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NSW Operators Assist Honduran Military

NSW operators assist Honduran military to establish elite maritime unit.

By Navy Ensign Brian Bird and ITC Gino Rullo Naval Warfare Unit-Four

A Honduran sailor carries a kettle bell in Caribbean waters as part of a open water competency during two, eight-week Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/s) style selection courses conducted by members of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Task Element-Alpha (NSWTE-A). This training was conducting in order to assist their Honduran counterparts establish the Honduran Fuerza Especiales Naval (FEN) division within the Honduran military. The FEN is a maritime unit of Special Operators capable of combating transnational organized crime in and around their waterways. Over 110 Honduran sailors attended the courses, resulting in 45 highly-qualified Honduran Special Operators by the end of the training. (U.S. Navy Photo by ITC Gino Rullo, Naval Special Warfare Unit-FOUR)

With a rate of 86 people killed for every 100,000 inhabitants, Honduras is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world according to statistics from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report in 2011.

With a murder rate four times higher than Mexico, these alarming numbers depict a nation where violence is part of everyday life. Many of these casualties are linked to narcotics trafficking, where Honduras and other Central American nations are used as a transit point from South America into Mexico and the U.S.; the preponderance of these illicit activities enter the region by maritime.

During a recent six-month deployment, members of Naval Special Warfare Task Element-Alpha (NSWTE-A), a deployed maneuver element attached to Naval Special Warfare Unit-FOUR (NSWU-4) in support of Special Operations Command South, partnered with their Honduran counterparts to train and increase the military capacity of the newly established Honduran Fuerza Especiales Naval or (FEN). The FEN is a maritime unit of Special Operators capable of combating transnational organized crime in and around their waterways.

NSWU4, stationed in Joint Expeditionary Base, Little Creek, Va., and in support of SOCSOUTH, headquartered at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., designed and implemented a comprehensive training and maintenance plan to build the FEN into a strong counter-narcotic force.

Honduran sailors tackle the tides during an over the beach surf passage training exercise as part of two, eight-week Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/s) style selection courses conducted by members of U.S. Naval Special Warfare Task Element-Alpha (NSWTE-A) in order to assist their Honduran counterparts establish the Honduran Fuerza Especiales Naval (FEN) division within the Honduran military. NSWTE-A was deployed to Honduras for six months in support of Special Operations Command South. With the assistance of SOCSOUTH and Naval Special Warfare Unit-FOUR, the Honduran military has stepped up their efforts to secure their borders in order to deter illicit activities entering their country through their waterways. (U.S. Navy Photo by ITC Gino Rullo, Naval Special Warfare Unit-FOUR)

Ten operators from SEAL Team 18, attached to NSWU-4, spent six months training and observing the FEN in a multi-disciplinary approach, resulting in 45 highly qualified Honduran Special Operators by the end of the two, eight-week Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/s) style training. These courses were modeled after the BUD/s selection training done by the U.S. Navy SEALs in Coronado, Calif.

Some of the conditioning assessments included an eight-mile log physical training event and a six-nautical mile ocean swim across the Bahia de Trujillo. After completing these physical and mental hardships to become a member of the FEN, the 45 qualified individuals continued through more rigorous and operationally-focused skills training, which completed their transformation into a disciplined and dedicated team capable of providing the Honduran Fuerza Naval a capable maritime branch of special operations.

To compliment the efforts of the Navy SEALs, members from Naval Special Warfare Special Boat Team 22 also spent a month with counterparts from NSWTE-A training the FEN in basic watercraft maintenance skills and procedures, nautical chart familiarization, boat vectoring and intercepting techniques, small boat handling tactics, and long-range navigation exercises.

Outside of the physical and technical training that is associated with a special operator, NSWTE-A focused on creating a team of communication specialists within the FEN to become experts in Harris radio technologies, a skill set that is lacking in most Central American units due to the lack of expertise. “In my whole military career, I can only remember three times when radios were used successfully on a mission,” said the FEN’s commanding officer. He added that the skills learned during this training should improve the success rate of radios during military movements.

