In the News: HSV2 Swift visits Nuoakchott, Mauritania

HSV Swift visits Nuoakchott, Mauritania

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania, November 5, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — By Commander, US Naval Forces Europe-Commander, US Naval Forces Africa/Commander, US Sixth Fleet Public Affairs

High-Speed Vessel 2 Swift (HSV 2) pulled into Nuoakchott, Mauritania, Nov. 5, to conduct a series of military-to-military interactions and theater security cooperation engagements.

While in port crewmembers of the Swift and the commander of the task force Swift is assigned to will host tours and receptions, as well as participate in meetings designed to further the maritime relationship between both nations’ navies. The US Ambassador to Mauritania, Mr. Mark Boulware, will also co-host a reception on Swift.

“This port visit is a further step towards our mutual cooperation and interaction,” said Capt. Martin Beck, Commander, Task Force 368. “It’s been over a year since our last interaction [small training team] with the Mauritanian Navy, and we are excited to be back and working together again.”

There is no official record of a US military vessel visiting Mauritania in recent history and there has only been limited Navy interaction in the last several years, usually only involving small two to three person training teams or delegations.

Swift, a high speed vessel with a hybrid crew of US Navy sailors and civilian mariners is homeported in Naval Station Ingleside, Texas and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va. and is currently on a regularly sechedule deployment in the US 6th Fleet area of responsibility.
SOURCE
US Sixth Fleet Public Affairs

Liberian President Visits APS Swift for Farewell Reception

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf visited Africa Partnership Station (APS) Swift for an evening reception honoring the conclusion of the ship's two-week Medical Civil Action Project in Monrovia, September 15, 2009.

For the past two weeks, the three medical teams embarked on APS Swift have been visiting hospitals and clinics around the capital city providing free care and medicine. Sirleaf thanked the teams for their compassion and dedication.

"You have treated over 2,000 people in the short time you've been here," Sirleaf said. "You have brought to us the partnership of caring and sharing. The presence of Africa Partnership Station Swift and the work you have done here is out of concern for humanity. You are here as partners with the added dimension of caring, and for that I would like to extend a very great thank you and my sincere wish that you return soon."

In addition to the medical civil action project, Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Three began one of two building projects which will keep them in Liberia for the next four months.

"Africa Partnership Station is the way we show our commitment to Liberia and the region," said Brooks A. Robinson, Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Liberia. "We are here as partners and look forward to more opportunities to strengthen the ties between our countries and our peoples."

APS is a multinational initiative under Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa which aims to foster cooperation between the U.S., European and African partners as a way to enhance maritime safety and security on the African continent.

Swift, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. The ship has supported various partnership-building operations and training throughout much of the world, including APS.

In the News: Swift Relations in Liberia

Liberian President Accepts Project Handclasp Donation from HVS Swift

Twenty-four pallets of Project Handclasp supplies were accepted on behalf of the nation by the President of Liberia during a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia, September 4, 2009.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, along with Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Liberia Brooks A. Robinson and acting Minister of Liberian Health and Social Welfare Vivian Cherue, were guests of honor at the ceremony.

Twenty of the donated pallets contained high nutrition meals as part of Kids Against Hunger, a program with a mission to reduce the number of hungry children in the U.S. and throughout the world.

"We begin today by officially handing over 144,000 meals for Liberian school children, and four pallets of medical supplies for the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare," said Robinson. "These items were delivered through Project Handclasp by the HSV Swift, an Africa Partnership Station (APS) ship which is now docked in the Freeport of Monrovia."

High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) will be in Liberia for two weeks as part of APS. Medical teams based on the ship will conduct primary care health screenings, maternal and child services and education, dental exams and education, eye examinations and distribution of prescription glasses. The teams will also provide veterinary services and education, biomedical repair education and advanced lab training. Navy Seabees will construct a new medical ward and laundry at another local hospital.

"Liberia needs effective partnerships that are characterized by continuous and frank consultations, information sharing, clear rules of engagement and conflict resolution, transparent transactions, and explicit incentives," said Chereu. "We look forward to working with you on more projects, and from the bottom of my heart I want to again profoundly express appreciation to you for the extraordinary assistance you will provide the Liberian people."

Homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, Swift is on a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. The ship has supported various partnership-building operations and training throughout much of the world, including APS.

APS is a multinational initiative developed by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa which aims to work cooperatively with U.S. and international partners to enhance maritime safety and security on the African continent. APS provides a unique venue to align maritime engagements by utilizing an international team of expert trainers in a variety of military capacities and civilian fields.

