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Robert G. Bradley VBSS Teams with Mozambican Marines

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090212-12
Release Date: 2/12/2009 11:27:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Whitfield Palmer, Navy Public Affairs Center Detachment Europe

MAPUTO, Mozambique (NNS) -- USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) Sailors conducted visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) and small boat operations training with Mozambican Marines during a visit the second week of February as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS).

APS is an international security cooperation initiative, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe - Africa, aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and other collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.
The ship's VBSS team began training with presentations on theory, tactics, techniques, and procedures with Mozambican troops.

"The training is rewarding for us because the guys take the training very seriously," said Ens. Joshua Cowart, Bradley's boarding officer. "We are teaching them to be safer and how to protect their country."

After presentations, Bradley's boatswain's mates and quartermasters reviewed and practiced small boat handling techniques and basic navigation principles with Mozambican Marines and conducted a simulated compliant boarding with two Mozambican rigid-hull inflatable boats onto Bradley.

The ship and her crew are currently making the first APS port visit to Mozambique.

The VBSS training was the first time for many of the Mozambican troops to interact with Americans.

VBSS exercises were joined by Portuguese Marine Corps Commander Alberto Correia, Portuguese Military Cooperation, who is stationed in Maputo and works closely with the Mozambican Marines.

"We welcome more training," said Carlos Francisco, a 1st lieutenant with the Mozambican Marines. "We've been trained well by our guests, and everything is becoming clear to us. We are grateful for the American spirit of giving and welcome more training in the future."

Bradley is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate home ported in Mayport, Fla., and is on a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility to help improve maritime safety and security and strengthen ongoing maritime partnerships.