Release 10 March 2008
Gabonese Senior Enlisted Receive Leadership Training from Africa Partnership Station Marines
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class(AW/SW) RJ Stratchko,
Africa Partnership Station Public Affairs
Port Gentile Gabon – As part of the Navy’s Global Maritime Strategy, Africa Partnership Station (APS) is training Gabonese Senior Enlisted Sailors on non-commissioned officer (NCO) leadership, an one week course part of an international effort aiming to enhance regional maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa here, Mar. 7.
“The Gabonese are a very open minded group of professionals, they expressed their problems with leadership and were willing to learn new tactics and styles of leadership that would better their future for themselves and their children,” said Sergeant Jonathan Silva, APS NCO trainer.
With APS, training in specific areas is requested by the partner countries, and is provided by trainers by the multi-national APS staff. APS includes African, European and American Sailors from seven partner countries all on the same staff, working towards a common goal.
“I personally feel that we opened their eyes to the impact and importance of good leadership. It will now be up to those individuals to take charge and utilize the knowledge that we taught them to affect positive change within their units. The younger students in particular seemed hungry for change and determined to go back to their units and implement what they had learned. It was motivating to see young leaders excited about learning and wanting to use good leadership practices,” said Sergeant Rebecca Hass (U.S. Marine Corps.), (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, Cherry Point, North Carolina). “I view these students as the future of Gabon’s military, and I feel confident they have the necessary resolve to make a difference in the future. However, I believe that with more time, we could have made an even greater impact than we already did,” further commented Haas.
“Through interactive classes and discussions, we presented them with the skills they need to be good leaders,” added Hass. “It will take dedicated and persistent individuals to make changes and implement the skills that were discussed.”
NCO Leadership training is a military training platform that gives leaders a sense of duty and responsibility to their seniors, juniors and to their military in general. “This NCO leadership course will help to breech the gap between the officers and enlisted in the African Navies,” said Lt. Cmdr. Clement FruFon, Training Planner and Ship Rider Coordinator for African Partnership Station. Lt. Cmdr., an officer in the Cameroon Navy, was assigned to augment the APS staff as part of the collaborative partnership and international effort of African Partnership Station. As the Ship Rider Coordinator, Lt. Cmdr FruFon ensures all African military personnel assigned as ship riders are taken care of when they arrive on board, food, logistics and also their training requirements are met while on board, part of the international effort and collaborative partnership from different European and African host nations working together on African Partnership Station.
Part of the U.S. Navy’s Global Fleet Station, APS provides a platform with the capacity and persistent presence to support sustained, focused training and collaboration on a regional scale to maritime partners in West and Central Africa. Commander Task Force 365 and training teams from various U.S. and European military commands, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations are embarked on board Fort McHenry to enhance cooperative partnerships.