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AL BASRA OIL TERMINAL, North Persian Gulf (NNS) -- Mobile Security Detachment (MSD) 71 Sailors are training their Iraqi marine counterparts to defend the waters surrounding Iraq’s oil platforms, Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT) and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT). Coordinated through Commander, Task Group (CTG) 158.1, the ongoing training scenario simulates an attack on the terminals and culminates with the live-fire shooting of a target placed in the water. During the training, Iraqi marines manning the lookouts report the scenario’s progress to the Tactical Operations Center (TOC), which decides the proper course of action. While the attacking vessel...

ABOARD AL BASRA and KHAWR AL AMAYA OIL TERMINALS, Iraq – Forward deployed Sailors attached to Mobile Security Detachment (MSD) 71 are currently deployed to Iraq 's two critical oil platforms, the Al Basrah (ABOT) and Khawr Al Amaya (KAAOT) oil terminals conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO). As a part of Commander Task Force (CTF) 158, MSD 71, based in Guam , arrived on station, April 9, to train and work alongside Iraqi marines in point defense operations of the oil terminals. “We act in a Military Training Team (MTT) mode and oversee their day to day operations to ensure...