The Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS) is one of the three original Panama Canal Area Military Schools along with the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (previously called U.S. Army School of the Americas) and the Inter-American Air Forces Academy. It is located at John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

History

NAVSCIATTS traces its history to the U.S. Coast Guard Mobile Training Team (MTT) sent to the Panama Canal Zone as a result of agreements made during the 1961Alliance for Progress Conference in San José, Costa Rica. During this initial deployment, the need for a permanent training facility was recognized and the U.S. Coast Guard based the Small Craft Inspection and Training Team (SCIATT) at the Rodman Naval Station in Panama in May 1963. Operation of the team was transferred to the U.S. Navy in June 1969 and it was re-designated as the Small Craft Instruction and Technical Team. As a result of increased training demands, NAVSCIATTS was officially established as a Naval shore activity in October 1982 and formally established as a Naval shore command in July 1983. The 1977 Torrijos–Carter Treaties abolished the Panama Canal Zone and transferred control of the Panama Canal to the government of Panama. The anticipated closure of U.S. military facilities in the Panama Canal Zone resulted in the relocation of NAVSCIATTS to the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi where the riverine and coastal areas provided an ideal training area.

Courses

The school presently offers the below formal courses of instruction in both Spanish and English at various times throughout the year. Many courses are taught by several select members of the Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen, SEALs, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, and USCG Deployable Specialized Forces. The school currently offers several courses specializing in small craft strategy, operations, communications, weapons, and maintenance. NAVSCIATT has trained nearly 1,000 foreign partner nation forces and other international students.