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Seabees Support Africa Partnership Station

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110630-13
6/30/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan G. Wilber, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 Public Affairs

DOUALA, Cameroon (NNS) -- Four Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 completed a mission at the Douala, Cameroon Regional Two Military Hospital in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) 2011, June 17.

The detail arrived on June 11 with orders to work in cooperation with local Cameroonians constructing a 200-foot walkway to connect several buildings. Builder 1st Class James Shaw, APS detail officer-in-charge, stated that the walkway was a much-needed improvement to the hospital for both the staff and patients.

"There was just a dirt courtyard between the buildings, and when it rained it would make movement very difficult due to the fact that the courtyard would turn to mud," said Shaw. "The new walkway will make patient transport much easier and be a benefit for years to come."

Cooperation and partnership are two main tenets of the APS concept. The Seabees worked side-by-side with Cameroonians while teaching them professional construction techniques.

"It was rewarding working with the locals. We were able to improve their knowledge on basic concrete mixing, placing and finishing, so that they can produce good quality projects in the future on their own," said Shaw. "It was also rewarding to know that we were improving the quality of life for the people of Douala who are patients at the hospital, because it treats civilians along with military."

As the world climate changes and Seabees engage in more nation building efforts around the globe, some say they find themselves with a new and unique worldview after their first deployment.

"It was great to compare the ways that Cameroonians do things and the way we do things, and to see how much they appreciated everything we were doing for them," said Builder Constructionman Daniel Jordan, a APS detail crew member. "It was great to be able to help community relations between the United States and [Cameroonians]."

Gen. Mohammad Sali, Cameroon navy chief of naval operations, invited the crew to his home for a dinner along with the other members of APS to show his appreciation for the work being done in his country.

"The general appreciated all the work we had accomplished. He said that 'Americans coming to Cameroon shows that they care for the people of Africa,' and that he was going to ensure that the facility will continue with the civilians using the knowledge we have given them," said Shaw.

APS is an international security cooperation initiative, facilitated by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.