Medical Staff build partnerships during Obangame Express 2022

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Peter Ticich | 220314-N-ZA688-0150 DAKAR, Senegal (March 14, 2022) U.S. military personnel pose for a picture with Senegalese sailors after conducting medical training onboard the Senegalese Navy's patrol ship, Fouladou, as part of the Exercise Obangame Express in Dakar, Senegal, Mar. 14, 2022. Obangame Express 2022, conducted by U.S. Naval Forces Africa, is an at-sea maritime exercise designed to improve cooperation among participating nations in order to increase maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea and West Africa coastal regions. U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Peter Ticich)  

KNOXVILLE, TN, UNITED STATES

03.21.2022

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Peter Ticich 

Navy Reserve Center Knoxville

Medical Staff Train Sailors
During Obangame Express
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Peter Ticich
DAKAR, Senegal -- Navy medical personnel provide training to service members on board the Senegalese navy patrol ship Fouladou, March 14, 2022, in Dakar, Senegal. The training was part of the multi-international exercise Obangame Express 2022 (OE22) hosted by Senegal and sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). The exercise is the largest multinational maritime exercise in Western Africa.
A total of 8 medical personnel are assigned to participate in OE22 and divided into different areas of operation during the exercise. The team is led by Cmdr. Javier Agraz, senior medical officer for OE22 from Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) in Rota, Spain. Agraz brings his previous experience to OE as he has participated in large scale Naval exercises before.
“I did Cutlass Express 2021 and I have done similar exercises on board USS Essex, USS Emory,” said Agraz. “This is my first time doing Obangame Express. I was competitively selected for it.”
Agraz and his medical team conducted critical care training for Senegalese service members. It provided hands on training that service members can take back to their respective communities.
“The partnerships that we have developed with these foreign nations, here at OE22, allow us to teach important skills to countries that may not have the medical infrastructure that we have,” said Agraz. “We have the skills and knowledge to train others with skillsets that could potentially save a life.”
Training evolutions are not the only purpose of Agraz and his team. They are also tasked with providing medical care and treatment to all participating members of OE22.
“Our main priority while we are here is patient care,” Agraz said. “We are the primary medical team for OE. Our job is to make sure that service members are being taken care of and are provided with treatment if they need it.”
Agraz spends most of his time in the clinic on the Senegalese Navy Base, when no training is being conducted. He runs the clinic and training evolutions with Hospital Corpsman (HM) 2nd Class Alexis Guerra and HM3 Mary Nyangenya. Just like Agraz, Guerra and Nyangenya are both stationed at NMRTC Rota, Spain. Unlike Agraz, this is Guerra and Nyangenya’s first time participating in in a large-scale exercise.
Guerra said he enjoyed the opportunity to train other service members and O#22 has been a memorable experience.
“This experience is going to stick with me,” said Guerra. “The engagement I had with the Flagship and their crew members was incredible. To be able to share knowledge with them and have them be so appreciative of it.”
Guerra wasn’t the only one helping with training. HM3 Nyangenya also provided basic life support training during OE22.
“It’s been eye-opening,” said Nyangenya. “I have seen people from different countries come together to learn from each other. I had the opportunity to conduct training and it was gratifying to see how eager these sailors were to learn. They were fully engaged which made the exercise successful.”
Nyangenya, has also had the opportunity to help treat patients at the clinic. She said she has assisted with medical care to non-U.S. personnel and received a grateful response for having care available 24/7.
The training provided by Agraz and his medical team demonstrates the purpose of large-scale multinational exercises such as OE22 which is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA), information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to enhance the collective capabilities of participating nations to counter sea-based illicit activity.
Obangame Express (OE22), the largest multinational maritime exercise in Western Africa, kicked off its 11th year with 32 participating nations at an opening ceremony in Dakar, Senegal, March 11, 2022 and concludes on March 18, 2022.
The 32 nations scheduled to participate in OE22 include Angola, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Liberia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and the United States. Also participating will be the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCA).

• Date Taken: 03.21.2022
• Date Posted: 10.31.2022 12:40
• Story ID: 432337
• Location: KNOXVILLE, TN, US