US Forces, Beninese Navy collaborate on Small Boat Maintenance

Courtesy Photo | Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Araujo inspects the work conducted by members of the Beninese Navy in Cotonou, Benin, Nov. 20, 2014. Araujo, a Wichita Falls, Texas, native, is part of a team of Marines and Coast Guardsmen from SPMAGTF Crisis Response-Africa, working alongside the Beninese Navy, trading knowledge of mechanical tactics, techniques and procedural skills while conducting engine maintenance on Honda BF225 outboard engines. (Courtesy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Vadala, U.S. Coast Guard)  

BENIN

12.16.2014

Story by 1st Lt. Maida Zheng 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

BENIN - Marines and Coast Guardsmen from SPMAGTF Crisis Response-Africa worked alongside the Beninese Navy, 17-27 November.

U.S. service members instructed Beninese Sailors on mechanical procedures, techniques, and maintenance skills while conducting small boat maintenance on Honda BF225 outboard engines.

“During our time here we discovered a cache of derelict engines stowed on top of storage containers in a maintenance bay,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Araujo, a Coast Guardsman with SPMAGTF Crisis Response-Africa.

Together, the international team of Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Beninese sailors evaluated the collection of broken outboard engines and selected one for repair. Incorporating the lessons they had learned, the group collectively conducted proper troubleshooting procedures, identified the engine’s issues, and performed corrective maintenance and repair. Instead of discarding a faulty engine that had stood inoperative for five years, the service members came together as a team and repaired it—saving money and resources in order to give the Beninese Navy a better operational capability to patrol their coastline.

“We are coming on to the end of the year,” said Major Regis, the Beninese Naval Base Commander. “This is the time we have so many crimes, so many security issues, and with this training we received we will be better prepared to address these concerns.”
Marines, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen with SPMAGTF-CR-AF conduct theater security cooperation missions through military-to-military engagements to assist partner nations in addressing security challenges.

• Date Taken: 12.16.2014
• Date Posted: 12.16.2014 03:16
• Story ID: 150404
• Location: BJ
• Hometown: NEW YORK, NY, US
• Hometown: PLAINFIELD, NJ, US
• Hometown: WICHITA FALLS, TX, US