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Swift Visits Gabon in Support of Africa Partnership Station 2011

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110711-06
7/11/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ian Carver, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

PORT GENTIL, Gabon (NNS) -- High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) made a stop in Gabon, July 8, making it the first port visit in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) 2011.

While in Gabon, Swift will host instructional courses dealing with boarding team operations and expeditionary combat first aid, along with offloading supplies in support of Project Handclasp.

Seventeen Gabonese military students will participate in two weeks of classroom and practical training which takes the students through controlled simulations of mock boarding, close quarter battle, and tactical team movements.

"This training helps build their knowledge of how to work as a team in boarding operations," said Master-at-Arms 1st Class Paul N. Francois, lead instructor. "Most of the students are junior sailors and only a hand full of the students have prior boarding experience, so students in the course are learning a lot of new concepts."

In addition to boarding operations, APS provides an expeditionary combat first aid class that teaches students advanced first aid techniques. The curriculum focuses on the importance of tourniquets to control bleeding, improvised medicine and patient evacuation techniques.

"We are teaching both good tactics and good medicine, so the [Gabonese] can better accomplish their mission objectives and save lives," said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Joseph H. Davies.

In addition to training, members of Swift are serving the local community by visiting the Les Cocotiers Center, a Catholic school and career-training center, in Port Gentil, Gabon, to deliver school supplies donated through the Project Handclasp program.

Supplies such as rulers, markers, and backpacks were delivered to the school. Swift Sailors also brought APS soccer balls to give away and played a match with the kids.

"I'm very, very happy to have the U.S. Navy here. I have no words for how I feel right now," said Sister Claire, director of Les Cocotiers.

One of the Les Cocotiers volunteers emphasized the importance of donations, such as the one Swift brought.

"School supplies in this area are very expensive and there are a lot of children that can't afford regular school supplies, so the donations really help," said Meghan Rubin of Fredericksburg, Va., a volunteer at the school through Vides Missionary Program.

Sailors from Swift spent a few hours at the school to interact with the local children through sports and art projects.

"Through our work with APS, I feel it gives us a better sense of connection with this country and its people. It gives you a real eye opener as to the needs other countries have," said Seaman Jacob J. Lemke.

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.