From January 13 to 24, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Southeast Asia Training Team (SEATT), in collaboration with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), conducted a multinational Boarding Officer Course in Davao City, aiming to improve the capabilities and foster greater cooperation among maritime law enforcement agencies across the region.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the course featured U.S.-trained PCG instructors, as well as instructors from the USCG and Vietnam Customs, who provided training on safely conducting vessel boardings at sea.
Key topics included maritime law, evidence collection and preservation, safety and risk mitigation, and arrest techniques.
A total of 32 participants attended the event, 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 also participated in observing 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 to optimize the experience,” said USCG Team Lead Lieutenant Dana Schmitt.
Commodore Rejard V. Marfe, Commander of Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao, emphasized the significance of the training, stating, “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 ensuring that our maritime sovereignty remains a zone of peace, safety, and prosperity for all.”
This was the first INL-USCG training event held in Mindanao and the first Philippine-hosted SEATT course featuring a Vietnamese instructor. Previous SEATT maritime law enforcement courses were held in Palawan (May 2023), La Union (November 2023), and Cebu (May 2024).
The SEATT program plans to continue hosting multiple training events in the Philippines throughout 2025, while also integrating PCG instructors into courses co-hosted by partner nations.