jiatf west interagency quarterly...jiatf west news quarterly vol 1 n.1 p. 4 contents director, rdml...

Volume 1Issue 1

2014

JIATF WESTN E W S Q U A R T E R L Y

Counternarcotics Trainingin Bangladesh

C o u n t e r n a r c o t i c s P r o g r a m N e w s i n t h e I n d o - A s i a - P a c i f i c

DirectorRDML James E. Rendon, USCG

Deputy DirectorMr. Earl HamptonChief of Staff

CAPT Andrew St. John, USN

Editorial DirectorLtCol Duncan Buchanan, USMCSenior Contributing EditorCAPT Bryan Dailey, USCG

Copy Chief & Graphic DesignMr. Shawn Parrish

Editorial StaffMs. Nancy Linn

Ms. Lee-Ann McClainLCDR Stephen Bower, USN

LT Brett Lincoln, USNLCDR Aja Kirksey, USCG

Lt Col Jason Schramm, USAFMr. Scott Hawman

Article ContributorsLCDR Aja Kirksey, USCG; Capt Paul Trower, USMC; CW4

Andrew Siemens, USA; LTC Stephen Peters, USA; CPT JamesSelf, USA; LCDR Michael Hosey, USCG; LT Franz Federschmidt,USN; Ms. Véronique Dillon; Mr. Kurtis Derell; Mr. Chih Woo; Mr.Sesh Munipalli; LCDR Luis Prada, USN; Mr. Shawn Parrish; Mr.

Lance McInnis; Mr. James Griego; Mr. Scott Hawman

Foreign Disclosure OfficersMr. Kenneth AyersMr. Terrence Honay

Public Affairs Support - USPACOMLCDR Denver Applehans, USN

MCC Jerel Jones, USN – SOCPAC

This e-Newsletter was produced by Joint Interagency Task Force West J5 Strategic Communications.

For questions, comments, or story ideas, please contactMr. Shawn ParrishPh 808-477-9758

Email [email protected]

JIATF West ATTN: J5BOX 64033, CAMP H.M. SMITH, HI 96861-4033Phone 808-477-9708 Email [email protected]

Web http://www.pacom.mil/organization/staff-directorates/jiatf-west/index.shtml

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force-west-newsletter

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All content within this document is unclassified.

Reproduction and distribution of this publication or any of itscontent is allowed and welcome.

JIATF WESTN E W S Q U A R T E R L Y

January - March 2014Volume 1 Issue 1

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25 Years of ServiceOn February 10, 2014, an anniversaryceremony was held in honor of JointInteragency Task Force West's 25years of service as U. S. PacificCommand's executive agent forcounterdrug efforts in Asia-Pacific.

JIATF-W Historical ReflectionsAn excerpt from a historicalsummary of counternarcoticssuccesses by JIATF West, read byDirector, RDML James Rendon at theJIATF West 25th AnniversaryCeremony.

CNT Projects in BangladeshFuture Operations Officers travel toCox’s Bazar & Teknaf Upazia,Bangladesh, to assess future projectsto support counternarcotics efforts ofthe Border Guard Bangladesh.

Coordination in BangladeshRDML Rendon and staff travel toBangladesh to meet with the BorderGuard Bangladesh and theBangladesh Coast Guard toparticipate in senior level meetingswith the U. S. Country Team.

Marksmanship Instructor TrainingThirty two members of the BGBattending the Border Guard TrainingCenter & School in Satkania,Bangladesh participated inthe four-week course from 16 Marchto 10 April, 2014.

DASD Visits JIATF West & SE AsiaThe Deputy Assistant Secretary ofDefense for Counternarcotics andGlobal Threats (DASD CN/GT), Ms.Caryn Hollis, paid a visit to JIATFWest’s headquarters at Camp Smithon March 3, 2014.

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2013 Interdiction NumbersFiscal and Calendar Year totals ofnarcotics interdictions supported byJIATF West for 2013 as reported bythe Illicit Tracking Cell. - By Mr.James Griego.

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32Quadrilateral DefenceCoordination Group in AustraliaLCDR Aja Kirksey, J51 RegionalPlans Division, and Chris Nagelvoort,J25 Plans and Programs Division, andtheir annual QUAD Principal’s Talks andOperational Working Group meeting inCanberra, Australian Capital Territory.- By LCDR Aja Kirksey, USCG.

33Biometric Operations in FSMAn interagency team from JIATF West,FBI’s Criminal Justice InformationServices, and the U.S. Army BiometricsIdentity Management Agency traveled tothe Federated States of Micronesia toconduct an assessment in support of thegovernment of FSM. - By LCDR AjaKirksey, USCG.

36Leveraging CLREC to LearnForeign LanguagesJIATF West members who arerequired to work using a foreignlanguage leverage the resources ofCLREC to help them prepare.39

Cover Photo Capt Paul Trower, USMC, JIATF West Training Liaison Officer,photographed the cover photo while supervising the Marksmanship TrainingCourse in Bangladesh. In this photo, a military instructor from the Army NationalGuard checks the proper shooting stance for the supported prone position duringtraining in Satikania, Bangladesh. - 17 March 2014

Contents Jan-Mar 2014Click on any photo to navigate to the article

JIATF WestCelebrates 25Years of Service

On the 10th of February, 2014, over onehundred members of Joint Interagency

Task Force West gathered for a ceremonyhonoring the task force’s 25 years of service tothe Department of Defense as U. S. PacificCommand’s (USPACOM) executive agent forcounternarcotics programs in the Asia-Pacific.Deputy Commander, USPACOM, LieutenantGeneral Thomas L. Conant, USMC, was theGuest of Honor during the ceremony. Anotherspecial guest attending was Mr. Michael K.Gottlieb, National High Intensity DrugTrafficking Area (HIDTA) Program Director atthe White House Office of National Drug ControlPolicy (ONDCP). RDML James Rendon, USCG,gave opening remarks and spoke regarding the

historical achievements of the task force since itsinception back in 1989 at Coast Guard Island inAlameda, California. Afterwards, guest of honor,LtGen Conant addressed the task force. Duringhis remarks, LtGen Conant recognized theimportance of JIATF West’s work. “The work ofJIATF West is essential to fulfilling the mission ofUSPACOM,” LtGen Conant said. After hiscomments, LtGen Conant presented the UnitedStates Interdiction Coordinator award to DirectorJIATF West, RDML Rendon on behalf of the U. S.Interdiction Coordinator, Ms. Marilyn Quagliotti,who was not able to attend. Prior to departing,LtGen Conant also had the opportunity to presentawards to two task force members.

