N
NavyGrunt
Guest
Anyone going on SeaHawk on the 12th of Aug??? I am.
N
NavyGrunt
Guest
It's a big exercise with the Americans held once a year. I believe its in washington. Im not sure. I just get on the plane when they tell me too. Its a large scale 'port' security exercise. I heard it a 'gooder'. I don't know much else other than the dates 12-28 of Aug.
N
NavyGrunt
Guest
Ouch guess not. I gotta go down to stores on thurs and get kitted out with all my relish combats.
It doesnt go with my eyes but I'll make do for 2 weeks.
It doesnt go with my eyes but I'll make do for 2 weeks.
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 210
21-29 of aug Stelwart Guardian!
good old 32 brigade!
good old 32 brigade!
N
NavyGrunt
Guest
Negative. I believe it is a west coast EX in the states. Don't know much else though. Im pretty low on the food chain. Im just thrilled to be going. Ill post pics when I get back. As for your EX Inch have fun and good luck.
N
NavyGrunt
Guest
Okay boys Im back home after 15 glorious days on Sea Hawk. Outside of the Port Security Unit-2 from Canada (PSU-2) these groups were there-
1) The Cam Scots from Vic.
2) the U.S. Navy SeaBees
3) U.S. Navy
4) U.S. Coastguard
5) Port Inspection Diver team from Canada
6) And several Marines although I believe they were just observing.
The weather sucked. It started raining on Day 3 and rained all the way through the end of the exercise. The exercise was fairly well organized, although it was frustrating as heck because it felt like the officers were changing their mind on a whim. For the first couple of days we were standing 6hrs on 6hrs off with lectures between watches. Then it went to a 6 hrs on 12 hrs off for 1 day and then went back to the 6 on 6 off. So I averaged about 3 hrs of sleep a night. With showering,eating and kit maintenance. This may be enough fo the Army boys but for a sailor it was tiring. ;D
I learned alot on the EX though so I guess that makes it worth it. There were 150 canucks and 600 americans there. We all stayed in the new American tents. At 20000 a piece they were very nice. However during a ridiculous storm 1 blew over and hit someone. They werent seriously injured though. Unfortunately my tent flooded and we had 3 inches of water on the floor for the duration of the exercise. I had wet feet the whole 2 weeks.(Needless to say- those socks are gone)
The scenarios were good. However I would have liked to see more.(isnt that always the case) The American units had just finished up 13 monthes in Iraq so I the scenarios had a decidely "Middle eastern flavor". Things like "Religious leaders calling for resisitance", guarding oil tankers, battling insurgents.....I would say that my "combat" was 50% land and 50% on water. It was the most land warfare I've been involved in. I don't particularly like Miles gear. There was many instances of covering the sensors. However I never died personally so I must have done something right. So Ill share some things I picked up-
1) Canadian drill far outshines the drill of the American units we paraded with. It seems to be an after thought in their military. There were many instances of "hands in pockets" during the call of "stand easy" and everyone appeared to be chewing gum.
2) American MRE's are delicious compared to IMP's( I know thats and opinion)
3) The americans were less conscious of line of fire. We were always being advised of it. I recall one instance were a small Boston Whaler was between to American boats and they opened up with 3X .50 cal HMG. They were 20 yards away.
4) Canadian boat setup- 1 18ft RHIB with loud hail and blue light. Crew fully exposed. Crew of 3- Cox'n, Comms, and Bowsman. 2 weapons on board- Sig 9mm and C7+180 rds top speed of 35 knots. American boat setup- 25 ft flat bottomed fully enclosed boat. 3 crew inside,3 crew outside. Unknown weapons on board. Several M16's, 3X .50cal. Top speed of 60 knots. Although there is a large gap between the kit of each country we canadians performed at the same level and in many cases out performed. I walked in on several conversations where some Americans were complaining about not seeing any action because the Canadians kept stopping the OpForce.
5) the Navy's NVG are not very good. It is a "one can" goggle. And is "Monocular" in nature.
