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Spring 2014 Proceedings
www.uscg.mil/proceedings
result: trained and certified force
multipliers.
Not only that, all of NASBLA's course
offerings are exportable — they allow
offcers to train in their own boats
within their own port environment,
and (as happens in almost every
class) with their federal, state, and
local partners in a blended class. This
further emphasizes and strengthens
maritime partnerships.
On May 11, 2012, the United States
Coast Guard signed a first memo-
randum of understanding with the
National Association of State Boat-
ing Law Administrators, identify-
ing the organization as the holder of
national training standards for state,
county, local, and tribal maritime
law enforcement and emergency res-
cue personnel. That said, this does
not give NASBLA the exclusive use
of those standards. Others may also meet the same standard
of delivery, oversight, and credentialing, and NASBLA wel-
comes those partners.
In Conclusion
The recipe for a successful security strategy rests within
each American but, most importantly, in the hands and tools
already present and vigilant on our nation's waterways in
the form of the local, county, state, and tribal maritime law
enforcement offcer. More than boats and equipment, our
national assets and personnel must have the knowledge and
training to collaborate effectively on the nation's waterways,
securing our borders and ports.
That is the recipe for maritime security and success. The
tools and resources are in place — all we really need to do
is add water.
About the authors:
Major John C. Fetterman (ret.) is the law enforcement director for the
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. He is a 32-year
Maine Marine Patrol veteran and a former member of National Boating
Safety Advisory Council. Today, he is a National Maritime Security Advi-
sory Committee member. He is also an USCG Distinguished Public Service
Award 2010 recipient.
Mark DuPont (USCG ret) is the National Association of State Boating
Law Administrators' director of Boat Operations and Training. He founded
Merrick Maritime Security, served as a marine patrol offcer, and as Florida's
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission chief intelligence and domestic
security offcer. He has trained thousands of offcers and written state and
national security policies and procedures.
Endnotes:
1.
America's Coast Guard: Safeguarding Maritime Security in the 21
st
Century. Wash-
ington, DC: U.S. Coast Guard, 2000. Available at www.uscg.mil/history/docs/
USCG/2000_USCGMaritimeSecurity.pdf.
2.
The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. Available at www.gpo.gov/
fdsys/pkg/PLAW-107publ295/pdf/PLAW-107publ295.pdf; The Container Secu-
rit y Initiative. Available at www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-109shrg21825/
pdf/CHRG-109shrg21825.pdf; The U.S. Customs 24-hour Advance Cargo Mani-
fest Declaration Rule. Effective December 2nd, 2002. Available at www.cbp.
gov/xp/cgov/admin/c1_archive/messages/archives/2000/jan132000.xml; The
REAL ID Act. For more information, visit www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-
109publ13/html/PLAW-109publ13.htm.
NASBLA's exportable training reaches students from multiple agencies and allows them to train in their
area of responsibility (AOR) in the boats they operate everyday.
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