the boarded ship and his home ship, muster his team members and the vessel's crew, and provide security over those persons. Williams has been involved in one real vessel boarding mission while on patrol with U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk.

"I have been in the Coast Guard for a year and I have learned a lot about law enforcement and jurisdiction," Williams said.

FA PANAMAX 2009 is one of the largest multinational training exercises in the world, taking place in the waters off the coasts of Panama from Sept. 11-22 with the participation of civil and military forces from 20 partner nations. More than 20 vessels and a dozen aircraft are involved in the exercise. Participants are focusing on a variety of responses to any request from the government of Panama to protect and guarantee safe passage of traffic through the Panama Canal, ensure its neutrality, and respect national sovereignty. Simulated ground forces are also participating at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

As Williams watched the vessel crew members, he paid attention to their eye movements as well as the change in their voice pitch, keys to determine whether they are showing unusual stress that are useful regardless of what language they speak. Williams may have to secure suspects without being able to speak in a language they understand.

Although this MIO boarding exercise was compliant, preparation for non-compliant boarding is integrated in the training schedule to ensure the boarding teams are not complacent in their training and attention to detail.

Before joining the Coast Guard, Williams, of Fort Myers, Fla., dreamed of joining the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He graduated from college with a communications degree and was advised to seek law enforcement experience before applying to the CIA. This is where his Coast Guard career began.

Williams said he is interested in the Coast Guard's Intelligence Specialist School, which trains in threat analysis.

Williams and the boarding team trained for three or four days per week leading up to the exercise. The Coast Guard's formal training program for such operations is extensive, he said.

"I learned marine law, jurisdiction compliance, handcuffing and weapons training to prepare me for the boarding team requirements," said Williams. "The judgmental weapons course was the best, to help me determine whether a threat must be met with deadly force."

• Date Taken: 09.15.2009
• Date Posted: 09.20.2009 19:22
• Story ID: 39054
• Location: USCENTCOM, AT SEA