From April 21 to May 2, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Southeast Asia Training Team (SEATT) conducted its first-ever Leadership and Management School (LAMS) course in Southeast Asia, with 43 members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as its inaugural participants.
Originally developed at the USCG Academy, the LAMS course—conducted at the PCG’s Fleet Training Center of Excellence in Balagtas, Bulacan—is designed to develop future-ready leaders, foster innovation in maritime education, and deepen cooperation between the USCG and the PCG.
“LAMS has breathed new life into how we grow leaders at the PCG’s Fleet Education, Training, and Doctrine Development Institute. The impact is real—it’s building confidence, self-awareness, and a stronger sense of purpose among our people,” said PCG Commander Raquel Colarina of the Coast Guard Fleet.
The course was held over two one-week sessions, each led by seasoned USCG trainers and attended by PCG personnel from key units such as the Coast Guard Fleet, Marine Environmental Protection, and Maritime Safety Services.
“Marking a milestone in international cooperation, the PCG and USCG are not only sharing best practices, but also forging a unified approach to developing resilient, adaptive leadership in complex maritime environments,” said USCG instructor Senior Chief Operations Specialist Anastazya Lencz.
Using an experience-based curriculum, LAMS enhances the leadership skills of junior officers and non-officer supervisors. It emphasizes key competencies, including effective communication, positive influence, performance motivation, mission completion with subordinate care, personal ethics, and teamwork promotion.
The SEATT program is set to conduct more training events for the PCG in 2025. Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the program aims to strengthen cooperation among maritime law enforcement agencies in Southeast Asia.