JIATF West News Quarterly Vol 1 n.1 p. 4

CONTENTS

Director, RDML James Rendon, USCG, addressesmembers of JIATF West during a ceremony inhonor of JIATF West’s 25th birthday. - 10 Feb 2014,photo by JIATF West.

On February 10th 2014, an anniversary ceremonywas held in honor of Joint Interagency Task ForceWest's 25 years of service as U. S. PacificCommand's executive agent for counterdrugefforts in the Asia-Pacific. Director, RDMLJames Rendon, USCG and staffgathered in the Flag Mess of theNimitz-MacArthur PacificCommand Center at CampH. M. Smith for a cakecutting ceremony.Civilian of the Year, Ms.Lee-Ann McClain andEnlisted Person of theYear, CTT2 BrandonSneyd, USN, werechosen to help cutthe first slice ofcake. Right, Ms.Alicia Finley,ExecutiveAdministrativeAssistant to theDirector. - 10 Feb2014, photo by JIATF West.

JIATF West News Quarterly Vol 1 n.1 5

CONTENTS

During the ceremony, Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Command,Lieutenant General Thomas Conant presented the United States InterdictionCoordinator award to Director JIATF West, Rear Admiral James Rendon,USCG on behalf of the U.S. Interdiction Coordinator, Marilyn Quagliotti.

The JIATF West Civilianof the Year Award waspresented to Ms. Lee-AnnMcClain for her work asthe Task Force PolicyOfficer, and CTT2Brandon Sneyd, USN waspresented with the JIATFWest Enlisted Person ofthe Year Award.

The remarks andpresentation of awards byLtGen Conant wasfollowed by a special tenminute videopresentation prepared bythe Plans and PolicyDirectorate. The video,entitled “JIATF WestThen and Now,” wascreated to celebrate thepast 25 years ofachievement.CommunicationsStrategist, Mr. ShawnParrish teamed up withIntegrated MaritimeSkills Officer in Charge,LCDR Stephen Bower,USN, to produce it . Thevideo contained excerptsfrom a previouslyproduced video by JIATFWest in 1997. Thefootage was originallyfilmed in Alameda byJIATF West staff with thehelp of a local productioncompany. The video wasmade for distribution onVHS tape to stakeholdersin the late ‘90s.


CONTENTS25 YEARS OF SERVICE


CONTENTS

Mr. Michael Gottlieb presents the Director’s Award for Sustained Distinguished Service to JIATF West Director, RDML James Rendon. Fromleft to right, CAPT Howard Hart, USN; Mr. Christopher Isham; CDR Jeffrey Scudder, USN; RDML James Rendon, USCG; Mr. Gottlieb, Mr. MichaelRyan, Capt Jermaine Coleman, USAF; and Ms. Kathleen Barnes. - 10 February 2014.

25 YEARS OF SERVICEAfter the video presentation, special guest, Mr.Mike Gottlieb, presented JIATF West with the“Director’s Award for Sustained DistinguishedService” signed by ONDCP Director, Mr. R. GilKerlikowske. The award reads, “…In recognitionof extraordinary dedication and unparalleledaccomplishments during twenty-five years ofoperation as Joint Task Force Five, and JointInteragency Task Force West. The interagencyand international personnel who comprise theTask Force have left an indelible mark and playeda pivotal role in the international effort toeliminate the threat to our national security,regional stability, and world posed by illicittrafficking…”

Mr. Gottlieb’s presentation was followed byclosing remarks from RDML Rendon whoinvited everyone to gather in the Flag Mess for acake cutting ceremony. □

Michael K. Gottlieb, National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area(HIDTA) Program Director at the White House Office of NationalDrug Control Policy (ONDCP) attending the JIATF West 25thAnniversary Ceremony. - 10 February 2014.

JIATF WestHistoricalReflections

The following is an excerpt from a historicalsummary read by Director RDML James

Rendon at the JIATF West 25th AnniversaryCeremony. The first 22 employees walked in thedoor of Joint Task Force Five, (JTF-5) led byRDML Leahy on February 10, 1989, on CoastGuard Island, Alameda, California.

The Department of Defense had established twoother task forces that year with JTF-4 in KeyWest and JTF 6 in Miami in response toCongress assigning detection and monitoringresponsibilities to DoD under Title 10 of theUnited States Code, Section 124.

JTF-5’s first budget was $1,215,000 and coveredthe months from February to September of1989.

In 1994 JTF-5 was renamed Joint InteragencyTask Force West.

Also in 1994, JTF-4 became JIATF East and JTF-6 became JIATF South. In 1999, JIATF East andJIATF South merged.

JIATF West's first drug bust was the ship "LuckyStar" on July 11, 1991 with over 70 metric tons(MT) of hashish.

The largest bust was of 12 MT of cocaine on the"Svesda Maru" on May 9, 2001, and the secondlargest was 9.7 MT of cocaine from the"Xoloescuintle" on Aug 13, 1999.


CONTENTS

With over ten tons of cocaine well hidden deep inside the fuel hold, the capture of the Belize-Flagged fishing vessel, the “Svesda Maru” made history in May of 2001 as the largest cocainebust at sea. - 2 May 2001, Photo by U. S. Coast Guard

There were two other largecocaine busts in 2001; 9 MT offthe "Forever My Friend" onJan 26, and 9.3 MT off the"Macel" on Dec 21.

The drug traffickers changedtheir tactics the following yearby deploying a larger numberof smaller boats called pangascarrying smaller amounts ofdrugs.

JIATF West drug seizures from1991- 2003 included 240.5 MTof cocaine, 11 MT of marijuana,and 7.5 MT of hashish.

During 2004, JIATF Westmoved from Coast GuardIsland, Alameda, California toCamp Smith, Hawaii. Lessthan 50 percent of thepersonnel moved with the TaskForce. 11 of 30 civilians, 19 of45 active duty, 5 of 10reservists, and 3 of 11contractors moved.

13 of the people who came overfrom Alameda are still withJIATF West today. Thesepeople have been with JIATFWest for over a decade.

In 1994 we added partnernation counterdrug lawenforcement support andcapacity building to ourpriorities.

CONTENTSJIATF WestHistoricalReflections


The first training mission wasBaker Torch 94-1 in 1994.During fiscal years 1994-2013, there were 388missions training over 17,754students in 19 countries.

