Specialized Maritime Boarding Team Prepares for Turnover

Special boarding teams get ready to change out as reported here:

These 10-man detachments deploy from U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Tactical Law Enforcement Teams stateside on 60- to 90-day tours. Their presence aboard U.S. Navy patrol craft brings a unique law enforcement skill set to coalition naval forces conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the North Persian Gulf.

"Our primary mission is to conduct maritime security operations and protect critical infrastructures and key maritime assets such as the Iraqi oil terminals," said USCG Lt .j.g. Jeremy Obenchain, officer-in-charge of LEDET 404. "Our secondary mission is to train and assist U.S. Navy, Royal navy, and other coalition Sailors in strengthening their visit, board, search and seizure teams," he said.

MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons, or other material.

Coast Guardsmen attached to the LEDET teams use their training and experience in stateside maritime law enforcement to carry out similar missions as part of the multinational naval force in the Middle East.