Photo: MONROVIA, Liberia - President of Liberia Ellen Johnson (left) and Charge d'Affaires of the American Embassy Brooks Robinson (right) cut a ribbon during a formal ceremony in Monrovia to accept a Project Handclasp donation, September 4, 2009. Twenty-four pallets of high-nutrition meals and medical supplies were delivered by Africa Partnership Station (APS) Swift (HSV 2) at the beginning of a two-week port call to Monrovia. While in port, the ship will deploy medical personnel and Seabee teams on a number of humanitarian missions. APS, an international initiative led by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa, is aimed at improving maritime safety and security for the continent of Africa through training and other collaborative activities with African partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Dan Meaney)

Photos: Gold Crew in Jamaica, Nicaragua

I found these photos on a Navy PR site and thought you all might enjoy them:

BLUEFIELDS, Nicaragua (April 2, 2009) Lt. j.g. Gus Bennett, left, Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jason Hatton and Operations Specialist 2nd Class Mike McMurry, assigned to the Gold Crew of high-speed vessel Swift (HSV-2), repaint the lines on a basketball court during a Southern Partnership Station community relations project in Bluefileds, Nicaragua. Southern Partnership Station is a training mission to Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Matthew Olay/Released)

DRAPERS, Jamaica (April 16, 2009) U.S. military service members assigned to high speed vessel Swift (HSV 2), Southern Partnership Station, and Beyond the Horizon 2009 clean and paint a schoolhouse during a community service project. Southern Partnership Station is a military to military training mission to Central America, South America and the Caribbean Basin. Beyond the Horizon is a humanitarian and civic assistance mission hosted by U.S. Southern Command. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Ball/Released)

Photo: Blue Crew Sailors in Gabon

GABON (Aug. 20, 2009) Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Howard T. LeRoy, foreground, and Ensign Michael P. Deasey, both assigned to the High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) carry medical supplies ashore to resupply Ngola village, a small, remote settlement on the Ogooue River in Gabon. The Project Handclasp delivery is part of an Africa Partnership Station Swift mission in the Gulf of Guinea. Africa Partnership Station is an international initiative under Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa to work with U.S., European and African partners to enhance maritime safety and security on the African continent. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Dan Meaney/Released)

APS Arrives in Monrovia

Date: 09.02.2009
Posted: 09.02.2009 11:26

MONROVIA, Liberia – High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) arrived at the port of Monrovia, Sept. 2, to conduct training and assistance programs as part of Africa Partnership Station.

Through Sept. 15, APS will conduct primary care/health screenings, maternal and child services education, dental extraction, dental health services, dental education, eye examination and distribution of prescribed eyeglasses, veterinary services and education, biomedical repair education and services and advance lab education at several Liberian medical facilities, including the John F. Kennedy Medical Center and Redemption Hospital.

During this deployment, APS will also construct two medical wards at the Redemption Hospital and begin working on the Liberian coast guard pier.

HSV 2 is carrying 144,000 meals provided by Kids Against Hunger International and basic medical supplies, which will be handed over at a Sept. 4 ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Sinkor. Veterinary care and immunization will be provided at the Gibson School in Monrovia.

Project Hope volunteers, along with U.S. military medical professionals, will engage in peer-to-peer training with local national care practitioners while providing care to local Liberians.

Utilizing HSV 2, the APS staff will provide medical and training visits for African nations as part of U.S. Africa Command outreach. Trainers will include both civilians and military from the U.S., European and African nations, including nongovernmental organizations and other agencies of the U.S. government. APS is a multinational initiative developed by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa which aims to work cooperatively with U.S. and international partners to enhance maritime safety and security on the African continent.

APS provides a unique venue to align maritime engagements by utilizing an international team of expert trainers in a variety of military capacities and civilian fields.

Swift, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. To learn more about Africa Partnership Station visit the APS website at www.c6f.navy.mil/apshome.html.

APS Swift Sailors Paint Togo Clinic

Africa Partnership Station Public Affairs

LOME, Togolese Republic, Aug 31, 2009 — Eight Sailors from Africa Partnership Station (APS) Swift and 18 local Togolese helped paint a clinic in Lome, August 26, 2009.

High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2), which arrived August 24, is in port for a four-day visit in support of APS. The clinic was one of two community relations projects carried out by the crew while in Lome.

"We believe the crew was sent by God," said Kodjo Hessou, senior pastor at the Djidjole, Lome Assembly of God (AOG) church and clinic. "We've been praying for the rehabilitation of the clinic, and the arrival of the crew with the supplies seems like the answer to those prayers."

The clinic is one of six operated throughout the country by AOG and one of three in Lome. The clinics provide free or low-cost health care and medicine for more than 10,000 Togolese annually, regardless of religious affiliation. "The role of the church in the community is social as well as spiritual," said Hessou. "These clinics help the community and help us fulfill the social aspect of our mission. We cannot thank the crew of Swift enough. Their arrival here today has given us a boost in our energy which will help us to move forward and continue this work."

Lieutenant Commander Ronald L. Walker, officer-in-charge of Swift's military detachment, said projects like these are about meeting people and building relationships. "Our Sailors care about people and want to get out into the community," said Walker. "Whatever trust and goodwill we build today will help us achieve our operational objective of creating maritime safety and security in the region. And that is a great added benefit to something we want to do anyway."

APS is a multinational initiative developed by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa which aims to work cooperatively with U.S. and international partners to enhance maritime safety and security on the African continent.

APS provides a unique venue to align maritime engagements by utilizing an international team of expert trainers in a variety of military capacities and civilian fields.

Swift, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.