The first host nation facilityconstruction project was theInteragency IntelligenceFusion Center in Chiang Mai,Thailand for $197,000 in2002. Since then, JIATFWest supported theconstruction of a total of 75host nation facilities in eightcountries worth a total of $41million.

As methamphetamine abusereaches epidemic proportion,JIATF West has supportedlaw enforcement agencies inthe seizure of 1,696 MTs ofmeth precursors with apossible yield of 587 MTs offinished meth.

The ConsolidatedCounterdrug Database(CCDB) Amphetamine-TypeSubstances (ATS) &Precursors Module becameoperational on October 1,2011. The InterdictionCommittee (TIC) approvedthe addition in October 2010after a nine year effort byJIATF West to add the ATSmodule. □

CONTENTSJIATF WestHistoricalReflections


CNT Projects in Cox’sBazar &Teknaf-Upazila, Bangladesh


CONTENTS

Members of JIATF West and the Border Guard Bangladesh trekthrough a remote forest in the Southern Teknaf region during abase assessment as part of plans to improve security in the region.- 18 January 2014, photo by LCDR Michael Hosey, USCG.

Walking along a sandy road surrounded bydense tropical vegetation, members of Joint

Interagency Task Force West and the U. S. Embassyin Dhaka, walk with officers of the Border GuardBangladesh (BGB) along a remote border road. Ledby BGB’s 42nd Battalion Commander, Lt Col AbujarAl Jahid, the group treks through the low lyingmountains of Bangladesh’s southern district knownas Cox’s Bazar. The group is headed toward a remoteborder outpost where elephant crossing signs arecommon as wild elephants often roam the region’sforests and unpaved roads. Upon arrival to theoutpost, rows of photo voltaic solar panels remindeverybody that the outpost is completely off the grid.

It is the 18th of January, 2014, and JIATF West’sFuture Operations Officers CW4 AndrewsSiemens, USA, and CPT James Self, USA, alongwith Task Force Representative, LCDR MichaelHosey, USCG, are conducting a concept ofoperations assessment to support BGB counter-narcotics efforts.

Bordering both India and Burma, thesoutheast district of Cox’s Bazar is a porousborder fraught with security challenges.Seeking ways to improve security and stability inthe southeast region, Bangladesh’s oldestuniformed force, the BGB, worked with the USDepartment of Justice’s International CriminalInvestigative Training Assistance Program(ICITAP) and the U. S. Embassy’s InternationalNarcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs to obtainthe help of JIATF West.


CONTENTSCNT Projects in Cox’s Bazar & Teknaf

INDIAINDIA

INDIA

NEPAL BHUTAN

CHINA

MYANMAR

MYANMAR

Cox’s Bazar

Teknaf

Chittagong

BANGLADESH

Dhaka

The infrastructureprojects andproposedcounternarcoticstraining eventsrequire a lot ofplanning. To assistwith that planning,JIATF West firstsends FutureOperations Officersor FUOPs such asCW4 Siemens andCPT James Self, USA,who were there tooffer their professional expertise in conducting ground level assessments.Their work involves documenting existing capabilitiesand the identification of deficiencies and gaps in supportof partner nation law enforcement and defense forces.Conducted in three parts throughout the month ofJanuary, the first part took place between the 11th and17th in the capital city of Dhaka. There, LCDR Hosey,CPT Self, and CW4 Siemens met with Pacific CommandAugmentation Team (PAT) Security Forces Manager, SFCMisipati Bird, USA, for meetings in the U. S. Embassy. The JIATFWest team and members of the Embassy then travelled to the divisionof Chittagong, Bangladesh’s southernmost division to visit BGB outpostsin the cities of Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf.

Before going on any further, an explanation onBangladesh’s political regions is in order. Similar to howthe United States’ political boundaries are divided up asstates, counties, cities and townships; Bangladesh’sinternal political boundaries are made up of divisions (agroup of states), districts or “zila” (Bangladesh’sequivalent of a State), and sub-districts or towns referred to as“upazila” (a city or borough).Districts are named after thelargest city within itsboundaries. Therefore,“Cox’s Bazar” is the name ofboth a city and county in thesoutheastern region of the country.Teknaf is a township in thesouthern most point ofBangladesh.

The Cox’s Bazar and TeknafUpazila are significant tothe BGB since they havevarious border stations andoutposts along the India andBurmese borders. Teknaf is thesouthern-most city in Bangladesh and isconsidered a remote frontier town.Despite the remoteness of Teknaf, itis a hot spot for tourists travelling ontheir way to the idyllic St. Martin’sIsland, a coral island that is one ofBangladesh’s most popular tourist spots.Along with the steady flow of tourists, thereis also a flow of drug smugglers. The Teknafregion is a popular smuggling ground fordrug dealers trafficking Yaba from the manymeth factories in Burma near the Bangladeshborder.

Cox’s Bazar (the City)

Teknaf

St. Martins Island

Divisions ofBangladesh

The Districtsor “Zila” ofBangladesh

A sub-districtor “Upazila”



Low tide in Teknaf, Bangladesh. Officers of the Border GuardBangladesh have to walk several hundred yards of beach to reach theshore. The Bangladesh shoreline has some of the world’s greatest tidalchanges. - 18 January 2014, photo by LCDR Michael Hosey, USCG.

According to an article published by Narinjara Newsin 2012, “There are three Yaba factories on theBurmese side very close to Bangladesh. Yaba tabletsare now being smuggled from those factories intoBangladesh and have been ruining the lives ofBangladeshi youths” (Narinjara, 2012).

After the site assessments were completed in Cox’sBazar and Teknaf, the Embassy and JIATF Westteam headed back to Dhaka for a second round ofmeetings with U. S. Embassy representatives, thePacific Command Augmentation Team (PAT),JIATF West, and Mr. Karl Clark from ICITAP.Heading back to Dhaka gave FOUP officers fromJIATF West a chance to meet up with BaseDevelopment Manager, Mr. Scott Hawman. Scottwas preparing for a different site survey with NavalFacilities Engineering Command in the cities of

Chittagong and Satkania to initiate facilitydevelopment projects. In addition to the arrival ofMr. Hawman, Training Liaison Officer, Capt. PaulTrower, USMC, also met the FUOP team. Capt.Trower travelled to Bangladesh with a group ofU. S. Army instructors to lay the groundworkfor the first joint CNT training with BGB laterin March.

