APS Gunston Hall holds small-boat operations training for African sailors
ACCRA, Ghana, March 29, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Thirteen sailors from Benin, Ghana, and Nigeria participated in basic small-boat operations training as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West on board the USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) Mar. 11-19 here.
A training team from the U.S. Coast Guard’s International Training Division began holding a series of courses on a variety of topics from boat handling to man overboard recovery drills.
“Maritime safety and security is a very broad umbrella, and any Coast Guard maritime operation is going to include boats, but more specifically, small-boat operations,” said Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer 3 Earl Schlemmer, from Ellwood City, Pa. “Particularly for a nation or nations that have limited resources, small-boat operation is a good step in securing ports and patrolling territorial waters, no matter what part of the world you’re in.”
A mixture of classroom lectures and hands-on training scenarios took the sailors off the shores of Sekondi Naval Base aboard 11 and 7-meter ridged hull inflatable boats to provide a more practical environment.
“As an instructor, you learn that there are several different ways that people learn and take in the information,” said Schlemmer. “We try and mix in many different teaching techniques and methods to reach each student.”
“The instructors were able to break down the training material so we could better understand it,” said Nigerian navy Petty Officer Obalaja Ademola, from Lagos, Nigeria. “I appreciate the training APS has provided me.”
These sailors also discovered friendship and camaraderie they hope will last throughout the years by working together solving problems and learning new skills to better understand the importance of basic small boat operations.
“I wish I could be together with my classmates for the rest of my life,” said Ghanaian navy Able Seaman 1st Class Edward Lamptey. “We are already exchanging contact information and I plan to keep in touch with them forever.”
After completing the course, the sailors continued training while on board Gunston Hall with additional lessons on maritime law enforcement and for some, coastal search-and-rescue operations. Once completed, they can return to their respective countries with additional maritime expertise.
“APS is all about providing maritime security off the coast of Africa, and I am proud to be a part of it,” he said.
APS is an international security cooperation initiative aimed at building and strengthening long-term relationships and global maritime partnerships through training and other collaborative activities, to improve maritime safety and security.
SOURCE
Africa Partnership Station (APS)
