Photo: Blue Crew Sailors in Gabon

NGOLA, Gabon (August 20, 2009) — Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Howard T. LeRoy (left), Joseph C. Sohlberg, Master of HSV Swift (center) and Ensign Michael P. Deasey (right) of High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) prepare two rigid hull inflatable boats to leave Ngola village, a remote settlement on the Ogooue river. The Sailors are from Africa Partnership Station Swift which made a Project Handclasp delivery to the village.

APS, Swift Deliver Medical Supplies to Remote Village in Gabon

Africa Partnership Station Public Affairs Print
NGOLA VILLAGE, Gabon, Aug 27, 2009 — Sailors from Africa Partnership Station (APS) Swift made a unique, 45-mile, up-river trip from Port Gentil, Gabon aboard two rigid hull inflatable boats to deliver medical supplies to Ngola Village, August 20, 2009.

The two pallets of medical supplies replenished the three-cot medical clinic in the village with needed necessities to treat patients. Ngola, a settlement for workers of plantations which line the rivers banks, is without running water or electricity. Ngola village is lit only by fire.

There are no cars or motorcycles, as the wide and twisting Ogooue River is the only way in or out.

"We've been able to deliver medical, hygiene and other needed supplies to our partner countries throughout this deployment, but the trip to Ngola is unique," said Commander John D. Tolg, mission commander for APS Swift.

"The people here are truly isolated. They've carved a village out of the jungle along the riverbank, and with the exception of a few poured concrete buildings, I don't think life has changed much here in the past several hundred years."

APS is an international initiative under Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa which aims to work cooperatively with U.S., European, and African 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.

During this deployment, High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) embarked over 40 Sailors from Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo for underway training in visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) tactics and small boat handling. Swift, home ported in Norfolk, Virginia, is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility in support of APS.

Source: Africa Partnership Station

HSV-2 Swift Completes Training With Sailors From Six West African Countries

SEKONDI, Ghana – Forty-six Sailors from six West African countries recently completed maritime safety and security training aboard the Africa Partnership Station platform HSV-2 Swift.

APS is a multinational initiative developed by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-and 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.

"These Sailors worked together to create theater security for the Gulf of Guinea and develop the relationships that will help them work together in the future," said Chief Petty Officer Mate Willie J. Donald, embarked training team supervisor. "They were a great, well-prepared group of students, and the fact they came from six different countries and worked so well together is one of the things I found most impressive."

During six-weeks of intensive training, Sailors from Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo honed their skills in visit, board, search and seizure tactics and small boat instruction with an emphasis on coxswain and navigation training.

"Our trainers, our students, our crew and our partner countries have worked together in this continuing effort to build maritime domain awareness," said APS Swift's mission commander, Cmdr. John D. Tolg. "Placing the importance of the training in a larger context, the success of this six-week mission is a maritime professional pillar in meeting the [commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa 2009] commander's operational objective to build maritime safety and security throughout the region. I couldn't be happier with the results. "

For the students and the countries they represent, the results of the training will have an immediate impact."In our Navy, any of us can be called on to be a boarding officer," said Sub-Lt. Joseph Gura, a navigational officer in the Ghana Navy. "With the recent discovery and exploitation of oil in the waters just off the coast, there is an increase in the maritime traffic. This training really equipped me to be able to enhance my ship's ability to board and search other vessels as needed. "

Swift, home ported in Norfolk, Va., is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility in support of APS. To learn more about APS visit www.c6f.navy.mil/apshome.html.

In the News: Community Relations in Jamaica

U.S., Jamaica Forces Rehabilitate School
Story Number: NNS090417-06
Release Date: 4/17/2009 4:54:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Ball, Southern Partnership Station Public Affairs

DRAPERS, JAMAICA (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines from Southern Partnership Station (SPS), along with Jamaica Defense Force servicemembers and Soldiers and Marines from Beyond the Horizon 2009, spent April 17 scraping and painting a school building to prepare it for classes resuming next week.