These joint collaborative efforts couldn’t havecome at a better time as the southern region ofBangladesh has recently been experiencing aspike in methamphetamine smuggling. Evidence ofthis is brought to light by recent reports ofinterdictions by the BGB. On May 2, 2014, theDhaka Tribune reported the seizure of a fishingtrawler from Burma carrying 61,000 Yaba tablets.An April 30 article indicated that six of Bangladesh’smost wanted Yaba traders were killed while fightingwith police.

At a remote border outpost in BGB 17th Battalion area of operations, COL Fharid , Commander BGBCox’s Bazar, discuss security concerns with PACOM Augmentation Team; SFC Misipati Bird, USA,Assistant Security Forces Manager (center). Right, JIATF West Future Operations Officers, CPT JamesSelf, USA, and CW4 Andrew Siemens, USA. - 18 January 2014, photo by LCDR Michael Hosey, USCG.



According to the Tribune article, the BGB is doingeverything it can to improve security. “We have 23camps in border areas and 15 new camps are beingset up.” “Construction is proceeding fast as we havedirectives from the top administration to show zerotolerance for drugs,” said, Cox’s Bazar BGB SectorCommander, Colonel Khandaker Farid Hassan.

The frequent drug related events in the Cox’s Bazardistrict are indicative of the challenges faced by theBGB. JIATF West is pleased to support the BGB’scounterdrug efforts with facility development andcounternarcotics training (CNT). The assessmentperformed in January was one step forward indeveloping plans to support the BGB. Unlike aprevious assessment performed in October of 2013,this was specifically for the southern area of BGBoperations.

Planned projects for the BCG and BGB are the firstever host nation infrastructure projects supported byJIATF West in Bangladesh.

Although this is the first facility project in whichJIATF West has augmented Bangladesh’s counter-narcotics efforts, JIATF West is no stranger toBangladesh. JIATF West has been helping withcounterdrug efforts in Bangladesh since 2005 withover a dozen CNT events with the BCG. However,this is the first time working with the BGB. It is alsothe BGB’s first ever joint effort with the U. S. Inaddition to the facility development improvements,JIATF West has a total of 12 counternarcoticstraining events planned with the BCG and BGBbetween 2014 and 2016. □

Water Buffalo! – A local villager walks his waterbuffalo in search of grass for grazing, a commonsight in Southern Bangladesh. - 18 January 2014,photo by LCDR Michael Hosey, USCG.



Coordination Talks inBangladesh


CONTENTS

In early February, 2014, Director of JointInteragency Task Force West, RDML James

E. Rendon, USCG, and a small staff traveled toBangladesh to participate in senior levelmeetings with U. S. Country Team Dhaka,Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG), and BorderGuard Bangladesh (BGB). The trip was designedto strengthen and further develop U. S. andBangladesh partnerships. The meetings not onlysupported the U. S. Embassy’s Country Team inDhaka, but also the goals and objectives ofUnited States Pacific Command and Special

Operations Command Pacific. This friendlyinteraction between our Bangladeshpartners and U. S. Embassy helped provideFlag level oversight of several proposedmulti-year training & infrastructureinitiativess. Throughout the variousmeetings, RDML Rendon focused onapplying a whole of government approach,economy of efforts, performancemeasurement, and sustainability in supportof mutually shared interests across theDepartment of Defense, State, and Justice.

By LCDR Michael Hosey, USCG &Mr. Shawn Parrish

Meeting at Border Guard Bangladesh Headquarters in Dhaka. Clockwise, LTC Lance Jacobson,USA, Defense Attaché Officer; Mr. Earl Hampton, JIATF West Deputy Director; RDML JamesRendon, USCG, JIATF West Director; Major General Aziz Ahmed, Director General of the BGB; BGBOperations Officer; CPT Alex Chung, USA, PACOM Augmentation Team; SFC Misipati Bird, USA,Assistant Security Forces Manager. -4 February 2014, photo by LCDR Michael Hosey, USCG

CONTENTS


RDML Rendon, center, and Mr. Earl Hampton, right,are given a tour of a memorial by an officer of theBorder Guard Bangladesh in Dhaka. - 4 February2014, photo by LCDR Michael Hosey, USCG.


Coordination Talks in Bangladesh

RDML James Rendon, USCG,presents a memento from JIATFWest to Major General AzizAhmed, Director General of theBGB. - 4 February 2014, photoby LCDR Michael Hosey, USCG

CONTENTS

Lines of effort proposedin JIATF West’s 2013Strategic Business Plancall for task forceplanners to seekopportunities for JIATFWest to apply its uniquecounternarcoticsauthorities to supportregional security ofpartner nations. JIATFWest hopes to do justthat with its efforts toimprove the capabilitiesof both the BCG andBGB in strategiclocations and ultimatelyhelp Bangladeshmitigate its bordersecurity threats.

The desired outcome ofsupporting regionalsecurity efforts of partnernations such asBangladesh is to disrupttransnational criminalorganizations (TCOs).For now Bangladeshdefense forces will teamup with JIATF West toenhance BCG and BGBefforts in the southeastregion of the country.The southeast region isan area of favored pathsof traffickers workingwith TCOs.

After meetingwith MG Azizand RADMHossain inDhaka, theJIATF Westteam travelledsouthward to theport city ofChittagong,home of theBCG’s EasternZonal Command.There RDMLRendon met theBaseCommander,CAPT ShaidulIslam, who gaveeveryone a tourof the base.

JIATF West members andBCG Base Chittagongsenior staff sharedoperational briefs duringround table discussions.While in Chittagong,RDML Rendon was givenan on-site tour of anongoing Office of DefenseCooperation (ODC)project, the “CoastalCrisis ManagementCenter” (CCMC), startedin 2010 to help firstresponders from the BCGand the Ministry of HomeAffairs conducthumanitarian assistanceand disaster reliefoperations.

Accompanying RDML Rendonwere JIATF West DeputyDirector, Mr. Earl Hampton,Task Force Representative,LCDR Michael Hosey, USCG,and PACOM AugmentationTeam Bangladesh member,CPT Alex Chung, USA. Thefirst round of meetings tookplace inside the U. S. Embassyin Dhaka where RDMLRendon met with the DeputyChief of Mission, Mr. JonDanilowicz (previousCounselor for Political andEconomic Affairs in Dhaka),the Defense Attaché Office(DAO), and the Embassy’s LawEnforcement Working Group(LEWG).

