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APS Nashville Meets with Top Senegalese Officers

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090210-15
Release Date: 2/10/2009 2:57:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Holmes, Africa Partnership Station Nashville Public Affairs

DAKAR, Senegal (NNS) -- Commander, Africa Partnership Station (APS) Nashville Capt. Cindy Thebaud and Commanding Officer, USS Nashville (LPD 13) Tushar Tembe met with a high-ranking delegation of Senegalese naval officers Feb. 4 shortly after Nashville pulled into Dakar as part of Africa Partnership Station.

APS Nashville Commander Capt. Cindy Thebaud and Commanding Officer, USS Nashville (LPD 13) Comanding Officer Tushar Tembe met with the delegation and agreed that maritime safety and security starts with regional cooperation.

"Communication is key to dealing with any obstacle the U.S. Navy and its partners may face," said Thebaud. "We will continue to build our open lines of communication, and offer proactive solutions when it comes to maritime safety and security."

One of the Senegalese naval officers at the meeting commented that their navy has the skill sets, but at times do not have the resources and agreed that APS, with its discussions and international interaction, is a good start to solving the problem.

When asked by Thebaud if the training APS was providing was sufficient, Senegal Navy Chief of Operations Jean Baptiste Faye said that the curriculum was ideally suited for his Sailors.

"We are on the right path", said Faye. "And we will not be shy in asking for modifications to adjust our changing needs."

Thebaud made it clear that Senegal is a solid partner of the U.S. Navy and APS and looks forward to strengthening the existing relationship they have.

"U.S. ships have always been welcomed here with the warmest sincerity", said Thebaud. "We greatly appreciate the hospitality of our friends in Senegal and look forward to a partnership that continues to flourish."

As APS Nashville enjoys their stay in Dakar, shipboard workshops involving APS's international partners will cover classroom topics on small boat maintenance, leadership, and weather observation. Additionally, hands-on courses applying search and rescue techniques and fisheries impact will be held in the West African coastal city.

Nashville is deployed in support of APS and will make scheduled stops in Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, and Nigeria.