Naval Beach Group 2 Detachment Uniform Completes APS Deployment
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080505-32
Release Date: 5/5/2008 4:32:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Elizabeth Merriam, Africa Partnership Station Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Beach Group (NBG) 2 Detachment Uniform completed its deployment for Africa Partnership Station (APS) and returned to homeport in Little Creek, Va. May 4.
"During the course of our seven month deployment, we have successfully moved 16,000 personnel and over 100 tons of cargo for operations including Project Handclasp and Project Hope," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ronald McMiller, NBG 2 Detachment officer in charge.
"I'm humbled to have been able to work with the crews from Detachment Uniform because they have truly exceeded my expectations at meeting the tasks APS has put before them," McMiller continued. "They have received nothing but praise from every delegate or admiral who has set foot on their boats. Their performance in strenuous conditions, including traveling on open ocean with visibility of less than half a mile solely depending on GPS, has been truly impressive."
The detachment is a combination of Assault Craft Unit (ACU 2), Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB 2) and Beachmaster Unit (BMU 2), stationed aboard USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) during the first APS deployment. Together they have participated in many first time operations including the seabasing demonstration of the Improved Navy Lighterage System off the coast of Monrovia, Liberia, the first deployment of a Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM-8) and the first U.S. Navy platform to visit the island of Principe.
"The Landing Craft Unit Utility (LCU) traveled 80 nautical miles away from the anchored Fort McHenry to be the first ever to visit Principe," McMiller said. "While they were there, they delivered medical supplies from Project Handclasp and toys from Project Hope. The island's president said we were more than welcome back again."
When they weren't participating as a group, individual members of the detachment joined other APS members in participating in more 25 community relations projects rebuilding schools, hospitals and orphanages.
"I volunteered to go on as many COMRELs as I could and I made it to 11 out of 25. We tried to get everyone involved as possible. I would say about 95 percent of the guys who came out with me were able to get the time to go out and help," said Construction Mechanic 1st Class (SW) Eric Dickinson, BMU 2. "APS was a great platform for being able to go out and help people. My favorite project was in Sao Tome where we renovated the dinning area of a school. When we arrived, it was filth and the kids had no place to sit and no tables. We built them picnic tables, cleaned it up and put in a barbeque grill."
While working in Cameroon and Liberia, the volunteers were able to take their job skills and apply them to new tasks helping to fix a hospital generator and an ambulance.
"I volunteered for numerous COMRELs, and we fixed a couple of different vehicles and did a whole lot of construction work. My job experience helped me work out in the field without all of the supervision I would normally have back at the command," said Construction Mechanic 3rd Class (SW) Daniel Delatte, ACB 2 detachment mechanic.
When members from Detachment Uniform weren't working as humanitarians, they were often working as teachers conducting demonstrations or working with the Fort McHenry visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team to help train African students in vessel boarding.
"We were able to show a different mobility and teach some of the other countries VBSS boardings, so they could keep their ports safe and secure," said Chief Boatswain's Mate (SW) Michael Connolly, ACU2, LCU Craft Master. "They were very enthusiastic about being able to perform a boarding and they did well to the best of their abilities."
Often using the LCU and LCM-8s as transportation between Fort McHenry and the beach, NBG 2 crafts were in the unique role of being visitor's first impression of APS. Because of this responsibility, the detachment used their time before reaching Africa to learn some of the local languages.
"Working with other nations helps you understand different militaries and how different countries operate," said Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class (SW) Alexander Hiller, LCM-8 coxswain. "APS is the first step in a multinational cause that I think has a lot of worth. My crew performed admirably. They came up to every single task that was put towards them. They overcame any expectations. They truly put a good foot forward for APS."
Despite their schedule, the detachment members made sure to find time for their own professional growth and development with 99 percent of the group earning enlisted surface warfare specialist (ESWS) qualifications.
"I'm really proud that I got my ESWS pin. I feel I learned a lot on this deployment about Africa and Fort McHenry," said Seaman (SW) Andrely Lorenzo. "It's interesting how everyone's job, even the small ones, actually have a good role that needs to be played out to make everything work. A lot of people didn't know what to expect when we started APS, but when all was said and done, we pulled together and did a really good job."
Part of the U.S. Navy's Global Fleet Station, APS's maiden voyage began in Oct. 2007 to provide 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 were embarked on board Fort McHenry to enhance cooperative partnerships.
For more news from USS Fort McHenry, visit www.navy.mil/local/lsd43/.
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