Honduran Fuerza Especiales Naval (FEN) candidates use teamwork to perform physical training exercises with a heavy log at a local beachside in Honduras in the fall of 2012. Log physical training exercises were one of many physically demanding exercises as part of two, eight-week Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/s) style selection courses conducted by members of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Task Element-Alpha (NSWTE-A) in order to assist their Honduran counterparts establish this elite unit within the Honduran military. The FEN is a maritime unit of Special Operators capable of combating transnational organized crime in and around their waterways. Over 110 Honduran sailors attended the courses resulting in 45 highly-qualified Honduran Special Operators by the end of the training. (U.S. Navy Photo by ITC Gino Rullo, Naval Special Warfare Unit-FOUR)

NSWTE-A also focused its efforts on partner nation self-sustainment strategies when seven FEN members were selected as future instructors, shadowing NSW counterparts during all training evolutions. This mentorship provided each Honduran instructor with the competence and confidence to conduct future selection courses and internal sustainment training unilaterally.

Organizational departments were also created to include assault, boats, communications, engineering and training with a senior officer and enlisted advisor assigned to each department. “The unique task organization, presentation of functional skill sets, and development of unit pride and esprit de corps has effectively paved the way for continued Honduran led training and operations in the future in order to keep their borders secure against transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking,” said the NSWTE-A officer in charge.

Ranger graduates from Kaibil School

By Tracy A. Bailey

75th Ranger Regiment Public Affairs

Brig. Gen. Sean P. Mulholland, the commander of Special Operations Command, along with leaders from the Guatemalan military stand during the Guatemalan special operations Kaibil School graduation ceremony Dec. 5 in Poptún, Guatemala. Mulholland attended the graduation ceremony and was able to congratulate Staff Sgt. Joel R. Rodriguez, Jr., a Ranger Reconnaissance Team Leader assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Rodriguez was the first American Soldier in 25 years to graduate from the Kaibil course. The school is considered one of the most prestigious, vigorous, arduous military courses in Central America. The school consists of jungle warfare tactics and counter-insurgency operations and is oriented towards small-unit tactics with great mental and psychological stresses and physical fatigue. (Photo by Army Maj. Edward Lauer, Special Operations Command South)

FORT BENNING, Ga. (USASOC News Service, Dec. 18, 2012) – For the first time in more than 25 years, an American Soldier has graduated from the Guatemalan special operations Kaibil School, in Poptún, Guatemala.

Staff Sgt. Joel R. Rodriguez, Jr., a Ranger Reconnaissance Team Leader assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., graduated December 2012.

"I volunteered to attend this school because I wanted the challenge," said Rodriguez. "I wanted to test myself and it's something I wanted to accomplish during my military career."

The Kaibil School is considered one of the most prestigious, vigorous, arduous military courses in Central America. Their motto: "If I advance, follow me. If I stop, urge me on. If I retreat, kill me."

Within one week of starting the process, Rodriguez was en route to Guatemala City to start his training with no preparation whatsoever.

The Kaibil School specializes in jungle warfare tactics and counter-insurgency operations, small unit tactics and students endure great mental and psychological stresses and physical fatigue.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the Kaibil Center's mission is to train and develop elite commando forces: "To select by means of arduous, difficult training under physical and mental pressure, members of the (Guatemalan) army are capable of engaging in commando operations."

"Our training started with an introduction to our instructors while rolling around in mud puddles and a duck walk in four foot deep puddles and saying the Kaibil creed and motto at the same time," said Rodriguez.

The students ran five miles to the school grounds, stopping for extracurricular activities such as high and low crawling through brush, duck walking in formation, for an unknown distance, followed by low crawling in the mud.

"Once we arrived at the school, that's where the actual course began," said Rodriguez. "And there was only one way in – low crawling 400 meters to the classroom."

Staff Sgt. Joel R. Rodriguez, Jr., a Ranger Reconnaissance Team Leader assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., stands at attention during the Guatemalan special operations Kaibil School graduation ceremony Dec. 5 in Poptún, Guatemala. Rodriguez was the first American Soldier in 25 years to graduate from the Kaibil course. The school is considered one of the most prestigious, vigorous, arduous military courses in Central America. The school consists of jungle warfare tactics and counter-insurgency operations and is oriented towards small-unit tactics with great mental and psychological stresses and physical fatigue. Rodriguez lost 40 pounds during the course. (Photo by Army Maj. Edward Lauer, Special Operations Command South)

Eating is always a challenge when attending any military course but the Kaibil School puts unique demands on its students.

