OCHO RIOS, Jamaica -- Sailors and Marines from Task Group 40.7 embarked onboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) and members of the Jamaican Defense Forces Coast Guard (JDFCG) participated in an Anti-Terrorism Force Protection (ATFP) exercise to exchange information between U.S. and Jamaican militaries Nov. 19, in an effort to improve regional security through military-to-military cooperation.
Both militaries provided guidance to each other on proper steps to take in a vehicle search, personnel search and control, and how to maintain an entry control point (ECP).
“We shared a lot of information with them,” said Master-at-Arms 1st Class (SW/AW) Reginald Allen. “We touched on ATFP subjects they knew and some they didn’t know. They asked a lot of questions, and were very receptive to the information. If I had the chance, I would love to go back and work with the Jamaicans again.”
The Sailors learned a great deal about how the Jamaicans perform security procedures and were very impressed by their overall knowledge.
“We discovered they were trained very well,” said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (SW) Joe Gutierrez. “We would create a scenario for them and they would be able to tell us step by step what they would need to do. They were very knowledgeable and the exchange of information went well.”
The training was conducted at Reynolds Pier where U.S. Marines and Sailors were unloading pallets of supplies which were donated to Jamaican medical and educational organizations.
Other members of Task Group 40.7 assisted the JDFCG by performing maintenance on .50-caliber machine guns that belonged to the JDFCG personnel manning the pier. The JDFCG was then able to conduct a gunnery exercise from their boats with the overhauled guns.
Wasp is currently deployed on Southern Partnership Station-Amphib 2009 with Destroyer Squadron 40 and embarked Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force. SPS is part of the Partnership of the Americas Maritime Strategy that focuses on building interoperability and cooperation in the region to meet common challenges.