Naval Operations Concept - Defense Technical Information Center

MSFA initiatives foster trust and interoperability with allies and enduring
partners, increase capabilities and capacities to address conventional
and irregular threats, reduce the ungoverned areas within the maritime
domain, promote regional stability, and set conditions that dissuade
disruptive acts through cooperative actions. Expeditionary operations,
enduring partnership missions, as well as bilateral and multi-lateral
exercises involving nearly every Naval Service capability comprise the
most common MSFA initiatives.
Fleet and Expeditionary Operations
Naval forces will often conduct MSFA concurrent with other forward
operations. For example, while conducting security patrols around the
Iraqi off-shore oil platforms, Navy and Coast Guard maritime security
forces integrated Iraqi military personnel into the operation to improve
their expertise and proficiency. Similarly, while maintaining port and
waterway security, Coast Guard port security unit (PSU) and Navy maritime
expeditionary security squadron members trained Iraqi naval forces
on point and perimeter security defense operations under the supervision
of the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission. As general purpose forces
embarked on naval vessels, Marines also conducted MSFA with coalition
and partner nation naval forces. In these cases, Naval Service personnel
benefited from the MSFA activities as well, gaining a greater understanding
of local customs and conditions, which enhanced their effectiveness.
Likewise, Coast Guard cutters and LEDETs—active duty Coast Guard
personnel employed on partner nation naval vessels in order to provide
expanded law enforcement authority, expertise and capability to carry
out interdiction and apprehension operations—frequently provide
technical assistance to foreign law enforcement partners. Cutter boarding
teams and LEDETs instruct, demonstrate and assist with searches, and
evidence testing and processing. MSFA, in the form of advanced boarding
procedure training, is increasingly requested by coalition partners
and has reduced the risk associated with counter-piracy operations off
Somalia. Additionally, the Coast Guard’s International Port Security (IPS)
program assesses the effectiveness of anti-terrorism measures in the ports
of U.S. trading partners pursuant to a U.S. statutory requirement. This
form of MSFA evaluates countries’ implementation of the International
Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, shares maritime security
“best practices,” and makes recommendations for improvement.
Chapter Maritime Security