SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Chincoteague conducted patrol boat operations training at sea with 40 Dominican Republic Naval Academy Midshipmen near Mona Island, Puerto Rico Saturday.
“This interoperability training exchange along with the Coast Guard and Dominican Republic Navy shiprider initiative strengthens our ability to conduct successful law enforcement and search and rescue operations together in the Mona Passage,” said Capt. Eduardo Pino, Commander, Sector San Juan.
The crew of the Chincoteague rendezvoused with two Dominican Republic Navy Patrol boats Saturday morning and received the students, second and third year Dominican Republic Naval Academy Midshipmen, onboard. The Chincoteague crew provided overviews of Coast Guard law enforcement, counter-drug and search and rescue operations in the Mona Passage and Caribbean. The discussions were followed by the practical application of fire fighting techniques and equipment use aboard a patrol boat at sea, and the use of biometrics technology and procedures during migrant interdictions.
The Coast Guard and Dominican Republic Navy will be conducting a second interoperability exchange in June to train an additional 40 Dominican Republic Navy Midshipmen.
Coast Guard and Dominican Republic authorities regularly share information and respond jointly to Search and Rescue and Law Enforcement cases off Dominican Republic shores.
