Africa Partnership Station running mates program bridging long-term relationships

Photo By Chief Petty Officer David Holmes | Petty Officer 2nd Class Myles Oliver stretches out for a rebound in a flight deck basketball game played during a steel beach picnic commemorating the 39th birthday of USS Nashville. Nashville is deployed as part of Africa Partnership Station Nashville, an international initiative developed by Naval Forces Europe and Naval Forces Africa, which aims to work cooperatively with U.S. and international partners to improve maritime safety and security for continent of Africa.  

02.16.2009

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class David Holmes  

U.S. Navy           

By Petty Officer 2nd Class David Holmes
Africa Partnership Station Nashville public affairs

USS NASHVILLE, At Sea – West African embarked trainees and U.S. Sailors with Africa Partnership Station Nashville are building partnerships on both professional and personal levels with APS's running mates program aboard USS Nashville.

The Norfolk-based amphibious transport dock ship, deployed as part of APS, is focused on collaborative efforts in West and Central Africa.

The running mates program, one of APS Nashville's main components, provides opportunities for building and strengthening relationships between navies at an interpersonal level. This goal is achieved by teaming pairs of West African and Nashville Sailors together for three weeks at a time. During this period, Nashville Sailors familiarize their African counterparts with the U.S. Navy's leadership philosophy and programs for training, maintenance, logistics and operations at sea.

"I think it's a really good way to build relationships at the fundamental level," said Lt. Will Phillips, assistant embarked trainee coordinator. "Normally, we see high-ranking officials or defense attachés building relationships at the strategic or operational level. Now you see one-on-one interaction between junior officers and enlisted as well."

The time spent together opened crucial lanes of discussion and interaction between partners for an information exchange that benefits both parties professionally and culturally, according to Phillips.

Togoese navy Petty Officer 1st Class Mouzou Banadjuba agreed that the interaction has benefited him. "My [running mate] explains what he is doing and that helps me to understand all the personal qualifications on the ship," said Banadjuba. "I think this is a good program. When I follow him, we do the work together and it helps answer any questions I may have."

APS works cooperatively with U.S. and multinational partners to enhance maritime safety and security for the continent of Africa. The running mates program builds upon that idea from the deckplate level allowing the relationships built to act as the catalyst for a safer maritime environment.

"This endeavor has been a very rewarding experience," said Ens. Rene Juarez, running mate program participant. "It is important to APS, I believe, in order to build long lasting relationships on personal and professional levels that will build a solid foundation for future cooperative agreements and partnerships."

APS Nashville has so far made a stop in Dakar, Senegal, and debarked a training team in Monrovia, Liberia, during its deployment and will soon make its second port visit in Sekondi, Ghana. Additional port visits will include stops in Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon.

To learn more about Africa Partnership Station Nashville, please visit www.c6f.navy.mil/aps_web/index.htm.

• Date Taken: 02.16.2009
• Date Posted: 02.16.2009 17:31
• Story ID: 30088