Army personnel boost skills in air and sea training

[fecas-ecsvs]

Army personnel boost skills in air and sea training

09-October-2014

Personnel from the country’s air force and coast guard are attending two separate training courses developed by EUCAP Nestor, the EU maritime security capacity building mission.

Ten new surveillance operators of the Seychelles Air Force (SAF) are following a 22-week surveillance operator mission training course while 10 personnel from the Seychelles Coastguard (SCG) have started a two-week training course on speed boat handling.

The surveillance operator mission training course, which started on Monday, covers topics such as pre-flight preparation, in-flight tactics, flight navigation, surveillance radar, electro optical/infrared camera, communication, camera systems, search and rescue, crew resource management, fishing regulations, environment regulations and meteorology.

It also includes in flight training with both types of SAF aircraft for operational purposes and the final result will provide the SAF with a pool of maritime surveillance officers trained as radar operators and imagery analyst.

The course, prepared by EUCAP Nestor expert from the Swedish Coast Guard, Bjorn Erlandsson, will be delivered in most parts by him, with assistance from SAF officers and another EUCAP Nestor expert.

Speaking about the preparations for this course, Mr Erlandsson said: “The surveillance operators have a crucial role which is to search the patrol area by using all sensors available in the aircraft, and also to prepare for the flights and write the reports during and after the flights. I am working with the SAF since January this year and I am really impressed by everything achieved in this short period of time. This training is the next step and will help them to become even more operational.”

The course has been specifically tailored to the needs of the SAF to ensure that the sensor operators and image analysts will have the same basic and advanced training. This will increase their skills in their daily work, both on the ground as an imagery analyst but also as a surveillance operator in the flight.”

“It is the first time the SAF is carrying out a surveillance operators mission training course,” said Michael Pouponneau, the Commander of the SAF. “It will provide the participating airmen with multi-skills as all of them will be cross trained as radar operators and imagery analyst. As a result, SAF will have a pool of surveillance officers and expand its human resource capacity”.

By merging these two groups, SAF will increase the knowledge and the status for this group of staff. This also improves SAF flexibility and preparedness to deliver high standard surveillance flights to the coastguard and other counterparts. In addition, the training will further increase the possibility for SAF to deliver this type of training to other countries in the future.

EUCAP Nestor will also assist SAF with additional in-flight training. There will be further assistance related to the unit’s institutional set up and other forms of essential support such as equipment. Some equipment that will be used in the training has already been delivered by EUCAP Nestor such as, image stabilised binoculars, camera system, video projectors and VHF radios. Laptops and a scanner/printer will also be provided in the near future.

As for the speed boat handling course, developed by expert instructors from SCG and EUCAP Nestor, it will develop the personnel’s awareness and skills relevant to operating and servicing this type of boat.

The course is intended to develop their knowledge about maintenance, radio and navigational equipment fitted on the boat as well as duties and responsibilities of personnel on duty on-board. All this will be combined with practical exercises on board, day and night, while also focusing on the different contexts in which this type of boat can be deployed, i.e. search and rescue (SAR), fisheries supervisory, maritime policing and pollution control.

The course is linked to the donation of a speed boat by EUCAP Nestor earlier this year.
"This training follows the donation to the SCG of a rubber boat for security and boarding operations. It is in the policy of EUCAP Nestor to complement the delivery of equipment with training and I'm particularly proud that we managed to make it happen,” said EUCAP Nestor expert Cdr Giulio Piroddi from Italy.

“At the end of the course, the attendees will be able to safely drive the boat at day and nighttime and in all weather conditions.”

Head of EUCAP Nestor country office, Bo Holtse, said: “Providing training and support to development of personnel; knowledge, skills, routines and procedures relevant to specific types of equipment all reflect the pivotal link between personnel, equipment and training. From this perspective both of these training activities mirror positively the collaboration between SAF, SCG and EUCAP Nestor in developing individual as well as organisational capabilities crucial within the common domain of maritime safety and surveillance.”

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243256