RADM Muhammad Makbul Hossain, Director General of the Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG), meets withRDML James Rendon, USCG, Director of JIATF West during an office call at BCG headquarters in Dhaka,Bangladesh. - 4 February 2014, photo by LCDR Michael Hosey, USCG

While in Dhaka, RDMLRendon conducted courtesycalls with the Director Generalof the BGB, Major General AzizAhmed, and BCG DirectorGeneral, Rear Admiral KaziSarwar Hossain (RADM K. S.Hossain is a two star Admiraland is the equivalent to the U.S. Coast Guard Commandant).

Some topics of interestdiscussed included ways toimprove the readiness ofBorder Guard and Coast Guardpersonnel as well as whatmaritime and land assetswould best assist inBangladesh’s drug interdictionefforts.


Coordination Talks in Bangladesh CONTENTS

From BCG Base Chittagong, RDML Rendonand JIATF West members went on to meetwith the BGB Southeast Regional Commander,General Ahmed. Discussions between RDMLRendon and General Ahmed centered aroundborder management, logistics, conditions ofoutposts, and ways that JIATF West and theBGB could work together to improve thecapabilities of the BGB in the Cox’s Bazar andTeknaf region.

After productive meetings with both GeneralAhmed and CAPT Shaidul Islam in theChittagong division, RDML Rendon and teammembers headed back to the capital city ofDhaka to meet with Ambassador Dan Mozena.

AMB Mozena extended his appreciation forJIATF West’s continued support in Bangladeshand pledged continued U. S. Embassy supportof the Country Team Dhaka partnership.

For JIATF West Deputy Director, Mr. EarlHampton, this trip was his first to Bangladesh.He was impressed with both the BGB and BCGand their receptiveness to work with JIATFWest to improve their capabilities andcapacity. “I feel JIATF West can make asignificant impact on improving maritime andland security capacities of Bangladesh”, saidMr. Hampton.

CAPT Shahidul Islam, BCG, and RDML James Rendon, USCG, at BCG BaseChittagong. - 5 February 2014, photo by LCDR Michael Hosey, USCG

Coordination Talks in Bangladesh CONTENTS


RDML Rendon looks forward to collaboratingwith Major General Aziz and Admiral Hossain andviews the future endeavors between Bangladeshand JIATF West as a step in the right direction.

According to AMB Mozena, “Through a collaborativeapproach with US Country Team Dhaka and SpecialOperations Command Pacific, JIATF West’s effortsare truly whole of government.” □

CAPT Shahidul Islam, BCG, presents a cap toRDML James Rendon, USCG. - 5 February 2014,photo by LCDR Michael Hosey, USCG

CONTENTSCoordination Talks in Bangladesh


MarksmanshipInstructor Trainingwith the BGB


CONTENTS

Border Guard Bangladesh members recentlyparticipated in their first ever JIATF West

organized Marksmanship Instructor TrainingCourse as part of counternarcotics training (CNT).Thirty two members of the BGB attended training atthe Border Guard Training Center & School inSatkania, Bangladesh participated in the four-weekcourse from 16 March to 10 April, 2014. The goal ofthe training was to increase the BGB’s capabilitiesand interoperability with U. S. Forces. The CNTfocused marksmanship training was provided by

military instructors from the Rhode IslandArmy National Guard. The group of militaryinstructors selected the best BGB participantsto act as instructors, helping their fellowofficers receive additional help, which in turngave many of them some early experience onbeing an instructor. The Commandant for theBorder Guard Training Center and School,Director Ashraf, observed the training on thefirst day and was very pleased.

US Military instructors conduct marksmanship trainingat the Border Guard Bangladesh’s Training Center &School in Satikania to support counternarcotics efforts. - 23 March 2014, photo by Capt Paul Trower, USMC

Border Guard Bangladesh members begin gathering information at a range demonstration at the Border GuardTraining Center & School in Satikania, Bangladesh. - 17 March 2014, photo by Capt Paul Trower, USMC

Capt Paul Trower, USMC, a JIATF West TrainingLiaison Officer, commented on their success. “I havebeen very impressed so far by the host nationsoldier’s professionalism, positive attitude, and focuson safety,” said Trower.

During the second week, a shooting competitionwas held involving various timed shooting eventsbased on the training of that day. The winnerreceived a small award. This also helped buildrapport between the U. S. and BGB members.

By week three the BGB members in training werepracticing various combat scenarios and shootingbehind various types of barriers. U. S. Militaryinstructors were pleased with the attention tosafety and muzzle awareness exercised by the BGB.

Marksmanship InstructorTraining with the BGB

Members of the Bangladesh Border Guard held an opening ceremony for the month long “Marksmanship Instructor Training Course” at theBorder Guard Training Center & School in Satkania, Bangladesh. Lower right, Commandant of the Border Guard Training Center & School,Director Ashraf, greets an Army National Guard Member on the shooting range – 15 March 2014, photos by Capt Paul Trower, USMC


CONTENTS

Above, A row of AK-47 Battle Rifles lay to the left of Border Guard Bangladesh members as Army National Guard instructorspresent techniques on sight alignment, - 17 March 2014. Below, BGB members with US Military instructors on their last dayof range training, - 9 April 2014. Photos by Capt Paul Trower, USMC



CONTENTS

On the last training daythe U. S. Instructors setup a competitive stressshoot event whichincorporated everythingthat the BGB soldiershad learned during theMarksmanshipInstructor Course. BGBsoldiers were able toshowcase what theylearned and retained tothe school’sCommandant, DirectorAshraf, who attended thestress shoot. All of theBGB soldiers showedremarkableimprovement incomparison to the firstday of training.

Through rapportbuilding, constantcommunication and thejoint resolution of issues,the military instructorswere able to create asolid foundation offriendship,understanding, and trustwith the BGB, makingthis first JIATF Westand BGB event a successon which future trainerscan continue to build. □


A US Military instructor reviews the results of a timed shooting witha member of the Border Guard Bangladesh during marksmanship

training. - 23 March 2014, photo by Capt Paul Trower, USMC


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DASD Visits JIATFWest andSoutheast Asia


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Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense forCounternarcoticsand Global Threats (DASD

CN/GT), Ms. Caryn Hollis, paid a visit to JIATFWest’s headquarters at Camp H. M. Smith on the 3rdof March, 2014. Her visit was one stop prior to a ten-day visit to Southeast Asia to meet with Embassyofficials and foreign law enforcement in Vietnam,Philippines, and Thailand. JIATF West Director,RDML James Rendon, USCG, was also part of thedelegation traveling to Southeast Asia. Severalmeetings were held with Ms. Hollis immediately

prior to her departure for Southeast Asia,including those with RDML Rendon and DeputyDirector, Mr. Earl Hampton for office calls.Members of JIATF West also presented Ms.Hollis with pre-travel briefs and presentationson the Consolidated Counterdrug Database. Theday concluded with a short reception in honor ofMs. Hollis at RDML and Mrs. Rendon’s residence.In attendance were Commander, U. S. PacificFleet, ADM Harry B. Harris, USN, and RADMCari B. Thomas, USCG, Commander, 14th CoastGuard District.

