WEBVTT

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(cymbals shimmering)

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(dramatic music)

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- [Narrator] The importance
the United States Navy plays

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in global commerce, security,

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and stability cannot be understated.

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A forward deployed Naval vessel provides

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a unique strategic capability
to global combatant commanders

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for a wide range of operations.

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Maritime interception,

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or interdiction operations,

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known as visit, board,
search, and seizure,

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or VBSS, is a core competency

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of the United States Navy,

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and more specifically,

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Naval Special Warfare.

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While the standard fleet
qualification requires

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a basic competency in VBSS operations,

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special circumstances
require special operations.

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When the stakes are higher,

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greater sea states,

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lower water temperatures,

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or a target of interest actively evades

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a routine inquiry or boarding,

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special operations
forces will be called in.

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This unique skillset,

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known as expanded maritime
interception operations,

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broadens our capabilities

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to include intercepting
targeted personnel or material

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that pose imminent threat to
the US or coalition members,

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and can only be accomplished
by special operation forces.

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From day one,

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SEALs focus on components of VBSS,

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making it one of their core competencies.

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VBSS training and proficiency
is a critical part

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of every workup cycle in
preparation for deployment.

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VBSS operations begin by using
combined and joint assets

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to inform an intelligence assessment

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to find and fix the target of interest.

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They will then provide bearing and range

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to the vessel or platform to be boarded.

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Once the concept of operations
is established and approved,

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the NSW VBSS team will move

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to an afloat forward staging base, AFSB.

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The advantage of an AFSB
is that it allows the team

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ease of travel,

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access to remote lateral areas,

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and a low profile,

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less intrusive presence
with no host nation reliance

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or political risk.

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Aboard the AFSB,

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the NSW VBSS team will
focus on mission planning,

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contingency planning,

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and rehearsals while waiting

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for the final approval to
board the vessel of interest.

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Prior to boarding,

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the vessel of interest
is vectored using any one

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or a combination of helicopters,

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small boats, drones,

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or the AFSB's combat information center.

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Once they are ready to board,

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they determine the method
to approach, board,

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and make entry to if and when contested.

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What sets NSW apart from
the rest of the fleet

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are their specialized
methods and equipment

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for approach, boarding,

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and affecting entry under
contested conditions.

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Sub-surface, surface swim,

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specialized surface craft,

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or a helicopter.

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Once aboard,

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the VBSS team will commence
the take down of the vessel

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by securing control of the pilot house,

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engineering control station,

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and steering gear.

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Once secured,

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the VBSS team will complete
sensitive site exploitation,

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turn over custody of the vessel

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to a predetermined steaming crew,

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and exfil to the AFSB.

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Upon completion of the mission,

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intelligence gathered from
the boarded will be analyzed,

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exploited, and disseminated
to area commanders.

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(dramatic music)