When Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) special agents work overseas at an embassy or consulate, they are in charge of the safety and security of the personnel who work there. This, of course, includes developing and facilitating safety drills so that personnel will know what to do if a crisis were to occur. Developing a strong relationship with host nation law enforcement counterparts and first responders also contributes to everyone’s safety; after all, they are the ones who will respond in the event of an actual crisis.
These relationships are typically developed through close collaboration and joint training. Recently, DSS special agents and the Marine Security Guards (MSG) at the U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt participated in a joint training exercise with one of Germany’s most elite state special police forces, the Spezialeinsatzkommando (SEK).
The SEK is the State of Hessen’s special task force with capabilities and responsibilities equivalent to a U.S. SWAT team. The SEK executes high-risk arrest warrants, resolves issues arising from situations involving barricaded suspects, hostages, and victims of kidnapping, and supports other sensitive police operations. Membership in this highly professional force requires candidates from the state police to complete an arduous course that boasts an over 70 percent failure rate. To execute their missions, the SEK uses a wide variety of firearms ranging from semi-automatic pistols to sniper rifles.
The SEK hosted DSS personnel and the MSG detachment at its range and offered them the opportunity to test a variety of SEK’s weapons and systems. Following an initial familiarization period, the SEK surprised the MSGs and DSS by challenging them to a shooting competition. DSS and MSG personnel paired up with SEK colleagues to move tactically down a shooting course, which included numerous shooting positions and multiple targets with a variety of weapons systems.
Wanting to challenge and test more than speed and accuracy alone, the SEK had a few more surprises up its sleeves as the competition continued. Together, the teams engaged in progressively more challenging tasks that required each team to figure out a puzzle to determine the correct target, prioritize targets based on limited ammunition, and even engage targets from inside a vehicle.
This friendly competition highlighted the unique skill sets of MSGs, DSS, and SEK personnel, proving what a professional team they make when each leverages their expertise. DSS personnel in Frankfurt continue to pursue opportunities to strengthen the U.S.-Germany alliance and deepen relationships with host nation law enforcement agencies through outreach events, targeted training sessions, and cooperation in investigations. This most recent engagement with the SEK provided an invaluable opportunity to enhance the relationship with a key host nation partner that plays a critical role in the German government’s security response to emergency situations at diplomatic facilities in the State of Hessen.
