The Port of Virginia and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries held the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators Tactical Operator’s Course that follows the Federal Exclusionary Zone Enforcement Training Curriculum.
These two training sessions were held June 17-21 and June 24-28 and intended for local, county, state, and federal law enforcement officers assigned to the maritime community. It is targeted towards personnel assigned to waterborne response teams, marine units, or port security agencies or departments.
This was a partnership effort by The Port of Virginia (secured funding and support for the program to support its port security mission), United States Coast Guard Station Portsmouth (provided the facility for the training), United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (provided a boat and crew that were used in on-water scenarios, DGIF (Partnered with the Port of VA by providing NASBLA credentialed instructors to reduce the cost, and sent students), City of Virginia Beach, City of Norfolk, City of Chesapeake, City of Hampton, City of Newport New, and the Isle of Wight County Sheriff’s Office.
This course was designed to enhance the country’s port security capabilities by providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to appropriately react to threats in the maritime community. The training uses the the same tactics, techniques and procedures that the U.S. Coast Guard uses to train its boat operators, and ensures seamless integration into security operations amongst federal, state, county, local, and tribal maritime law enforcement officers and agencies. Participants become familiar with interagency security coordination and the response required of cooperating agencies within the maritime domain.
During training, students learn demonstrated methods for identifying threats to high-value assets and critical infrastructure within the port environment. Finally, after completing the course, students will be able to demonstrate abilities necessary to properly use defensive and protective boat tactics.
If you would like more information on this tactical operator’s course, please visit https://www.nasbla.org/training/operatorscourse.
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