US and Indonesia Conclude Multinational Small Boat Operations Instructor Training

RRI.CO.ID, Batam - The United States and Indonesia successfully concluded the Multinational Small Boat Operations Instructor Development Course (SBO-IDC) in Batam, Riau Islands, on Friday, January 30, 2026.

The US Coast Guard (USCG) organized this inaugural event in collaboration with the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (BAKAMLA). The program received additional support from the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

The training was officially opened on January 19, 2026, by Aqueelah Johnson, Director of the INL at the US Embassy, and Rear Admiral Bambang Trijanto, Head of BAKAMLA’s Western Zone. The program took place at the Anambas Training Center, located within the BAKAMLA Base in Batam.

The closing ceremony was also attended by Maritime Enforcement Specialist (MECS) Shane Goudswaard, Lead of the USCG Southeast Asia Training Team (SEATT). The intensive program ran through January 30, 2026.

During the two-week course, five US Coast Guard members provided specialized instruction to maritime law enforcement officers from four nations. The participants included six officers from BAKAMLA, two from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, two from the Philippine Coast Guard, and two from the Vietnam Coast Guard.

Instructors from SEATT and the USCG Yorktown Training Center delivered this first-of-its-kind small boat operations training to the multi-nation group. The curriculum was designed to prepare operators to become effective instructors by emphasizing critical competencies, including basic navigation, vessel handling dynamics, and operational risk management.

Training scenarios also covered man-overboard response, crew fatigue awareness, and seasickness management.

"The United States appreciates the strong partnership with BAKAMLA and regional maritime agencies. This training was conducted at the BAKAMLA Anambas Training Center, a facility built through US funding and officially handed over to BAKAMLA in January 2024," said Aqueelah Johnson.

This program serves as a continuation of previous collaborations between BAKAMLA and the USCG, following small boat operator training held in 2023.

"This training reflects the ongoing commitment of Indonesia, the United States, and regional partners to combat organized transnational crime and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific," added Aqueelah Johnson. (Annaila Azzahra/Bambang MBKA)