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    US Marine, Ghanaian sailors conduct boat maintenance

    US Marine, Ghanaian sailors conduct boat maintenance

    Photo By Capt. James Stenger | A group of Ghanaian sailors and U.S. service members pose for a photograph after...... read more read more

    TAKORADI, Ghana – A Marine with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14.1 conducted small-boat engine maintenance with a group of sailors from the Ghana Navy in Takoradi, Ghana, March 10-21.

    Lance Cpl. Tyler Jackson, 21, a small boat engine mechanic, traveled from Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, with members of a small theater security cooperation team to pass on his knowledge of small engines.

    Jackson, a Lancaster, Calif., native, was responsible for creating classroom instructions and practical application courses designed to show the Ghanaian sailors troubleshooting procedures to fix the engines on their fleet of boats. Classroom topics included engine electricity, lubrication, fuel and cooling systems, and four-stroke theory.

    The service members from each military then applied those techniques to fix real world problems together.

    “Demonstrating to them the theory and components allows them to pinpoint troubleshooting using a method as opposed to trying to attack just one issue at a time,” Jackson said.

    Most of the Ghanaian sailors had some experience working on boat engines through their time as mechanics, engineers and electricians. Part of the challenge for Jackson was being able to quickly adapt his training program to better suit his classmates.

    “Here we had to use all resources readily available whereas in the States we might have all the parts we might need on site,” Jackson remembered.

    The two week program left the Ghanaian sailors with a better understanding of how to attack common engine problems, according to Leading Seaman Stephen Abosompem Haysel, an engine mechanic who participated in the training.

    “I have never learned with the Marines before. This was my first time going through this period of training," said Haysel. "I can tell you that I’ve really enjoyed the course.”

    “I’ve learned how to maintain our engines using good engine maintenance procedures and how to use diagnosis for it,” he said.

    Established in 2011, the task force is charged with supporting U.S. Africa Command and Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa’s theater security cooperation requirements to strengthen the defense capabilities of partner states and regional organizations, deter and defeat transnational threats, and strengthen the ability to conduct good governance and development.

    The unit is currently commanded by 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 03.24.2014
    Date Posted: 04.01.2014 11:37
    Story ID: 123529
    Location: TAKORADI, GH
    Hometown: LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA, US

    Web Views: 173
    Downloads: 2

    PUBLIC DOMAIN