6) tHe americans were an excellent group of guys and anyone who thinks "Canadians" are superior or more polite need to meet these sailors. Heres an example. During the last night party some Canadians started singing the national anthem. And ever ASmerican around me started singing along as well- they knew the words. They sang and the quebecois to my left did not. An american asked me about this. I didnt have an answer. I was a little embarrassed though. Then they started in on the star spangled banner and most of the Canadians sang as well. However the quebekers on my left began jeering and singing it off key. I was so shocked. I gave them a huge blast of crap. To be fair not every french person there was like that. But I found this interesting.
7) The americans military personel are bound by their trade. Our camp was attacked and our boats we're recalled and we began to fight up the shore and take our camp back and every canadian fought. However the crew of the American boats stayed at the jetty and waited because they were "boats crew" and this was a land op.
8) The Americans need better enviromental laws. I never thought this until I went to the puget sound. Our canadian divers actually started getting sick from the water.
9) Port Security teams in Canada have now begun the intial groundwork for teams called IDT(inspection and detention teams) which will be the port security boarding teams. I worked as a member on one them in the puget sound(scenarios) and had a chance to give feed back on it. It needs alot of work but the concept is sound. The team trainers were all ex-NBP but a good lot that does when the members arent.
10) We did several VIP protection scenarios that were very interesting and quite a bit of fun as well as numerous high value asset escorts.
All in all a good time. Any questions I'll get back as soon as I can.
1) The Cam Scots from Vic.
2) the U.S. Navy SeaBees
3) U.S. Navy
4) U.S. Coastguard
5) Port Inspection Diver team from Canada
6) And several Marines although I believe they were just observing.
The weather sucked. It started raining on Day 3 and rained all the way through the end of the exercise. The exercise was fairly well organized, although it was frustrating as heck because it felt like the officers were changing their mind on a whim. For the first couple of days we were standing 6hrs on 6hrs off with lectures between watches. Then it went to a 6 hrs on 12 hrs off for 1 day and then went back to the 6 on 6 off. So I averaged about 3 hrs of sleep a night. With showering,eating and kit maintenance. This may be enough fo the Army boys but for a sailor it was tiring. ;D
I learned alot on the EX though so I guess that makes it worth it. There were 150 canucks and 600 americans there. We all stayed in the new American tents. At 20000 a piece they were very nice. However during a ridiculous storm 1 blew over and hit someone. They werent seriously injured though. Unfortunately my tent flooded and we had 3 inches of water on the floor for the duration of the exercise. I had wet feet the whole 2 weeks.(Needless to say- those socks are gone)
The scenarios were good. However I would have liked to see more.(isnt that always the case) The American units had just finished up 13 monthes in Iraq so I the scenarios had a decidely "Middle eastern flavor". Things like "Religious leaders calling for resisitance", guarding oil tankers, battling insurgents.....I would say that my "combat" was 50% land and 50% on water. It was the most land warfare I've been involved in. I don't particularly like Miles gear. There was many instances of covering the sensors. However I never died personally so I must have done something right. So Ill share some things I picked up-
1) Canadian drill far outshines the drill of the American units we paraded with. It seems to be an after thought in their military. There were many instances of "hands in pockets" during the call of "stand easy" and everyone appeared to be chewing gum.
2) American MRE's are delicious compared to IMP's( I know thats and opinion)
3) The americans were less conscious of line of fire. We were always being advised of it. I recall one instance were a small Boston Whaler was between to American boats and they opened up with 3X .50 cal HMG. They were 20 yards away.
4) Canadian boat setup- 1 18ft RHIB with loud hail and blue light. Crew fully exposed. Crew of 3- Cox'n, Comms, and Bowsman. 2 weapons on board- Sig 9mm and C7+180 rds top speed of 35 knots. American boat setup- 25 ft flat bottomed fully enclosed boat. 3 crew inside,3 crew outside. Unknown weapons on board. Several M16's, 3X .50cal. Top speed of 60 knots. Although there is a large gap between the kit of each country we canadians performed at the same level and in many cases out performed. I walked in on several conversations where some Americans were complaining about not seeing any action because the Canadians kept stopping the OpForce.
