The United States Coast Guard (USCG) Southeast Asia Training Team (SEATT), in partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), recently conducted a multinational Boarding Officer Course in Davao City to boost the capabilities and enhance cooperation among 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, held from 13 to 24 January, featured U.S.-trained PCG instructors and instructors from the USCG and Vietnam Customs. They trained participants in safely conducting vessel boardings at sea. Topics covered included maritime law, evidence collection and preservation, safety and risk mitigation, and arresting techniques.

Thirty-two participants attended the training event, including 20 members of the PCG and the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group, as well as partners 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 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 to optimize the experience,” 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 ensuring that our maritime sovereignty remains 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 that featured 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 will continue to convene multiple training events in the Philippines in 2025, while also integrating PCG instructors into courses being co-hosted by partner nations.