RDML James Rendon, USCG, Director of Joint Interagency Task Force Westmeets with Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counternarcotics andGlobal Threats (DASD CN/GT), Ms. Caryn Hollis, during her visit to JIATF West’sheadquarters at Camp H. M. Smith. - 3 March 2014 photo by JIATF West.

10 March 2014 - Members of the Philippine NationalPolice Maritime Group board two Rigid HulledInflatable Boat (RHIB) patrol craft in PuertoPrincesa, Philippines, in preparation for ademonstration of maritime lawenforcement skills to Ms. CarynHollis and RDML James Rendon,USCG.


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As the Department of Defense’s lead for globalcounternarcotics and global threts threat policies andoperations, Ms. Hollis’ traveled to Southeast Asia toreview current and future engagements with U. S.Embassy Country Teams and host nation officials.The trip also gave Ms. Hollis an opportunity to visitsome of JIATF West’s project sites and trainingactivities. The delegation started the tour off inVietnam visiting the U. S. Embassy in Vietnam’scapital city, Hanoi, and the U. S. Consulate GeneralHo Chi Minh City, located in the south. In Hanoi,meetings were held with Embassy stakeholders todiscuss priorities in maritime security, efforts tomaintain host nation confidence, and illicittrafficking concerns.

The following day, the delegation travelled south toVietnam’s most populous city, Ho Chi Minh City(formerly named Saigon) to hold meetings with theConsul General, Ms. Rena Bitter. The meetings werealso attended by the Political Officer (POL),Economic Officer (ECON), and an officer fromHomeland Security Investigations (HSI).

From Vietnam, the delegation travelled to thePhilippines for three days of meetings with severalEmbassy stakeholders, and site visits in Manila andPuerto Princesa. The agencies attending meetingswith Ms. Hollis included the DEA, JUSMAG, FBI,NCIS, JSOTF-P, HSI, FBI, and the Philippine DEA(PDEA).

U. S. Military Instructors give Ms. Caryn Hollis and RDMLJames Rendon, USCG, a tour of the JIATF West built LawEnforcement Training Center (LETC) In Puerto Princesa.– 10 March 2014, photo by LT Franz Federschmidt, USN.

DASD Visits JIATF West and Southeast Asia


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The first round of meetings were with POL SectionRule of Law Chief, Tom Carnegie; DEA RegionalDirector, Joe Reagan; and DEA Country Attaché,Rob Cash. In addition to a variety of maritimesecurity (MARSEC) topics, Ms. Hollis spoke aboutthe support given to the National Coast WatchSystem by the U. S. Defense Threat ReductionAgency (DTRA).

While meeting with the Embassy’s LawEnforcement Working Group (LEWG), Ms.Hollis and RDML Rendon expressed appreciationfor Country Team partnerships and interest insustained engagement. In the LEWG meetings theChargé d’Affaires, Mr. Brian Goldbeck, and Ms.Hollis expressed their mutual interest in helping thePhilippines be more prominent in matters with the

Association of Southeas Asian Nations. After themeetings in Manila, the delegation travelled south tothe port city of Puerto Princesa to meet withmembers of the International Criminal InvestigativeTraining Assistance Program (ICITAP) In PuertoPrincesa, Ms. Hollis and RDML Rendon were giventours of the JIATF West-built Philippine LawEnforcement Training Center (LETC) and wereimpressed by an exhibition of the PhilippineNational Police Special Boat Unit (SBU).

PNP officials meeting with the delegation includedActing Chief of PNP Maritime Group, Police ChiefSuperintendent Noel Vargas, and Chief of SBU,Police Superintendent Osmundo Salibo. At thetime of the visit to Puerto Princesa, the counter-narcotics training event, “Baker Piston 14-2” wasunderway, giving Ms. Hollis and RDML Rendon achance to meet with the U. S. military instructors.

RDML James Rendon, USCG, and Ms. Caryn Hollis meetmembers of the PNP-MG during a month long counternarcotics training event in Puerto Princeas. – 10 March2014, photo by LT Franz Federschmidt, USN.

DASD Visits JIATF West and Southeast Asia

After meetings with PNP leadership concluded, thedelegation was treated to a demonstration of boathandling tactics to support enforcement operations.The Special Boat Unit conducted a simulated takedown of suspects in a vessel-to-shore operation.

From the Philippines, the delegation travelled toBangkok for Embassy meetings and a site visit tothe Sikhiu Checkpoint in the Province of NakhonRatchasima with the Royal Thai Police. Attendeesat the Embassy meeting in Bangkok included thefollowing interagency partners, Chargé d’Affaires,RSO, POL, ECON, HSI, FBI, INL, DEA, andJUSMAG. The Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr.Patrick Murphy, described the support provided byJIATF West as a key piece tolaw enforcementcapacity building effortsof the United States.After the Embassymeetingsconcluded, thedelegationheadednortheast tothe province ofNakhonRatchasima(Korat) to meetwith Royal ThaiPolice DeputyCommissioner,GeneralWatcharapol. Thedelegation was given atour of the SikhiuCheckpoint and presented briefson several checkpoint successes. □

DASD Visits JIATF Westand Southeast Asia


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RDML James Rendon, USCG, right, observes a class ofPNP-MG members receive law enforcement training inPuerto Princesa. – 10 March 2014, photo by LT FranzFederschmidt, USN.

Fiscal Year Totals:• Cocaine Seizures: 1.014 MT*• Heroin Seizures: 3 kg*• Meth Precursors: 16.25 MT• Converted Totals: 3.4 MT • Crystal Meth: 20 kg

Calendar Year Totals:• Cocaine Seizures: 750 kg • Heroin Seizures: 3 kg• Meth Precursors: 16.25 MT• Converted Totals: 3.4 MT • Crystal Meth: 20 kg

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During the past year, the Illicit Tracking Cellidentified and reported on 97 cased drug-related

Maritime Domain Awareness events. The commoditiesof these trafficking events ranged frommethamphetamine precursor chemicals, finishedproduct methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. Theefforts resulted in the break-out totals displayed here inboth calendar and fiscal year.

