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LAGOS, Nigeria – Eleven Africa Partnership Station Nashville embarked trainees capped off three weeks of instruction aboard USS Nashville with a graduation ceremony March 20 on the ship's flight deck.
The group, made up of sailors from the Nigerian navy and Sierra Leone maritime wing, was the second embarked trainee class to graduate since the program started in APS Nashville's first African port visit in Dakar, Senegal, Feb. 3.
"The pride that the APS staff and I feel in participating in this graduation can't be adequately expressed. We have learned as much from our embarked trainees as we have hopefully imparted," said Africa Partnership Station Nashville Commander Capt. Cindy Thebaud. "This program is truly a cornerstone of the APS mission and we are confident that the relationships we have built will pay dividends in years to come."
During their time aboard the Norfolk-based amphibious transport dock ship, the trainees spent time in a classroom environment and in several hands-on applications learning different aspects of seamanship, damage control and leadership skills.
The working relationships built during the time aboard are an integral part to building partnerships and enhancing maritime strategy in west and central Africa, assistant embarked trainee coordinator, said Lt. Will Phillips, the APS Nashville embarked trainee coordinator.
"I think it's a really good way to build relationships at the fundamental level," said Phillips. "Normally, we see high-ranking officials or defense attachés building relationships at the strategic or operational level. Now you see one-on-one interaction between junior officers and enlisted as well."
In total, APS Nashville will hold five embarked trainee classes by the time it wraps up operations in May. The next class has already begun and will continue until Nashville's upcoming port visit to Limbe, Cameroon, in early April.
Nashville will depart from its current port of Lagos, Nigeria, on March 27, following 11 days of APS-specific training.
Nashville is currently deployed with Africa Partnership Station. APS is an international initiative developed by Naval Forces Europe and Naval Forces Africa which aims to work cooperatively with U.S. and international partners to improve maritime safety and security on the African continent. Nashville is focused on supporting the APS strategy in West and Central Africa.
To learn more about APS, please visit http://www.c6f.navy.mil/apshome.html.
| Date Taken: | 03.24.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.24.2009 11:26 |
| Story ID: | 31544 |
| Location: | LAGOS, NG |
| Web Views: | 288 |
| Downloads: | 273 |
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