LIEUTENANT Junior Grade Cyril Pearl Magbanua PCG, Deputy Commander of the Coast Guard Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive Force (CGCBRNEF), under the Maritime Security Law Enforcement Command (MARSLEC) along with four other female officers from the United States Coast Guard (USCG), served as part of the Training Directorate for two Introductory Boarding Officer Courses from 25 November to 06 December 2024.
These courses were designed for the operations support personnel of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Vietnam wherein majority of whom are women.
The initiative supported INL Vietnam’s advocacy to involve more women and provide them with a broader platform in the field of Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE). It also enhanced the operational staff’s understanding of the boarding process, increase women support staff’s confidence in participating in MLE operations, and strengthen the agency’s overall MLE capacity.
“The students observed USCG and PCG female officers confidently teaching MLE concepts, demonstrating boarding procedures, self-defense tactics, and sharing operational stories. This not only inspired the women students during the course but also beyond, as they saw and heard firsthand from fellow women, including a regional partner female instructor, who broke down barriers to become instructors and/or serve as boarding officers,” LTJG Magbanua shared.
Women’s involvement in MLE, especially in serving as instructors for capacity development, is both critical and inspiring. Their participation serves as a testament that women can excel in MLE, a field traditionally dominated by men.
Editor’s Note: This article has been sourced from the Philippine Coast Guard – Philippines Facebook Page.
