NDIA SOLIC AWARD

“WASHINGTON — Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, congratulates Lt. Aaron Renschler after he received the National Defense Industrial Association Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict Achievement Medal, Feb. 8, 2010. Renschler was recognized for his leadership while supporting Combined Taskforce 151’s anti-piracy mission, including thwarting five separate pirate attacks and the at-sea apprehension of 50 Somali pirates. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Anderson

“Over a five-month deployment as officer-in-charge of a law enforcement detachment aboard USS San Jacinto and USS Farragut, Renschler played a central role in the detention of 50 suspected pirates, the seizure of a large weapons and explosives cache, and the liberation five Yemeni hostages.”

But there is also this interesting little tidbit:

“Additionally, he was cited for his leadership while heading a task force assigned to identify, track, and board the most advanced narco-terrorist means of transport in the history of the war on drugs – the self-propelled fully submersible drug sub.”

Coast Guard LEDET boards suspected pirate vessel

INDIAN OCEAN – Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment and Combined Task Force 151’s visit board search and seizure team, on board the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Farragut board a suspicious dhow March 31. USS Farragut is part of Combined Task Force 151, a multinational task force established to conduct anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Cassandra Thompson.

(Source: Coast Guard news release)