The USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) is currently deployed and fighting the War on Terror in the Middle East. There is much anticipation to see successful results from a new kind of Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO) using the amphibious platform. If results are positive then future Naval anti-terrorist operations will be able to expand and create a more effective line of defense against terrorist organizations.

The early 1990s and the end of Operation Desert Storm marked a new era for Naval tactics and the economy. With the objective to enforce UN oil sanctions against Iraq, the Navy created Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) Teams. The VBSS teams were initially tasked with the mission to board ships and tankers to deter illegal oil shipping.

After 11 September, however, the mission of VBSS teams has evolved to fit an age of anti-terrorism rather than simple economic sanctions. The new VBSS teams are a more sophisticated effort actively detecting, denying, and deterring International Terrorist Organizations (ITO), weapons smugglers, and people traffickers in Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO). This new focus of VBSS teams requires the effort of the entire ship for success. A timeline of training is necessary for effective development of VBSS teams within a ship.

“The USS Gunston Hall’s VBSS team spent thousands of hours in preparation prior to deployment in order to be prepared for our current mission”, stated LCDR John McLaughlin, Boarding Officer for VBSS Team One.

Starting in the Fall of 2004, Gunston Hall aggressively recruited sailors within her crew that met requirements for VBSS in preparation for their future deployment. Apart from being physically fit and advanced swimmers, the members selected encompass a wide array of specialties, ranging from engineers, deck hands, and medics, to weapon operators and photo intelligence. VBSS team members are required to be non-compliant boarding qualified under the newly developed criteria for VBSS and MIO Operations. To achieve this, team members must go through four schools prior to going to a three-week team trainer to prepare for hostile reactions to a ship boarding.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to go to the non-compliant school for VBSS, due to the ship’s operational commitment to the surge deployment”, said LTjg Benjamin Eastburn, Boarding Officer for VBSS Team Two. “However, we were able to receive some refresher training from the schoolhouses and worked with ourselves conducting self-defense training and simulated boardings. We also put ourselves through a rigorous training regimen every morning to prepare for the demands of the region”.

Gunston Hall went far beyond only training a top-notch VBSS team. Next, expert navigation, operation, logistic, and communication support was assembled onboard to provide a real-time information flow to remotely located agencies. The Supply and Communications departments purchased, developed, and implemented new equipment for front-line testing.

“Our outstanding communications team is devoted to maintaining communications connectivity and creating fast ways to deliver information to our commanders, planners, and analysts in support of the Global War on Terrorism”, commented ITC Carlos Tilliman.

There is no doubt that every department plays an important roll in this mission. If there were to be one missing link, the chain of events for a successful evolution would not occur.

“VBSS and MIO operations involve a tremendous amount of total ship involvement. The boarding team is what many see as the end product of MIO. However, within the ship, you have the operations department and Bridge personnel tracking vessels, Deck department ready to launch rhibs and issue weapons, Supply ensuring the VBSS team is equipped with humanitarian assistance items, the Engineers keep the powertrain up to get us where we need to be and Medical is always on standby for the bumps and bruises”, said LCDR McLaughlin.

“ ‘Operational excellence through training readiness’ is our motto onboard the Gunston Hall. A well carried out mission is directly linked to the level of knowledge of everyone. If we are equipped for the mission we can actively detect, deter, and deny the enemy”, emphasized Gunston Hall’s Commanding Officer, CDR Thomas M. Negus.
In this new era of MIO intensive operations, “World Famous” Gunston Hall has expanded the primitive VBSS vision of small boarding teams to a 350 sailor mission within the War on Terror that covers vast areas of the ocean.