Twenty Sailors and Marines from the SPS team departed high speed vessel Swift (HSV 2) early in the morning with brushes, water bottles and work clothes. After a short drive, they arrived at the school where they met with the other workers. Eight Soldiers and Marines from Beyond the Horizon 2009 drove from Kingston to participate. The paint was already on site so the teams cleared the building of desks and other furniture and prepared to paint.

Paint was mixed and walls were taped and soon the walls of the building were looking like new.

"During the ship's first visit here people came out and visited to see what could be done," said school principal Sandra Becca. "This building was constructed in 1951. The painters are providing a much needed face-lift."

The Drapers All Ages School teaches 196 students in grades 1-9.

Lunch was provided to the workers by school staff and was complemented by fresh mangos from a tree on the school grounds. Work was completed around four in the afternoon.

"It's always good to help people, especially young people," said Sublieutenant Anneka Thompson, a Jamaica Defense Force Coast Guard officer who has been stationed aboard Swift since the first SPS port visit to Jamaica in January. "It's important to give back and create a safe and positive environment for learning."

The school rehabilitation is the final community relation project for SPS 2008-2009. During the course of the mission SPS has completed nine projects in five countries, involving over 140 volunteers. Projects included orphanage and hospital visits, painting schools, hosting a Sea Cadet day, and refurbishing a nursing home and community basketball court. Along with community relations events, SPS delivered 27,262 pounds of Project Handclasp donations valued at over $300,000. Project Handclasp is a Navy program that uses cargo space on Navy vessels to transport donated humanitarian goods to foreign ports.

Jamaica is the 12th and final port visit for SPS 2008-2009. Other countries visited were: El Salvador, Panama, Barbados, Colombia, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

Southern Partnership Station is an annual deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of focus in the Caribbean and South America. The mission goal is primarily information sharing with navies, coast guards, and civilian services throughout the region.

The mission is coordinated through U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (NAVSO/ 4th Fleet) with partner nations to meet their specific training requests. As the naval component command of SOUTHCOM, NAVSO's mission is to direct U.S. Naval Forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, theater security cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus.

Beyond the Horizon 2009 is a humanitarian and civic assistance mission hosted by SOUTHCOM.

In the News: Finishing Jamaican Mission

Fourth Fleet Commander Stresses SPS Achievement
Story Number: NNS090416-01
Release Date: 4/16/2009 5:20:00 AM


By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Ball, Southern Partnership Station Public Affairs

PORT ANTONIO, Jamaica (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO)/ U.S. 4th Fleet, visited high speed vessel Swift (HSV 2) and the Sailors and Marines of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) as they carried out their mission in Jamaica, April 15.

Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan's visit began with an awards ceremony followed by a question-and-answer session where he stressed the importance of missions such as SPS.

"These types of missions are becoming incredibly important in the Navy today," Kernan said. "You are the face of America in these countries and by working hand-in-hand with their defense forces you are building relationships and showing them what America stands for."

Afterwards, Kernan observed training teams from Navy Expeditionary Training Command and Naval Criminal Investigative Service as they instructed Jamaica Defense Force members in port security, boarding operations, small boat operations and junior enlisted leadership.

Over the last five months, SPS grew from a concept to a smooth-running reality.

"Like any good plan, things change when the plan is implemented," said Kernan. "But the ability of Sailors to adapt is what makes these missions so successful. I was incredibly impressed with the professionalism of the training team and the students. They had great communications with each other and both sides were benefiting from the interaction. It's been that way throughout the entire mission and our Sailors are having a great time because of it."

Jamaica is the 12th port visit for SPS. During the course of the mission, SPS also made port visits in El Salvador, Panama, Barbados, Nicaragua, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.

Southern Partnership Station is an annual deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command area of focus in the Caribbean and Latin America. The mission goal is primarily information sharing with navies, coast guards, and civilian services throughout the region. SPS is comprised of Navy training and support teams, Marine Corps training teams, foreign naval officers and civilian contract mariners on a Military Sealift Command platform.

The mission is coordinated through NAVSO/ 4th Fleet with partner nations to meet their specific training requests. As the naval component command of SOUTHCOM, NAVSO's mission is to direct U.S. Naval Forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, Theater Security Cooperation, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus.

