By Petty Officer 3rd Class Tracey L. Whitley
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — On Jan. 4, Lt. Cmdr. Justino Sibia accepted a change of pace when he left his home in Maputo, Mozambique, to join the U.S. platform high speed vessel Swift and become part of the Africa Partnership Station East staff.
Sibia, chief of Safety and Maritime Security for the Mozambican navy, was appointed the role of assistant logistics officer and has spent the last few weeks coordinating transportation, sporting events and supplies needed to keep the APS staff operation running smoothly.
"My job here requires me to ensure that the international staff, consisting of members from Brazil, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Tanzania and the United States, stay involved with APS engagements," said Sibia. "I help with the logistical side by maintaining things we need to get our job done."
Sibia's notable career and experience as a naval officer in the Mozambican military has helped him achieve great success as the assistant logistics officer during the APS East mission.
Overall, Sibia said he has enjoyed his time aboard the ship and with the 2010 APS mission nearly complete, he is looking forward to returning back to his home command with a wealth of experience under his belt.
"I feel honored that I was able to experience APS, because I got to travel around many different parts of Africa and meet several officers from partner navies; the relationships I've built during this mission are really what I've enjoyed most."
APS East is an international cooperative initiative aimed at strengthening global maritime safety and security through collaborative training and activities.
Swift and Nicholas have visited ports in Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles. The ships bring teams of maritime experts from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps to provide training and participate in exercises with their African counterparts. Combat lifesaving; damage control; law of war; visit, board, search and seizure; small boat operations/maintenance and physical security are just a few of the capabilities onboard.
APS East has been conducting missions along the east coast of Africa for a few years; however, APS East 2010 marks the first year that the mission includes an international staff of partnering-nations. Staff officers aboard the HSV-2 Swift from Kenya, Mozambique, Mauritius, Tanzania, Brazil and the U.S., work directly with the Commander to plan and execute the APS East mission, offering a deeper level of experience and exchange of ideas about maritime safety and security in Africa.
Swift and Nicholas are on regular scheduled deployments within the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. APS East is being conducted in cooperation with Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa and U.S. Africa Command.