"A Kaibil student must do several events in order to eat," said Rodriguez. "Run 2 miles in 18 minutes or less in full combat gear, conduct five pull ups and 10 pushups. Then we duck walked 50 meters to the dining facility and while waiting to enter the building, we had to stay in the duck walk position."

Once the students reached the Dining Facility, they were given 30 seconds to eat.

"We ate what we could as fast as we could," said Rodriguez.

It's no wonder the Ranger lost 40 pounds.

Phase One training consisted of forced road marches from distances of three miles to 32 miles, introduction to GPS and land navigation course, basic first aid, introduction to patrolling, hand-to-hand combat, obstacle courses and introduction to the Kaibil doctrine of patrolling.

During Phase One, which is three weeks long, 30 students out of 49 dropped from the course.

Phase Two is the mountain phase and consisted of mountaineering techniques, waterborne operations, introduction to SCUBA training, construction of improvised bridges, SERE training, incursions, weapons familiarization, small unit patrols, basic demolitions, basic air mobile techniques, react to contact, and ambush classes.

"The intensity of the course did subside some in Phase Two," said Rodriguez. "The course was a little more relaxed."

The students were exposed to prisoner of war camp situations and survival courses. However, Rodriguez did not want to say too much in order to protect the integrity of the course.

"I experienced what it is like to be a POW and what stresses and stressors a POW may experience," said Rodriguez. "We were also taught how to process game and forage for food."

Brig. Gen. Sean P. Mulholland, the commander of Special Operations Command, congratulates Staff Sgt. Joel R. Rodriguez, Jr., a Ranger Reconnaissance Team Leader assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., following the Guatemalan special operations Kaibil School graduation ceremony Dec. 5 in Poptún, Guatemala. Mulholland thanked the U.S. Army Ranger for his hard work, perseverance and duty to his country. Rodriguez was the first American Soldier in 25 years to graduate from the Kaibil course. (Photo by Army Maj. Edward Lauer, Special Operations Command South)

Phase Two is four weeks long and Rodriguez experienced the same physical and mental stress as Phase One. Four additional students dropped from the course during this phase.

Several events took place during the final phase of the course, including final patrols, ambushes, raids, partisan link-up procedures, react to contact and infiltrations.

Throughout the entire course, "…displaying the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission" was always in the back of Rodriguez's mind but never more so than in the final phase.

"I conducted patrols in nothing but underwear, with no boots, while walking on azimuth through thorn filled brush, and rolled around in the thorns to fortify the body," said Rodriguez. "As crazy as it sounds, after a while, the body goes numb and no pain is felt."

"The mental change is that no matter what happens, no matter what task is given, no matter how impossible the task may seem, everything is possible if one can push through the pain and discomfort to accomplish the mission," said Rodriguez. "This is what makes a Kaibil, a unique soldier."

Rodriguez was one of 15 students to graduate from the course.

"I recommend this course to all who want to attend. However, you will go through very intense training that may be considered inhumane by others but this is the kind of training a Soldier needs to be prepared for combat," said Rodriguez. "I see the world in a whole new way, and have learned what my body is capable of accomplishing with minimal equipment, food, water and support from outside sources."

Rodriguez is no stranger to taking on the tough military schools.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger Course Jumpmaster Course, Advanced Leader Course, Pathfinder Course, Long Range Surveillance Leader Course, Javelin Training Devices, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Combatives Level 1 and 2, the Warrior Leader Course, Emergency Medicine Technologist Basic Course, the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program and the Basic Airborne Course.

Rodriguez has deployed six times in support of the War on Terror with four tours to Iraq and two to Afghanistan for a total of 23 months deployed.

Rodriguez is a native of Penitas, Texas and has been in the U.S. Army since May 2005.

SOCSOUTH and Jamaican partners participate in training exchange

Port Royal, Jamaica September 25, 2012

Jamaican Army soldiers from the Jamaica Defense Force provide security as their fellow soldiers complete a scenario-based boat interdiction exercise with Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) members assigned to Special Boat Team (SBT) 22, in support of Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH), Sept. 25 along the coast of Port Royal, Jamaica. (Photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Alex Licea, Special Operations Command South Public Affairs)

Story and photos by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Alex Licea, Special Operations Command South Public Affairs

Located in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, Jamaica is surrounded by beautiful beaches and tropical weather making it a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.

