Special Operations.Com

U.S. Coast Guard

Port Security Units

Active Duty Port Security

Story and Photos by PA3 David Schuerholz

Atlantic Area Public Affairs

Searching the woods for enemy forces, patrolling the harbor in 22-foot Transportable Port Security Boats and standing lookout for snipers is what Battle Rostered Port Security Unit members from the Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast and Atlantic Area Law Enforcement Detachments faced at Marine Corps Camp Lejeune, N.C., March 18 - 21.

The four-day exercise was a culmination of nearly two weeks of intense training with the Marines for the Coast Guard members at Courthouse Bay on the Marine Corps’ Riverine Training Center at Camp Lejeune.

It was the first time BR-PSUs from LANT Area and Pacific Area came together to train as a single unit, according to Cmdr. Jack Smith, commanding officer of the BR-PSU and Electronics Systems Division Equipment Branch chief at Maintenance and Logistics Command Atlantic in Norfolk, Va.

"The reason we have the battle rosters is if there were an incident to come up and we were not able to recall the Reserves, we would be able to deploy a unit on short notice," said Smith.

"In the event the commandant needs to send a port security unit somewhere and there’s been no (Presidential Selected) Reserve Call-up, he’s got a ready port security unit here with the Battle Rostered PSU," said Lt.Cdr. Bob Stohlman, assistant supervisor of operations and training officer, Coast Guard PSU Training Detachment, Camp Perry, Ohio.

The need for an active duty battle roster became apparent during Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti in September 1994. A PSRC was not authorized in time for a PSU to be deployed, so LANT Area called on a composite active duty and reserve team to provide port security in Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien, according to Lt. Cmdr. Thomas J. Vitullo, PSU and Naval Coastal Warfare project officer at the Office of Defense Operations in Washington.

As a result of Uphold Democracy the LANT and PAC Area commanders in 1994, Vice Adm. James Loy and Vice Adm. Richard Herr, decided to develop a plan that would provide the Coast Guard with short-notice anti-terrorism and force protection capability. In 1995 they created BR-PSUs composed of active duty members from both LANT and PAC Area, said Vitullo.

The final weekend of this year’s training exercise consisted of a scenario in which the BR-PSU was deployed on a U.N. mission. The unit’s objective was to secure a foreign port.

"It’s a similar environment they would find themselves operating in if they were deployed in support of a U.N. peace-keeping operation," said Stohlman.

"What we’re trying to do both shore side and water side is test the capabilities of the Battle Rostered PSU," said Senior Chief Dennis Kirk, Coast Guard PSU TRADET security specialist and weapons division chief.

"On the water we have (22-foot TPSBs) that guard whatever assets may be in the port. Out of water, it’s mostly land security around the port we’re trying to defend," Kirk said.

The BR-PSU was subjected to sniper attacks, bomb threats, camp perimeter attacks, drive-by shootings and angry protests and threats in the "port area" during the final training exercise. Its performance impressed the PSU TRADET staff.

"As time has gone on and the incidents have evolved, you can see them coming together as a team. I’m quite pleased," said Chief Warrant Officer Donald F. Allen, PSU TRADET senior unit security instructor.

"It’s worked out real well. The Steadfast (a 210-foot cutter, homeported in Astoria, Ore.) ship’s company is used to working together. (They have) great team spirit, chief’s mess, wardroom and senior petty officers. They all work well together all the time so they brought that leadership here," said Stohlman. "On the law enforcement side, the TACLETs deploy all the time overseas in a joint environment so they understand the intricacies of working in this type of setting. These two groups have adapted readily to this mission."

"This exercise at Camp Lejeune provided a valuable opportunity to test the composite unit concept," said Vitullo.

"It’s good training. It’s going to help us when we’re actually out there (in a port security mission)," said DC3 Scott Novak, Steadfast crewman.

"It’s a good location," said FA Greg Bodene, Steadfast crewman. "We get a lot of air traffic flying over and we see a lot of Marine boats moving in and out (of the port area). It gives you a feel for what you would actually see if you were deployed."

The location is also appealing to the PSU TRADET staff. The Coast Guard is considering moving the TRADET to Camp Lejeune, according to Stohlman.

"It’s a little too early to say for sure, but we’re looking into that (a possible move)," said Rear Adm. James Hull, director of operations policy at Coast Guard Headquarters.

The Marines at Camp Lejeune would welcome the addition of the PSU TRADET, according to Marine Col. Mike Williams, commanding officer of Special Operations Training Group and Riverine Training Center at Camp Lejeune.

"Personally, I’m looking forward to it. I think it would bring a lot of opportunities not only to the Marines, but also the Coast Guard," Williams said.

"I think it (the location) looks very promising," Hull said.

BR-PSU sentries return fire as a sniper jumps from a van.

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