African Sailors Test Their Knowledge Aboard Gunston Hall

USS GUNSTON HALL, At Sea (NNS) -- Nigerian, Ghanaian and Benin Sailors tested their skills at an Africa Partnership Station (APS) West event March 26 on board Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock-landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44).

The hour-long event, called a "crucible," tested the Sailors' ability to work as a team in shipboard damage control (DC), basic first aid and force protection (FP) measures.

Sailors began their preparation for the "crucible" March 11 with instruction in a variety of areas, including FP and DC.

"(We) geared this training towards more of a hands-on approach," said Damage Controlman 1st Class (SW) Cory Webb, from Smithfield, Va., assigned to the damage control department aboard Gunston Hall. "We wanted to create real-life scenarios so the students could take part and see for themselves how DC works on board (our) ship."

Webb said the Sailors discussed basic DC topics, such as shoring and hose-handling techniques and using the Naval Fire Fighting Thermal Imager (NFFTI) device and portable extinguishers.

Nigeria Navy Leading Seaman I.O. Uku said he enjoyed the training and learned a lot.

"The training was very useful," said Uku. "Using the NFFTI to find hot spots benefited me the most. I will pass this training along to my Navy when we go back."

Ghana Navy Lt. Frank Boateng said he would like to see some of the techniques he saw aboard Gunston Hall used in the Ghana Navy.

"Some of the training was similar to what my Navy teaches," said Boateng. "I especially enjoyed the NFFTI and would like to see my Navy use them. It was good training."

Twelve Sailors were divided and rotated among five stations, which included simulated small boat attack, shoring, pipe patching, fire team and medical casualty drills. In the end, the Sailors were briefed on their performance.

"Bravo Zulu," said Damage Controlman 1st Class (SW) Daniel O'Connor, from Whitehall, Pa., as he discussed the great job the sailors did finding a medical casualty in a smoke-filled compartment with the NFFTI.

Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/SS) Tom Guest, the leading chief petty officer for Gunston Hall's Health Services Department from Norfolk, Va., was extremely pleased with the efforts put forth by the sailors.

"I'm very proud of what you've accomplished here today," said Guest. "Great job all around."

Participating sailors stayed motivated throughout the event, something Chief Damage Controlman (SW/AW) Kevin Wright, from Omaha, Neb., noticed right away and wanted to make sure the sailors knew.

"Motivation is a must when fighting any damage control casualty," said Wright. "You all definitely brought it today."

"It was a fun time," said Nigeria Navy Seaman O.K. Tsakporhore. "We will walk away from today with knowledge and skills that we can give back to our navies."

APS West is designed to enhance professional development and provide a valuable motivational and instructional experience to increase the awareness of maritime safety and security.

Gunston Hall is on a scheduled deployment in the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility in support of APS West, an international initiative developed by Naval Forces Europe and Naval Forces Africa that aims to improve maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa.

For more news from Africa Partnership Station, visit www.navy.mil/local/aps/.