Sixteen participants from His Majesty’s Armed Forces – Tonga (HMAF) and Tonga Police have succesfully completed the U.S. Coast Guard’s Small Boat Operations training.
The two-week training taught the participants the basics of small boat operations, including basic navigation skills, line and knot tying, familiarity with survival equipment on board their vessels, and boat handling skills. The training also included practical exercises in seamanship and boat handling.
The training was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Command in Honolulu, Hawaii. The participants were trained by Coast Guard instructors who have extensive experience in small boat operations.
The training is part of a larger effort by the United States to strengthen its security cooperation with Tonga. The United States is committed to supporting Tonga’s efforts to improve its maritime security capabilities.
The participants of the training expressed their gratitude to the U.S. Coast Guard for the training and said that it would be beneficial to their work in the HMAF and Tonga Police.
The training is a major milestone for the HMAF and Tonga Police. It will help to improve their maritime security capabilities and allow them to better respond to maritime challenges.