5) the Navy's NVG are not very good. It is a "one can" goggle. And is "Monocular" in nature.
6) tHe americans were an excellent group of guys and anyone who thinks "Canadians" are superior or more polite need to meet these sailors. Heres an example. During the last night party some Canadians started singing the national anthem. And ever ASmerican around me started singing along as well- they knew the words. They sang and the quebecois to my left did not. An american asked me about this. I didnt have an answer. I was a little embarrassed though. Then they started in on the star spangled banner and most of the Canadians sang as well. However the quebekers on my left began jeering and singing it off key. I was so shocked. I gave them a huge blast of crap. To be fair not every french person there was like that. But I found this interesting.
7) The americans military personel are bound by their trade. Our camp was attacked and our boats we're recalled and we began to fight up the shore and take our camp back and every canadian fought. However the crew of the American boats stayed at the jetty and waited because they were "boats crew" and this was a land op.
8) The Americans need better enviromental laws. I never thought this until I went to the puget sound. Our canadian divers actually started getting sick from the water.
9) Port Security teams in Canada have now begun the intial groundwork for teams called IDT(inspection and detention teams) which will be the port security boarding teams. I worked as a member on one them in the puget sound(scenarios) and had a chance to give feed back on it. It needs alot of work but the concept is sound. The team trainers were all ex-NBP but a good lot that does when the members arent.
10) We did several VIP protection scenarios that were very interesting and quite a bit of fun as well as numerous high value asset escorts.
All in all a good time. Any questions I'll get back as soon as I can.
chief_of_da_fence
Jr. Member
- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 130
Howdy Mr White
just my input to this exercise
first its the C SCOTT R'S Canadian Scottish Regiment.
it was not as intense as it usually is.sea training was soft . it was confusing working up for an exercise with different ROE than the ROE used for the exercise. I was very disappointed.
they went chewing gum they were chewing tobacco . the tactically acceptable cigarette .lol
REF para 3 and para 4. due to the lack o instruction of actual psu boat tactics the fact that there is a no go zone if your to close to the coi you will get shot what you didn't see were the notional land weapons normally .50's coxns must know to break away. the safety of the many over the safety of you. so the American's were following protocol your coxn wasn't. again there has to be a breakaway called.its pathetic when even your leadership isn't concerned with following the tac note. there is a lot of confusion between the psu tac note 2000 . and the crap PSS is trying to push on people . it might work in Vic but it still in my opinion questionable. our coxns blew line's of fire out there transoms on several occasions.here is a lesson its fun to crank and bank but some times its smart to sit watch and provide a stable platform for your weapons to fire from . don't hot dog don't show boat some time simple is better.
the us tents rocked the tent i was in was high and dry . it was sort of a huge water bed. the only water that got in was the water of my boots. I have been in a similar situation with Canadian a frames its no fun waking up in 5 inches of mud and water . thank god I had a barrack box.
yes the MRE in my opinion was superior to IMP'S
IDT = INSPECTION DETENTION TEAM. THERE is a lot of work to do on this and i feel that people are taking it a bit lightly. individuals that are trying to push IDT forward are of the opinion that boarding party training is not require d for this , basically saying that we require no knowledge of tactics or close quarter weapons handling or unarmed combat / self defence training is required. well I disagree. if we are going to do it do i right do it so i feel trained for all that might happen.
the water based opfor didn't have miles gear so other than the Navy,s first legitimate attempt at stress indoctrination on the water it was irrelevant for you to ware it on the watter . lol
we stood 1&2 5-7-7-5 WE FOUND OUT IT WAS A SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T WORK UNLESS EVERYTHING GOES PERFECT. I personally drove my body and mind till my extremities an mind were numb and I was a watch coordinator. I feel for my crews / family on the water especially when there were usually relived 1.5 hrs late every watch. in the rain in the cold. but they did it they did it well they did it safe.I have been involved with every operation except swiss air and the majority of PS exercises ,and in my opinion this was the most physically mentally demanding granted it wasn't - 40 in alaska but 1&2 5-7-7-5 made up for lack of snow. well before i ramble to much i just wanted to say we did it its done I got my t-shirt ttyl
just my input to this exercise
first its the C SCOTT R'S Canadian Scottish Regiment.
