Naval Special Warfare forces deployed to U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific concluded a joint combined training exercise with the Indian Navy Marine Commando Force on December 22. The three-week exchange built upon the two forces’ collective maritime capabilities and long-standing relationship. The exercise included tactical training with weapons, close-quarter combat drills, military free fall evolutions, helicopter insertions, and maritime boat operations. The realistic scenarios served as a capstone to the training and included maritime interdiction operations, visit, board, search and seizure operations, and direct-action missions.
“We are committed to operationalizing the U.S.-India partnership through enhanced information sharing, regional security cooperation, integrated deterrence and cooperation in new domains. This exercise provides us the opportunity of a common understanding of a shared working environment at sea through practical hands-on scenarios as a combined team,” said the senior team leader of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare unit.
“We consistently look for opportunities to enhance this ongoing professional partnership. The U.S.-India defense partnership is critical to securing a free and open Indo-Pacific.,” said Rear Adm. Jeromy Williams, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific.
U.S. special operations forces provide flexible response to contingencies in the Indo-Pacific. Integral to this capability is a forward-deployed posture and continuous engagement with partner and ally forces, heightening mutual interoperability and regional expertise. India, the U.S., Australia, and Japan concluded naval exercise Malabar 2022 Nov. 15, a multi-national exercise designed to advance the collective planning, integration and employment of advanced warfare tactics between participating nations. As part of Malabar 2022, there was a special operations forces-specific tri-lateral exercise between U.S. Naval Special Warfare, Indian Navy Marine Commando Force and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Special Boarding Unit, focusing on maritime interdiction and tactical combat casualty care training.
Naval Special Warfare is the nation’s premier maritime special operations force and is uniquely positioned to extend the fleet’s reach and deliver all-domain options for multinational forces. The United States Naval Special Warfare Command (USNSWC), also known as (NAVSPECWARCOM and WARCOM), is the naval component of United States Special Operations Command, the unified command responsible for overseeing and conducting the nation’s special operations and missions. WARCOM is organized primarily around eight Navy SEAL teams, three Special Boat Teams, and various supporting commands, totaling approximately 9,200 personnel. Units can operate independently, as part of navy carrier battle groups and amphibious ready groups, or integrated with other US special operations forces.
