MINDANAO ISLAND, Philippines — U.S. Navy Special Warfare sailors are helping the Philippine navy learn to control the waters around islands where they’re fighting Abu Sayyaf terrorists.

Special Warfare Combatant Craft crew and their MK V special operations craft and rigid inflatable boats have followed the Philippine navy on more than 4,000 “visit, board, search and seizures” since arriving in the Philippines in October, said Chief Petty Officer Michael Andre, a RIB detachment commander.

The crewmen and an accompanying group of Navy SEALs are based at Coronado, Calif., and are supporting the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines by training counterparts in the Philippine naval special operations units.

“Most of our stuff is at night,” Andre said of the four- to six-hour-long missions cruising the waters off Jolo Island following the Philippine navy while they search for terrorists. Military officials said Abu Sayyaf has taken to moving via small boats since Philippine marines have established camps in the center of the kidney-shaped island, blocking the traditional east-to-west land route.

Andre said the heavily armed U.S. boats — with such weapons as twin .50 caliber machine guns, M-203 grenade launchers, shotguns and 9 mm pistols — stay a “safe distance” away as the Philippine sailors conduct their operations.

And he’s impressed with their work.

“I have seen their waterborne tactics drastically improve thanks to the Philippine leadership and their willingness to learn,” he said.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Moody, an MK V navigator, said he’s learned a lot from the Filipinos.

“Their ability to adapt with what little amount of gear they have” is incredible, he said.

Navy Special Warfare task unit commander Lt. Cmdr. Robert Reitz said his people have been “in the water since the second day” after their arrival in the Philippines.

The goal is to help build the Philippine navy’s capacity to where “we work our way out of a job,” he said.

The maritime interdiction work ranges from “stop and say hello” to “completely opposed,” Reitz said.

“It’s getting to know who’s out in the water,” he said. “Getting to know the all the fishermen … so it’s easy to see what’s an anomaly.”

He said his Philippine counterparts need “less and less input and support” in their missions and are securing the waters.

“They are absolutely denying [Abu Sayyaf] free access through the water and transit lanes,” he said.

Day 2:Slideshow

Finding the root of home-grown terrorism

Special forces lend a hand to counterparts

Navy helps Philippines' sea defense

Making friend's in Abu Sayyaf's territory

Civil affairs team members roughing it at remote camp

Officials say Philippine fight much different than Iraq, Afghanistan

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