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SECNAV Visits USS Emory S. Land in Ghana

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060426-02
4/26/2006

By Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Rebekah Blowers, USS Emory S. Land Public Affairs

SEKONDI, Ghana (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter came aboard USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) in port Sekondi, Ghana, April 18-19 to hold an all-hands call with the crew during her 2006 Gulf of Guinea deployment.

He talked to the crew of the Emory S. Land about the future of the Navy and their part in that future.

“Ships like the Emory S. Land help us develop the relationship, trust and understanding [with the host nations], which is probably more important than the specific tasks we’re doing in terms of training and repair. I think it is really crucial to what our objectives are for the future of the U.S. Navy,” Winter said.

The SECNAV said that he is proud of the work the Sailors have been doing.

“This is a tremendous crew,” he said. "They’ve got a tremendous attitude - very capable and wonderful ambassadors. They are in a very unique situation here in the way they have the opportunity to interact with a very different group of coalition partners. From everybody I’ve talked to from the U.S. side and Ghanian side, it’s very clear they’re doing an exceptional job, and I am very pleased to see that."

Sailors had the opportunity to ask the Secretary questions about the future of the AS class of ships, education benefits and the growing fleet. Winter said that though there are only two submarine tenders in the Navy, missions like this show how these ships are essential.

“I think the Emory S. Land is able to perform some very unique missions. It comes into a port like this with tremendous resources, in particular the maintenance and support for other navies where they do not have those same capabilities and equipment,” he said. He added that the future of the AS class is an evolving mission.

Winter closed the all-hands call with words of praise and thanks, reminding the Sailors that their job here in the Gulf of Guinea is important.

“What you’re doing is really tremendous. It is having an impact. It is being felt here in the west coast of Africa. It is being felt worldwide, and people are beginning to recognize that in fact this concept [of building coalition forces] does work, and in part because we have such tremendous Sailors in the United States Navy and in particular on the Emory S. Land. I want to thank you for that, and please keep up the good work,” the Secretary concluded.

The ship deployed to the Gulf of Guinea in late February to initiate a series of security cooperation activities that will promote regional stability, counter terrorism and advance U.S. interests in the Gulf of Guinea region while maintaining positive relations with regional partners.

This deployment will include a number of bilateral maritime safety and security training opportunities. The efforts will focus on maritime domain awareness, leadership development, natural disaster response, and medical awareness and disease prevention.

This is the second year Emory S. Land has deployed to the region with embarked mobile training teams designed to bolster existing capabilities within each of the partner nations. Gulf of Guinea nations participating and observing in this year’s deployment include Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon, Congo and Angola.