RDF Receives Training and Watercraft Spare Parts from the US Department of Defense

The United States Defense Attaché Office, through its International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, this month welcomed four United States Coast Guard (USCG) trainers who were later introduced to the relevant RDF authorities who commended the US Department of Defense for their contribution to capacity building and professional development of the Marine Regiment. The trainers are in the country to teach two courses to 24 Rwanda Defense Forces (RDF) Marines in Rubavu, Rwanda. The training is occurring 2 June to 27 June 2008 at Lake Kivu.

The first is the Small Boat Operators Course which encompasses small boat operations to hone the RDF Marines skills in navigation, towing, deck seamanship, marlinspike seamanship, fire fighting, coxswain skills and engineering casualty control. The second course is the Advanced Officer Boarding Course and focuses on maritime law enforcement boarding, boat searches, anti-smuggling techniques and is designed to train boarding teams to confidently conduct normal and high-risk boat-to-boat boarding.

The RDF headquarters chose these US funded courses to help professionalize the RDF Marine Regiment and to enhance border security on Lake Kivu. Border security on Lake Kivu is a priority for both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This training will help counter terrorism, human and arms trafficking, and all kinds of smuggling operations on Lake Kivu. The training will enhance border security along the lake which benefits both Rwanda and DRC.

In addition to the training, the United States Department of Defense (USDOD) Counter Narco-Terrorism (CNT) Program has provided the RDF Marines with Yamaha boat engines and numerous replacement parts for their watercraft. These engines and parts will help keep RDF Marine boats functioning and patrolling Lake Kivu.