During Nov 2012, JIATF West provided tipping andcueing to law enforcement agencies on a target thatyielded the seizure of 204 kg of cocaine worthapproximately 45 million (USD) bound for Australia.In Aug 2013, JIATF West provided drug-relatedMaritime Domain Awareness support to U. S. lawenforcement on a target that yielded 750 kg of cocainebound for Australia and valued at approximately 165million (USD). This interdiction ranks as the secondlargest seizure ever of cocaine destined for Australia.

The overall command drug-related Maritime DomainAwareness efforts initially drove traffickers to alter theirmodus operandi. During 2013, JIATF West continuesto evolve its air and maritime domain awarenesscapabilities to counter the increasing sophistication oftrafficking operations.

*Units of MeasureMT: 1Metric Ton (US) = 2000 lbkg: 1 kilogram = 2.2 lb

– By Mr. James Griego


Warning – Kangaroo Crossing! A commonsight in Australia. - 3 December, 2013,

photo by LCDR Aja Kirksey, USCG


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* Defence and defense are different spellings of thesame word. Defense is preferred in American English,and defence is preferred in all other mainvarieties of English, including Australian,British, and Canadian English.

TheQuadrilateralDefence*CoordinationGroup – By LCDR Aja Kirksey

The Quadrilateral DefenceCoordination Group

(QUAD) welcomed JIATFWest representatives LCDRAja Kirksey, J51 RegionalPlans Division, and ChrisNagelvoort, J25 Plans andPrograms Division, to theirannual QUAD Principal’sTalks and OperationalWorking Group meeting inCanberra, Australian CapitalTerritory, 4-6 December2013.

JIATF West participants Mr. Chris Nagelvoort, Plans and Programs Manager and LCDR AjaKirksey, USCG, Task Force Representative to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islandcountries, at the Quadrilateral Defence Coordination Group. - 5 Dec 2013

for talks at two levels: thestrategic level that meetsannually as the QUADPrincipals’ Talks, and theoperational level that meetsbiannually as theQuadrilateral DefenceCoordination OperationalWorking Group.

Primary representatives werefrom Australia Defence Force(ADF); New Zealand DefenceForce (NZDF); French ArmedForces of New Caledonia(FANC), Armed Forces inFrench Polynesia (FAPF*), andU. S. Coast Guard (USCG). Thefour QUAD Principals wereRear Admiral Cari Thomas,USCG; Air Commodore JohnMcGarry, ADF; AirCommodore Tony Davies,NZDF, and Brigadier Luc deRevel, FANC.

A key theme of the meetingwas the task of enhancingcooperation with othergovernment agencies withrelated responsibilities in thefisheries space. The meetingprogram included operationalsummaries from each defencemember organization, arange of briefs from othergovernment agencies including

The QUAD was created tobring together defense andsecurity agencies fromAustralia, France, New Zealandand the United States ofAmerica to develop multilateralapproaches to promoteregional stability and enhancemaritime security in the SouthPacific through unilateral,bilateral, and multilateralengagement that builds PacificIsland countries' capacities andcapabilities. The QuadrilateralDefence forum meets regularly

The QuadrilateralDefenceCoordination Group

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*Forces Armées en Polynésie Française

QUAD Principals’ Talks December 4, 2013 at the Australian Defence Force DefenceConference Centre, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. - 5 December, 2013,photo by LCDR Aja Kirksey, USCG

JIATF West, the Australian FisheriesManagement Authority, the AustralianFederal Police, the Australian Departmentof Foreign Affairs and Trade, and a tour ofthe Australian Border ProtectionCommand.

JIATF West presented a command briefand an overview of the trans-pacific drugtrade. Although the focus of the talks wasfisheries, the various organizations presentrecognized that countering drugs is alsoimportant to the stability of Oceania. Indoing so, JIATF West garnered anunderstanding of partner nation securitychallenges in the region. The forum servedas a venue to grow working relationshipsfor greater collaboration on commoninterests in Oceania.

Following the close of the coordinationmeetings, a private dinner was held for allparticipants at the Australian NationalWar Memorial; Australia’s nationalmemorial to the members of all its armedforces and supported organizations whohave died or participated in the wars of theCommonwealth of Australia.

Each year the meeting location and allassociated secretariat responsibilitiesrotate between the four member countries.In 2014 secretariat responsibilities willtransition from Australia to New Zealand,with the next Quadrilateral DefenceCoordination Operational Working Groupmeeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands, andthe next Principles’ Talks in Wellington,New Zealand. □

The QuadrilateralDefenceCoordination Group

Meeting participants viewing “Over the Front: The Great War in the Air” at theAustralian War Memorial December 5, 2013. Australians played a part inaviation’s remarkable advancement during the First World War. In the clear skiesover the Western Front in France and in the Middle East, young men fought inflimsy machines of wood, canvas, and wire. This exhibition brought history to lifewith a range of extraordinary and original aircraft and an exciting visual depictionof military flight. - 5 December, 2013, photo by LCDR Aja Kirksey, USCG

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Supporting BiometricOperations in the FederatedStates of Micronesia


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An interagency team from JIATF West, FederalBureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal Justice

Information Services, and the U. S. Army BiometricsIdentity Management Agency traveled to theFederated States of Micronesia (FSM) to conduct anassessment in support of the government of FSM.The assessment considered existing biometriccollection capabilities in Chuuk State and PohnpeiState in order to provide recommendations to assistFSM in creating a national biometrics system. Theassessment was supported by Task ForceRepresentative LCDR Aja Kirksey, USCG, and

Major Steve Peters, USA. The assessment tookplace between 14-17 December, in Chuuk State,and in Pohnpei State 18-20 December.

In Chuuk, team members met with Director Rizal,the head of Chuuk State Public Safety. Whileworking with Chuuk State Police, team memberswere able to print and enroll prisoners in the ChuukState jail. The criminal biometric files collected willhelp FSM establish a baseline for their state andnational biometrics enrollments.

Major Steve Peters, USA, (in brown shirt) observes bio-metrics training. From leftto right, FSM National Police Finger Print Lab Manager, Investigator Kasner Aldens,a Chuuk Police Officer (behind Kasner), and two FBI Criminal Justice InformationServices members. - 19 December 2013, photo by LCDR Aja Kirksey, USCG.

FBI Criminal Justice Information Services membersconduct “hands-on” training using a digitalbiometric scanner in Chuuk, a state in theFederated States of Micronesia. - 19December 2013, photo by LCDR AjaKirksey, USCG.

