An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .mil**
A **.mil** website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
**Secure .mil websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

U.S. Southern Command

Search
Search

Search

-  Home		 
-  About    -  About Main             
  -  Area of Responsibility             
  -  Leadership             
  -  SOUTHCOM Components and Units             
  -  History             
  -  SOUTHCOM Inspector General 
-  Commander's Priorities    -  Commander's Priorities Main             
  -  Strengthen Partnerships      -  Theater Maintenance Partnership Initiative (TMPI) 
  -  Counter Threats             
  -  Build Our Team 
-  Media    -  Media Main             
  -  News             
  -  Press Releases             
  -  Photos             
  -  Videos             
  -  Speeches | Transcripts             
  -  SOUTHCOM Podcast 
-  USAG-M / Military-Family Services    -  U.S. Army Garrison-Miami      -  Equal Employment Opportunity Office 
  -  Overview of Services at SOUTHCOM             
  -  About the SOUTHCOM Installation and Local Community             
  -  Miami Family and MWR      -  Army Community Services             
    -  Child, Youth and School Services             
    -  Leisure Travel Services             
    -  Fitness Center 
  -  Visiting SOUTHCOM             
  -  Army Health Clinic SOUTHCOM             
  -  Hurricane Preparedness Info             
  -  Conference Center of the Americas             
  -  Theater Clearance Info             
  -  SOUTHCOM Chaplain             
  -  TEAM SOUTHCOM - Total Engagement for All Members of U.S. Southern Command             
  -  Logistics Readiness Center-Miami             
  -  Public Notice – Environmental Assessment for the Construction of a Military Housing Development             
  -  SHARP (SAPR) 
-  Newcomers    -  Newcomers Main             
  -  Sponsor Request             
  -  Directions to SOUTHCOM             
  -  Army Newcomers             
  -  Navy Newcomers             
  -  Air Force Newcomers             
  -  Marine Corps Newcomers             
  -  Coast Guard Newcomers             
  -  Reserve Newcomers             
  -  Civilian Newcomers             
  -  Contractor Newcomers             
  -  Family Member Newcomers             
  -  Newcomers to Overseas Locations in SOUTHCOM 
-  Work With Us    -  Employment | Careers             
  -  Public / Private Cooperation             
  -  Operational Contract Support             
  -  SOUTHCOM Industry Engagement 
-  FOIA    -  FOIA Main             
  -  How to file A FOIA Request             
  -  FOIA Fees and Exemptions             
  -  Your FOIA Rights             
  -  ​FOIA Reading Room 
-  Contact    -  Contact SOUTHCOM             
  -  Community Requests             
  -  FAQ             
  -  Contact SOUTHCOM Inspector General             
  -  Directions to SOUTHCOM 

HomeMediaNews

PHOTO INFORMATION

** Download

** Details

** Share

PHOTO INFORMATION

** Download

** Details

** Share

# SOUTHCOM, DOD Recognize Technicians Assisting Caribbean

By U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs

MIAMI — U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) recognized a team of subject-matter experts providing technical assistance to maritime-security forces in the Caribbean March 8 after the team earned a Department of Defense award for “excellence in maintenance training, advice, and assistance of foreign security forces.”

The Department of Defense presented the SOUTHCOM-based Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT) with the 2017 Secretary of Defense Foreign Security Forces Maintenance Award for “outstanding achievement and excellence in all facets of maintenance mission support” during a ceremony in Salt Lake City Dec. 5.

TAFT’s technical expertise is one of various forms of security assistance the U.S. is providing to Caribbean nations as part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) to help the region reduce illicit trafficking, improve public security, and promote social justice.

The 15-member TAFT is comprised of U.S. Coast Guard and Army engineers, technicians, specialists, and logisticians. It has been funded by the U.S. State Department since 2013 as part of a presidential priority. 

The team has deployed to the Caribbean 48 times, spending more than 1,000 days assisting maritime forces in 13 nations. They’ve authored more than 1,200 maintenance procedure cards, conducted multiple classes for maritime interceptor fleets with different configurations, and assisted regional counterparts with upgrading systems and programs that track and forecast maintenance or manage supply inventories.

The assistance provided by TAFT has helped Caribbean coast guards and maritime-patrol units keep their fleets operationally available to disrupt illicit trafficking, conduct search and rescue, and support disaster response missions, as well as other coastal-security operations.

Eastern Caribbean coast guards supported by TAFT have increased their maritime patrols by 41 percent, boarding of suspect vessels by 182 percent, and seizure of suspect vessels by 68 percent since the team’s assistance began.

In 2016, the team was recognized by then Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson with the Secretary’s Unit Award for “unprecedented interagency collaboration” for CBSI and its support to coast guards in the Caribbean.

**                    SHARE                

**                    PRINT                

## Related Links

State Dept. Blog: Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Builds Partnerships That Safeguard the United States

taftTechnical Assistance Field TeamCaribbeanCoast Guardsouthcom