However, the small island, like much of the region between North and South America, is a potential location for illicit traffickers to use as a transit point to move illegal drugs across the region and into the United States. It is a concern for many across the island nation who see this activity as a threat to their security.

So when Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) assigned to Special Boat Team (SBT) – 22, in support of Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH), and members of the Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School, better known as NAVSCIATTS, participated in a Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) event in Jamaica during the month of September. Members of the Jamaica Defense Forces, simply known as the JDF, welcomed the group of American sailors.

The primary focus of this month-long JCET for the Stennis, Miss.- based special boat team and NAVSCIATTS personnel was to gain regional knowledge and improve their teaching abilities while training with members of the JDF.

JCETs also benefit U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) because they allow SOF personnel to train in ally nations, like Jamaica, and hone their military tactics and skills in unfamiliar settings, while also improving bilateral relations and interoperability with other militaries.

For the JDF, this event also proved to be helpful. Although the JDF’s size is small compared to other nations across the Western Hemisphere, their military continues to expand into a well-rounded force with multiple skill sets, regardless of branch of service, in an effort to deter illicit traffickers from its borders and waterways.

During this event, more than 20 Jamaican servicemembers, mostly from the Army and Coast Guard, saw this JCET as a great opportunity to train and enhance their maritime operations and boat maintenance skills with U.S. servicemembers. “It is hard for the [Jamaican] Coast Guard to be tasked to do everything and we can do some of these operations and take the load off of them,” said a Jamaican Army officer, who serves as a troop commander. “We see ourselves in the future being able to do more operations and interdictions in the water.”

As part of SOCSOUTH’s Theater Security Cooperation program, these JCET programs enable partner nations to increase their capacity to conduct security operations. SOCSOUTH, based in Homestead, Fla., is responsible for all U.S. Special Operations activities in the Caribbean, Central and South America; it serves as a component for U.S. Southern Command.

For U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Timothy Piccin, who serves as the SOCSOUTH country officer for Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, this JCET is vital in the continued training of all U.S. Naval forces working in the region but also serves a essential piece for the development of the JDF, specifically its maritime capabilities due to its geographically location.

“This program allows our [U.S.] forces to get excellent training in the region and it serves as a great benefit for our partner nations to increase their military capacity in a very unique platform where exchanging tactics and procedures benefit everyone involved,” he said. “From boat maintenance procedures to tactical training, this event allows everyone to train and learn from each other.”

During the first few days of the JCET, members assigned to NAVSCIATTS trained with their Jamaican counterparts on basic watercraft maintenance skills and procedures. The maintenance portion of the JCET ended with members of the JDF breaking down a boat engine piece by piece in order to learn standard boat engine components and putting it back together.

The final two weeks of the JCET focused more on military tactics using boats as SWCC personnel trained with their Jamaican partners on specialize techniques, such as Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure, a maritime boarding action designed to capture hostile vessels and high value targets onboard a water craft. The U.S. Sailors also instructed members of the JDF on boat interdiction and extraction techniques, boat handling maneuvers on small tactical boats, long-range navigation and close-quarters defense. For SWCC members assigned to SBT 22, this JCET allowed them to learn new skills in a variety of different areas outside of their normal routine.

“This event is very important for us because it takes us away from our comfort zone and presents us with a different challenge,” said the U.S. Special Boat Operator Chief in charge of the JCET. “We typically operate in rivers so working with the JDF in the open ocean really put us in conditions we are not use to, but it helped us learn how to work in those environments.”

For the SWCC members, this JCET was also valuable because they built a strong partnership with members of the JDF.

“We have a great relationship with these guys, and we have learn a lot from them,” said the Special Boat Operator Chief. “From working out together to talking about our experiences, it has been great working with them.”

JDF members reflected those same sentiments following a small closing ceremony where each participate received a certificate of training from their American counterparts.

“I wish the training was longer, but they covered a little bit of everything and it is now our job to not lose what we learned and stay current,” said the Jamaica troop commander. “It was really great working with [SBT-22] them, and I wish we could have this type of event twice a year. We clicked right away and it was really fun to be with them.”

Piccin hopes to replicate this experience with a similar event sometime next year. “There is no doubt this exchange greatly benefits both the U.S. and JDF in order to learn new techniques to protect the region from the threat of transnational organized crime,” he said. “We hope to continue to work with our JDF partners and are planning to do this again next year.”

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