Robert G. Bradley Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure Team conducts training with Mozambican Marines

Courtesy Photo | USS Robert G. Bradley Sailors and Mozambican Marines prepare to board Bradley during a simulated compliant boarding drill off the coast of Maputo, Feb. 10. Bradley is in Maputo conducting a wide range of training as part of Africa Partnership Station, an international security cooperation initiative led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe - Africa aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and other collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in West, Central, and East Africa.  

02.12.2009

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet

By Seaman Apprentice Whitfield Palmer
U.S. Naval Forces Europe, 6th Fleet Public Affairs

MAPUTO, Mozambique – USS Robert G. Bradley Sailors conducted visit, board, search, and seizure and small boat operations training with Mozambican Marines during a visit this week as part of Africa Partnership Station.

APS is an international security cooperation initiative, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe - Africa, aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and other collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.

The ship's VBSS team began training with presentations on theory, tactics, techniques, and procedures with Mozambican troops.

"The training is rewarding for us because the guys take the training very seriously," said Ensign Joshua Cowart, Bradley's boarding officer. "We are teaching them to be safer and how to protect their country."

After presentations, Bradley's boatswain's mates and quartermasters reviewed and practiced small boat handling techniques and basic navigation principles with Mozambican Marines and conducted a simulated compliant boarding with two Mozambican rigid hull inflatable boats onto Bradley.

The ship and its crew are currently making the first ever APS port visit to Mozambique. The VBSS training was the first time for many of the Mozambican troops to interact with Americans.

VBSS exercises were joined by Portuguese marine corps commander Alberto Correia, Portuguese military cooperation, who is stationed in Maputo and works closely with the Mozambican Marines.

"We welcome more training," said Carlos Francisco, a 1st lieutenant with the Mozambican Marines. "We've been trained well by our guests, and everything is becoming clear to us. We are grateful for the American spirit of giving and welcome more training in the future."

Bradley is an Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate home ported in Mayport, Fla., and is on a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of responsibility to help improve maritime safety and security and strengthen ongoing maritime partnerships.

• Date Taken: 02.12.2009
• Date Posted: 02.12.2009 08:47
• Story ID: 29938