The Seychelles Special Forces (SFU) and the Royal Marine Boarding Team out of HMS Lancaster took part in three days of joint training exercises to strengthen cooperation between the two units prior to the ship’s second visit to the island nation.

According to a press release from the British High Commission In the Seychelles, the two groups conducted green skills training on the Cap Ternay training area for the first two days. This included jungle patrols, observation exercises, ambush response exercises and close-in reconnaissance. On the last day of the exercise, the Royal Marine Boarding Team Head to SFU’s Barbarons firing ranges to familiarize yourself with their weapons and conduct tactical shooting exercises with 9mm and 7.62mm weapons.

The training exercise provided the UK and Seychelles with the opportunity to work together on essential soldiering skills for the first time in many years, enabling closer cooperation in warfare in a tropical jungle environment.

British High Commissioner Jeff Glekin had the opportunity to observe the training on 12 August and met with both teams. The Commanding Officer of the SFU, Lieutenant Colonel Didace Hoareau, and the Commander of the Seychelles Land Force, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hollanda, were also able to visit and observe the training.

Commenting on the UK-Seychelles cooperation, Hoareau said: “The joint interactions between the SFU personnel and the British Royal Marines are a great opportunity for the SFU as modern warfare is constantly changing. The British command has more experience and expertise in warfare and brings new knowledge and techniques that are beneficial to our special forces. The interactions help in sharing knowledge on different tactics used by both forces. We look forward to more such interactions in the near future.”

High Commissioner Jeff Glekin met with the teams during the training exercise. (British High Commission) Photo license: All rights reserved

Major Richard Kettle, a Royal Marine and British International Liaison Officer at the Regional Coordination Operations Centre in the Seychelles, stressed: “The joint training between the Royal Marines and the Seychelles SFU serves as a continuation of the UK’s ongoing partnership in the Seychelles in building regional stability and security. This exercise provided the Seychelles SFU with a great opportunity to enhance its ground warfare operations and build its capabilities.”

Glekin said: “I am proud to have brought the Royal Marines back to the Seychelles. The UK and the Seychelles are seafaring nations – we know that our safety and economic security begins at sea. I am impressed by the young men and women in the SFU and I am committed to continuing to support such people-to-people partnerships.”