In the News: SWIFT in Jamaica

Southern Partnership Station Begins Training in Jamaica
Story Number: NNS090415-19
Release Date: 4/15/2009 4:02:00 PM


By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Ball, Southern Partnership Station Public Affairs

PORT ANTONIO, Jamaica (NNS) -- High-speed vessel Swift (HSV 2) arrived in Jamaica for the last of two instruction evolutions and the final port visit for Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2008-2009.

Training teams from Navy Expeditionary Training Command, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group began their courses April 14 with Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) members. The courses provide instruction in a variety of fields such as port security, physical security, boarding officer, small boat operations, small boat repair, urban raid tactics, armed sentry, search and rescue planning and junior enlisted leadership.

This last evolution is the 12th port visit for SPS. It follows the second visit to Nicaragua where 55 students were trained in armed sentry, boarding operations, outboard engine repair, martial arts and port and physical security. SPS members also spent a day in Nicaragua rehabilitating a neighborhood basketball court.

Other countries participating in single or multiple SPS training events over the last five months included El Salvador, Panama, Barbados, Colombia and the Dominican Republic.

Southern Partnership Station is an annual deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command Area of Focus in the Caribbean and Latin America. The mission goal is primarily information sharing with navies, coast guards, and civilian services throughout the region. SPS is comprised of Navy training and support teams, Marine Corps training teams, foreign naval officers and civilian contract mariners on a Military Sealift Command platform.

The mission is coordinated through U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (NAVSO/ 4th Fleet) with partner nations to meet their specific training requests. As the naval component command of SOUTHCOM, NAVSO's mission is to direct U.S. Naval Forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, theater security cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

U.S. 4th Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces in the SOUTHCOM Area of Focus.

Southern Partnership Station Returns to Nicaragua

Release Date: 3/31/2009 11:03:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Matthew Olay, Southern Partnership Station Public Affairs

BLUEFIELDS, Nicaragua (NNS) -- High speed vessel Swift (HSV 2) anchored off the coast of Bluefields for the second time in as many months March 30 to begin a nine-day training mission during Southern Partnership Station (SPS).

Southern Partnership Station is an annual deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. Southern Command area of focus in the Caribbean and South America. The mission is primarily information sharing with navies, coast guards and civilian services throughout the region. SPS is comprised of Navy training and support teams, Marine Corps training teams, foreign naval officers and civilian contract mariners on a Military Sealift Command platform.

While in the area, training teams from Navy Expeditionary Training Command, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Marine Corps Training and Advisory Group will be teaching courses to members of the Nicaraguan Navy and Marine Corps. The courses provide instruction in boarding team tactics, armed sentry operations, port security, martial arts and small boat engine repair. Cmdr. Christopher Barnes, mission commander for SPS, sees return visits such as this one to Nicaragua as being advantageous to the goals of the overall mission.

"Since we've been here once before, we now know what the needs are, and the trainers know what the needs are, so we can adapt our courseware to give [the Nicaraguans] what's required," said Barnes. Barnes added that returning to train the same students with whom the SPS team interacted during the first port call to Nicaragua will allow the level of training to be more advanced than before. "My expectations are even greater," Barnes said.

The final SPS visit to Nicaragua comes on the heels of a four-day training evolution in Cartagena, Colombia. While in Colombia, SPS instructors trained 124 students in a variety of topics such as combat lifesaving, nonlethal weapons and junior enlisted leadership principles.

The return visit to Nicaragua is the second-to-last stop for SPS, with a follow-on visit to Jamaica scheduled before Swift completes the SPS mission. In addition to prior visits to Nicaragua, Colombia and Jamaica, SPS had also twice visited Panama and Barbados. The mission also made single stops in El Salvador and the Dominican Republic.

The mission is coordinated through U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (NAVSO/ 4th Fleet) with partner nations to meet their specific training requests. As the naval component command of SOUTHCOM, NAVSO's mission is to direct U.S. Naval Forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, theater security cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus.For more information on U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, go to http://www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.