Away the boarding party (VBSS and SWOs with guns); Marines, too!

[HeyJoe]

090625-N-6692A-028 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 25, 2009) Sailors participate in an M-16 service rifle qualification exercise aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46). Tortuga is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready group, underway for Summer Deployment and scheduled to participate in military exercise Talisman Saber 2009 with the Australian Defense Force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Geronimo Aquino/Released)

090623-N-2638R-005 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 23, 2009) Sailors take aim at their targets during M16 service rifle qualifications aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89). Mustin is one of seven Arleigh Burke-class destroyers assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 and operates from Yokosuka, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bryan Reckard/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

Nice!

090707-N-0000X-002 GULF OF ADEN (July 7, 2009) Coalition forces operating as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 in the Gulf of Aden seized approximately 10 tons of narcotics, with an estimated value of $70 million, stashed in vessels operating along the so-called "Hash Highway". CTF 150 is a multinational task force conducting maritime security operations in and around the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

 

[BigRed389]

I did VBSS and did part of our deployment in the CTF 150 and 151 AOR.

As far as Intel O's doing VBSS, yes they can...as a primary job, not just a collateral duty.

We did a lot of our deployment with AFRICOM, and it's interesting to see how the maritime drug trade tied in with CENTCOM. Plants grown in Afghanistan, refined in Pakistan, sent out from the GoO and GoA, then make their way down to Africa.

As a result, VBSS training was a hot request from every African nation we visited.

 

[HeyJoe]

091118-N-7058E-607 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Nov. 18, 2009) A visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) team from the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) takes part in a maritime intercept operation exercise. Freedom is conducting independent ship training and certification for her upcoming maiden deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Ed Early/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

091105-N-1329D-001 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Nov. 5, 2009) Members of the visit board, search and seizure team of the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) race toward a simulated suspect vessel during a composite unit training exercise (COMPUTEX). The exercise is a joint and combined training exercise to prepare for deployment by certifying readiness in a number of mission areas. (U.S. Navy photo by Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 2nd Class Alberto Delgado/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

091124-N-0260R-035 GULF OF ADEN (Nov. 24, 2009) Members of the visit, board, search and seizure team of the guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) practice boarding techniques from one the ship's rigid hull inflatable boats. Chosin is the flagship for Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) 151, a multinational task force established to conduct counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brandon Raile/Released)

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Gah I can't wait to do all that stuff in a year and some change from now.

 

[HeyJoe]

091129-N-0260R-022 GULF OF ADEN (Nov. 29, 2009) Sonar Technician Surface 2nd Class Roger Byassee provides security during a training evolution with the visit, board, search and seizure team assigned to the guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65). Chosin is the flagship of Combined Joint Task Force 151, a multinational task force established to conduct counter-piracy operations under a mission-based mandate to actively deter, disrupt, and suppress piracy off the coast of Somalia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brandon Raile/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

091129-N-0260R-003 GULF OF ADEN (Nov. 29, 2009) The visit, board, search and seizure team assigned to the guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) approach the ship in a rigid hull inflatable boat to practice ladder boarding techniques. Chosin is the flagship of Combined Joint Task Force 151, a multinational task force established to conduct counter-piracy operations under a mission-based mandate to actively deter, disrupt, and suppress piracy off the coast of Somalia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brandon Raile/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

091203-N-1291E-015 GULF OF ADEN (Dec. 3, 2009) The visit, board, search and seizure team assigned to the guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) practice boarding techniques. Chosin is the flagship of Combined Joint Task Force (CTF) 151, a multinational task force established to conduct counter-piracy operations under a mission-based mandate to actively deter, disrupt, and suppress piracy off the coast of Somalia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Edgington/Released)

 

[Steve Wilkins]

Ahhh....VBSS. Brings back such lovely memories.

 

[MasterBates]

Holy shit! It's a Steve sighting!

 

[Steve Wilkins]

Holy shit! It's a Steve sighting!

Shhhh. I'm invisible right now. You can't see me.

 

[HeyJoe]

Shhhh. I'm invisible right now. You can't see me.

Well blow me down. He lives!

 

[HeyJoe]

091209-N-1291E-050 GULF OF ADEN (Dec. 7, 2009) Members of the visit, board, search and seizure team of the guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) practice transition drills from their primary to secondary weapons. Chosin is the flagship of Combined Joint Task Force 151, a multinational task force established to conduct counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Edgington/Released)