MARCH 31, 2016, NAPLES, Italy (NNS) – Human Trafficking is a problem faced throughout the world, generating an estimated $32 billion a year. The Department of Defense and the Navy work to ensure that everything is done to limit personnel’s interactions and increase awareness of the problem.
As part of that mission, all personnel are required to complete the annual Combating Trafficking in Persons training, in order to receive education on what human trafficking consists of and how to identify it.
Navy personnel travel throughout the world, and the training is vital in educating them on the dangers of this problem and how to identify it. While the training assists with identifying human trafficking, reporting suspected incidences is directed to Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
“The primary reason for the training is proactive education; to ensure that when DoD personnel are working and traveling throughout the world they’ll be able to recognize and report human trafficking to their chain of command or NCIS,” said Brad Duckworth, assistant special agent in charge, U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Europe and Africa Field Office.
According to Duckworth, education is critical to ensure personnel can recognize and act appropriately should they suspect any human trafficking. While some people might associate human trafficking with only sex workers, the reality is that labor services or businesses are capable of using a trafficked workforce.
The training focuses on what to look for to recognize a situation involving human trafficking, and how to avoid becoming involved in these situations. By not associating with businesses involved in human trafficking, the DoD can keep money out of the trafficker’s hands. This is one step toward stopping human trade.
Duckworth added that your command or local NCIS detachment is able to provide the most up-to-date information on businesses suspected of involvement in human trafficking in your local area or other areas when travelling.
“NCIS produces criminal threat assessments for a majority of places that DoD personnel visit, sometimes establishing off limit areas,” said Duckworth. “It is essential that all personnel pay close attention and adhere to off-limits policy to avoid possible interactions with this industry.”
Personnel are required to complete the Combating Trafficking in Persons training annually. The information provided in the training gives U.S. forces and DoD the tools to reduce and prevent contributions to human trafficking.
The annual training can be found at http://www.nko.navy.mil/ and http://jko.jfcom.mil/