Swift Deploys to Join Africa Partnership

[unhappycamper]

Swift Deploys to Join Africa Partnership
Navy News | January 04, 2008

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift departed Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek Jan. 4, headed for the western coast of Africa to join the Navy's Global Fleet Station (GFS), Africa Partnership Station (APS) initiative.

Swift will team with the NAB Little Creek-based dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) and embarked Commander Task Group 60.4, from Naples, Italy, already on station, to take part in the first GFS APS initiative.

"In a nutshell, we'll be trying to develop stronger maritime security ties," said Cmdr. Charles Rock, commanding officer of Swift's Ingleside, Texas crew. "We're loaded with humanitarian assistance, food and aid donated by non-governmental organizations, so we'll be delivering a lot of good will."

APS is a U.S. Naval Forces Europe-led initiative, executed by a multi-national staff aboard Fort McHenry and Swift. Training teams from various U.S. and European military commands, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations will work together to enhance cooperative partnerships with regional maritime services in West and Central Africa and the Gulf during this deployment.

Swift will join Fort McHenry in the Gulf of Guinea, where it will transport students as well as trainers during visits to Senegal, Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe. Training teams will focus on a broad range of areas, including maritime domain awareness, leadership, seamanship and navigation, maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, civil engineering and logistics.


Rest of Africom article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,159436,00.html



uhc comment: And after we gain all that good will, we can start building mega-bases in Africa.