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Africa Partnership Station Returns to Sao Tome and Principe

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080310-22
Release Date: 3/10/2008 3:51:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW/SW) RJ Stratchko, Africa Partnership Station Public Affairs

SAO TOME, Sao Tome and Principe (NNS) -- Africa Partnership Station (APS) returned to Sao Tome and Principe (STP) March 10 bringing more training during its maiden deployment, aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43).

APS's second visit to STP is part of the Navy's new global maritime strategy of persistent presence in an international effort to support and strengthen regional maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa. Sailors from West and Central Africa, Europe and the United States are on board.

"We are expecting improvement on the APS training, some of the classes will be advanced courses to further train their military while others have been created based on requests from the STP students," said Lt. Cmdr. Jose Neto, Portuguese Navy, APS operations officer.

Although the Navy has conducted training during routine deployments in West Africa for years, the size and focus of the APS mission is new and different.

In addition to training, APS is scheduled to be performing community relation projects to try and build partnerships with the local community.

"This is the way that partnerships should be, helping each other to increase capabilities while creating maritime safety and security," added Neto.

"One of the projects we are working on during this visit to Sao Tome is at the Escola Primeira De Oque-Del-Rei school, where we will be building tables and chairs for the dining hall. Seabees will also be repairing some plumbing fixtures," said Lt. Sylvester Adamah, Civil Engineer Corps, Naval Facilities Engineering Command based out of Washington.

APS seeks to take partnerships into action in a concerted interagency and multinational effort to promote maritime governance around Africa. APS is inspired by the belief that effective maritime safety and security will contribute to development, economic prosperity, and security ashore.

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 nongovernmental organizations are embarked on board Fort McHenry to enhance cooperative partnerships.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe -Commander, 6th Fleet or Africa Partnership Station, visit www.navy.mil/local/naveur/.