APS Gunston Hall Holds Small-boat Operations Training for African Sailors

SEKONDI, Ghana (NNS) -- Sailors from Nigeria, Benin, and Ghana participated in basic small-boat operations training as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West aboard Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock-landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), while the ship was in Sekondi, Ghana, March 11-19.

A training team from the U.S. Coast Guard's International Training Division held a series of courses on a variety of topics from boat-handling to man-overboard recovery drills.

"Maritime safety and security is a very broad umbrella, and part of any Coast Guard maritime operation is going to include boats but more specifically small-boat operations," said Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Earl Schlemmer, from Ellwood City, Pa. "Particularly for a nation or nations that have limited resources, small-boats operation is a good step in securing ports and patrolling territorial waters, no matter what part of the world you're in."

A mixture of classroom lectures and hands-on training scenarios took the sailors off the shores of Sekondi Naval Base aboard 11- and 7-meter ridged-hull inflatable boats (RHIB) to provide a more practical environment.

"As an instructor, you learn that there are several different ways that people learn and take in the information," said Schlemmer. "So we try and mix in many different teaching techniques and methods to try reaching each student."

"The instructors were able to break down the training material so we could better understand it," said Nigerian Navy Petty Officer Obalaja Ademola, from Lagos, Nigeria. "I very much appreciate the training APS has provided me."

"It's very good, I am learning a lot of different things, some things I knew already and things I didn't know," said Ghanaian Navy Able Seaman 1st Class Edward Lamptey, from Sekondi. "So the things I didn't know I'll be able to apply to my day-to-day job, and because of the training I received, I'll be more prepared."

The training also helped these sailors establish friendships and build camaraderie.

"I wish I could be together with my classmates for the rest of my life," said Lamptey. "We are already exchanging contact information and I plan to forever keep in touch with them."

The sailors also learned about maritime law enforcement and coastal search-and-rescue operations. Once completed, they can return to their respective countries with additional knowledge on maritime know-how.

"APS is all about providing maritime security off the coast of Africa, and I am proud to be a part of it," he said.

APS is an international security cooperation initiative aimed at building and strengthening long-term relationships and global maritime partnerships through training and other collaborative activities, to improve maritime safety and security.

Find out more about Gunston Hall at www.gunston-hall.navy.mil. You can follow Gunston Hall and APS at their respective Facebook pages, www.facebook.com/GunstonHall and www.facebook.com/AfricaPartnershipStation.

For more news from USS Gunston Hall, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/lsd44/.