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The Joint team also traveled to Pohnpei State,where they converted current paper criminalfingerprint cards to electronic fingerprint files.The team then met with FSM AmbassadorDoria Rosen, Deputy Chief of Mission MiguelOrdonez, FSM Secretary of Justice AprilSkilling, Pohnpei National Police Chief JohnnySantos, and Investigator Kasner Aldens, theNational Police Finger Print Lab Manager. Inpartnering with the United States, FSM will beable to collect and share their criminal

enrollments, while establishing a criminalhistory for repeat offenders. This assessmentwill not only assist FSM in determining thescale of their desired biometric program, butby sharing biometrics data between FSM andU. S. government biometric databases, FSMand U. S. security interests at home and abroadwill be protected. The existence of robust,sharable biometrics programs helps to makethe entire region less permissive to drug-related criminal activity – which benefitseveryone. □

LCDR Aja Kirksey, USCG, with members of the FBI CriminalJustice Information Services and U. S. Army Biometrics IdentityManagement Agency, in the Chuuk National Fingerprint Lab.- 19 December 2013, photo by LCDR Aja Kirksey, USCG

Supporting Biometric Operations in theFederated States of Micronesia


JIATF West members who are required to workin a foreign language leverage the resources of

CLREC to help them prepare. CLREC is the Centerfor Language Expertise and Culture founded by theUS Navy in March of 2006. It is a major departmentof the Center for Information Dominance (CID) atCorry Station, Pensacola, Florida. Here are thestories of four members of JIATF West and thelanguages they studied.

Véronique Dillon (Spanish) I was assignedto the Intelligence Analysis Center (IAC) inMexico City from January – July 2013. There wasa language prerequisite associated with theassignment – a solid reading, writing, speakingcapability in Spanish was a must. Frequentmeetings with Mexican officials for presentationsrequiring active participation and daily emailswere all conducted in Spanish.

JIATF West MembersLeverage CLREC to LearnForeign Languages


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Ms. Véronique Dillon, center, on assignment in the Philippines. - 24 Feb 2010.

In preparation for this temporary duty, the CLRECstaff provided a very qualified professor of Spanish(originally from Spain) from the University ofHawaii who was hired as a private tutor to elevatemy speaking skills to a more advanced level. I had50 hours of one-on-one instruction and was able toprogress rather quickly. I relearned some of the moreintricate tenses, became a more fluid conversationalist,and reviewed some of the more colloquial expressionsI had forgotten through the years of not speakingSpanish. In the end, I felt much more prepared andconfident to take part of the routine professionaldiscussions with our Mexican counterparts.

This served me very well throughout my 6 months inMexico. Subsequent to my assignment, I continued thissame method of instruction (30 hours) with anotherSpanish professor (from Peru) from the University ofHawaii. This type of instruction has been invaluable forme. The CLERC is by far the best source of training I havereceived while at JIATF West – language or otherwise.

Kurtis Derell (Indonesian) Since May 2013 I havereceived approximately 130 hours of intermediatelanguage training from a local language schoollocated in Honolulu (contracted through CLREC).

The instructor’s knowledge of the Indonesian languageand various dialects (Javanese, regional Chinese dialects,Malaysian) have consistently added to the effectivenessof the class. Additionally, the instructor’s expertise andunderstanding of a wide range of cultural, historical,political, and regional aspects of modern Indonesia andSoutheast Asia greatly contributed to the effectiveness ofthe training.

The language instruction enabled me to maintain a basiclanguage proficiency in Indonesian (1 - 2 range out of 4)and perform a wider range of duties as a Southeast AsiaTransnational Crime Analyst.

Eventually I was able to review Indonesian open pressarticles and web-sites. This helped me immensely whenI had to review in detail an Indonesian Program ofInstruction for Maritime Analysis designed for threeweeks of instruction (translated into Indonesian).Having taken foreign language programs throughout mylife (University and DLI/DOD sponsored), and obtainedproficiencies in French, Korean, and Indonesian, Istrongly endorse continuing to use this program.

Chih Woo (Mandarin) Upon returning from my firsttemporary duty assignment to Beijing in 2012, I realizedhow critical it was to be able to speak and understandChinese Mandarin. My limited knowledge of Mandarinwas insufficient for me to survive long assignments inBeijing. I was concerned that my inability tocommunicate would affect my morale andnegatively impact my work. The valuable Mandarinlessons provided to me by CLREC have improved mymission effectiveness and quality of life during my followon duty assignments to Beijing. I truly appreciate folksat CLREC for their past and continued support to JIATFWest analysts.


Ms. Véronique Dillon, teachingin Cambodia. - 2 May 2010.

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JIATF West Members Leverage CLRECto Learn Foreign Languages

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JIATF West Members Leverage CLRECto Learn Foreign Languages

Sesh Munipalli (Thai) I have received Thai languagetraining on three separate occasions. Twice while working inThailand and in Honolulu. Prior to start of the languagetraining, I had no experience in Thai language except forsome common street-level phrases.

In each training instance, the teachersprovided excellent instruction onspeaking and reading the Thailanguage. From the start, theinstructors focused on being able towork in the language in normalenvironments and progressed toencounters with Thai governmentofficials. The instructors weredemanding but extremelyhelpful in ensuring Iunderstood not only thevocabulary but also thecontext in which thewords are used (in Thailanguage, there is quite adifference in spokenversus written Thai as wellas certain vocabularyreserved only for royalty).What impressed me the mostwas that the instructors werewilling to work with me so thatI gained as much knowledgeas possible. For example,even though the trainingdid not focus on writing,the instructorsintroduced this abilitywhen I expressed aninterest in being able towrite in Thai.

Learning the Thai languagehas greatly improved myperformance as a counter-drug analyst. Additionally,the CLREC staff have beenextremely gracious infacilitating the training and

to offer opportunities for additional training, not only in Thaibut other languages aligned to assigned duties. Theopportunity afforded by CLREC shouldn't be missed byanyone who wants to be better prepared when working withforeign counterparts. It is by far one of thebest professional and personal

development training offered by theNavy!!! □


Mr. Sesh Munipalli onassignment in Maldives.

- 5 July 2012.

The main seaport of the Island ofChuuk, one of FSM’s four island states. Photo by LCDR Aja Kirksey, USCG. - 16 Dec 2013

JIATF West ATTN: J5Strategic Communications

BOX 64033, CAMP H.M. SMITH, HI 96861-4033

Phone 808-477-9708 Email [email protected]

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