it was not as intense as it usually is.sea training was soft . it was confusing working up for an exercise with different ROE than the ROE used for the exercise. I was very disappointed.
they went chewing gum they were chewing tobacco . the tactically acceptable cigarette .lol
REF para 3 and para 4. due to the lack o instruction of actual psu boat tactics the fact that there is a no go zone if your to close to the coi you will get shot what you didn't see were the notional land weapons normally .50's coxns must know to break away. the safety of the many over the safety of you. so the American's were following protocol your coxn wasn't. again there has to be a breakaway called.its pathetic when even your leadership isn't concerned with following the tac note. there is a lot of confusion between the psu tac note 2000 . and the crap PSS is trying to push on people . it might work in Vic but it still in my opinion questionable. our coxns blew line's of fire out there transoms on several occasions.here is a lesson its fun to crank and bank but some times its smart to sit watch and provide a stable platform for your weapons to fire from . don't hot dog don't show boat some time simple is better.
the us tents rocked the tent i was in was high and dry . it was sort of a huge water bed. the only water that got in was the water of my boots. I have been in a similar situation with Canadian a frames its no fun waking up in 5 inches of mud and water . thank god I had a barrack box.
yes the MRE in my opinion was superior to IMP'S
IDT = INSPECTION DETENTION TEAM. THERE is a lot of work to do on this and i feel that people are taking it a bit lightly. individuals that are trying to push IDT forward are of the opinion that boarding party training is not require d for this , basically saying that we require no knowledge of tactics or close quarter weapons handling or unarmed combat / self defence training is required. well I disagree. if we are going to do it do i right do it so i feel trained for all that might happen.
the water based opfor didn't have miles gear so other than the Navy,s first legitimate attempt at stress indoctrination on the water it was irrelevant for you to ware it on the watter . lol
we stood 1&2 5-7-7-5 WE FOUND OUT IT WAS A SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T WORK UNLESS EVERYTHING GOES PERFECT. I personally drove my body and mind till my extremities an mind were numb and I was a watch coordinator. I feel for my crews / family on the water especially when there were usually relived 1.5 hrs late every watch. in the rain in the cold. but they did it they did it well they did it safe.I have been involved with every operation except swiss air and the majority of PS exercises ,and in my opinion this was the most physically mentally demanding granted it wasn't - 40 in alaska but 1&2 5-7-7-5 made up for lack of snow. well before i ramble to much i just wanted to say we did it its done I got my t-shirt ttyl
N
NavyGrunt
Guest
I remember seeing the frustration when you were being handed your instructions. We had plenty of talks regarding the IDT. As far as I can see- they run those boarding party courses year long so throw the reservists in there, or better yet give us our own trainers. It is a boarding party so it should be trained to that level. As for "PSU" tactics it all doesnt make much sense. Seems to me when we are dealing with HVA's and VIP's we should shooting long before they make it. As well as the request for warning shots defeats the purpose.....if you need warning shots NOW then you shouldnt be waiting on the OPs tent to respond. If you'll recall they gave us the discretion then took it away....then gave it back then took it away.
As for the hours- Make me stand 3 and 3 for all I care but make sure there is something going on. A six hour watch with no opfor floating in the rain isnt a learning experience. I don't believe they were using assets available to them. Now that a certain "someone" is gone perhaps it will get better.....Good to hear from you MS hope you got your pants back ;D
As for the hours- Make me stand 3 and 3 for all I care but make sure there is something going on. A six hour watch with no opfor floating in the rain isnt a learning experience. I don't believe they were using assets available to them. Now that a certain "someone" is gone perhaps it will get better.....Good to hear from you MS hope you got your pants back ;D
chief_of_da_fence
Jr. Member
- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 130
there is another ex comming up pretty soon in Halifax I believe it is called ex port watch. maybe ill see you there . with luck ill be driving a boat.
