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Tanzanians, Ugandans Graduate From APS East Training

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110815-08
8/15/2011

By Lt. Cmdr. Suzanna Brugler, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (NNS) -- Africa Partnership Station (APS) East´s Tanzania hub graduated 113 students from Tanzania and Uganda at the Dar Es Salaam navy base Aug. 5.

USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) Commanding Officer Cmdr. Angel Cruz, presided over the graduation along with the Tanzania Naval Training School Commandant Col. J. E. Karia of the Tanzania navy.

The students were enrolled in eight professional training courses, including small boat operations and maintenance; maritime intelligence workshop; fisheries; maritime intelligence and operations infusion center; non-commissioned officer leadership training; hydrography; and search and rescue (SAR) planning. Classes were taught by U.S. military, civilian and Danish navy instructors.

A representative military instructor from the U.S. and Denmark spoke in front of the graduates before they were called-up, one by one, to retrieve their course completion certificates and an APS pin.

Lt. Lars Jensen of the Danish navy spoke to the graduating class.

¨It has been my honor and pleasure to work with you over the past two weeks. I have witnessed great progress among the students and my hope is that you will continue to improve upon the things you learned here," Jensen said. "We hope we´ve assisted you in fostering a positive synergy between the Tanzanian navy and fisheries department, because the knowledge you have learned here is only the foundation for which you can build upon for years to come.¨

The instructors and students had a luncheon of regional cuisine following the ceremony before Cruz and Karia ceremoniously planted a mango tree at the navy training facility. The tree planting has become a post-graduation tradition since APS East has come to Tanzania.

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.