Ship’s Reaction Force-Basic

We’re learning how to safely and effectively search the ship in case of a security alert or a terrorist alert. We’re learning the steps we would take if the ship were infiltrated.

We’re learning how to close out a space with a reaction force and then if there’s a security alert within a space, how to secure them – have the subjects put their hands up, put them on the ground, search them for weapons – things like that. We also learn how to search different hiding spots on the ship.

A typical team would be six people or as many people as needed depending on the kind of security alert. We try to each rotate through different roles on the team so that in a real life scenario any one person could take any position throughout the security alert.

There’s the team leader who will yell out commands to the team, and if you’re the last man you’re always checking the team’s “6” – checking  the back of the reaction team just to make sure know is coming from behind and to help secure spaces.

The first week of the training is for watch standing and for qualifications for the OC (Oleoresin Capsicum) spray and the second week is the security alert reaction force training. It’s two weeks overall.

Personally, I think it’s good to know, especially for the new guys, the things that you don’t go over in your A School or the things you don’t go over in your specific division on the ship. It is separate training and the instructors have had specific training on this so it’s a good change of pace for us and it is good knowledge to know.

I think the most important thing I’ve gotten from this training is to stay aware and to know that different situations happen and to stay calm and to rely on the people who have trained with you. Have their backs and know they have your back.

V/R

Seaman (SW) Aaron Drendel