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The following blog is by Paul Saxton, U.S. Africa Command's director of Outreach:
I spent two very profitable days with the African Partnership Station (APS) team in Limbe, Cameroon, April 8-9, 2009. My visit coincided with visits by U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon Janet Garvey and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Africa (MARFORAF) Brigadier General Tracy Garrett.
All three of our programs were well synchronized by the USS Nashville staff and I believe we three came away with similar impressions -- that this year's APS visit to Cameroon and last year's visit have been solid engagement projects that are drawing our two militaries closer together, imparting important and needed military training and producing much appreciated civic and humanitarian programs.
It's evident that nearly all Cameroonians who have had anything to do with the APS crew, its ship riders and collaborators have been won over and are fast becoming partners for the command and the United States. The director of the school I visited (where the Seabees were making major repairs and renovations) couldn't stop thanking them and me for their help. There was an easy interaction between the headmistress, her staff, and the Seabees who were putting in new office space, fixing and painting classrooms, rewiring the buildings and doing a whole lot more. What was also interesting was how closely the APS team had worked with the U.S. embassy so that its actions coincided with Self Help projects funded by the embassy at this same school.
On my visit to the BIR Naval Base to attend the graduation ceremony of Cameroon military members who had been trained by U.S. marines attached to the APS, it was obvious that a true camaraderie had developed between the trainers and their student. The base commander, and numerous other senior Cameroonian officers talked at length with me about how important the training was that they were receiving and how much their troops valued what we were doing. The commander proudly stuck the U.S. AFRICOM pin I gave him on his uniform--and wore it with pride the rest of the day.
I probably talked to a half dozen senior and many more junior Cameroonian Military members who all echoed that this was an important enterprise which was building a Cameroonian-U.S., a Cameroonian-AFRICOM team.
With Ambassador Garvey, I visited the Limbe Wildlife Refuge where again the embassy and the APS had teamed over time to help renovate various facilities that will enable the wildlife refuge to better protect various endangered primates.
It was also fun and interesting to watch the Seabees interact with various primates inside their habitat.
The USS Nashville could not be as successful as it has been without the hard work of the more than 20 partnership nations that are onboard and working everyday with their U.S. shipmates. I spoke with a number of these partner LNOs on board USS Nashville and observed them at work. All were fully engaged and tremendously enthusiastic. I spoke at length with the Brazilian LNO about his experiences on the ship getting a preview of the report he is preparing for the Brazilian chief of naval operations.
Bottom line: He wants to continue to be part of this effort and believes the Brazilians will participate on both APS ships next year. Relations deepen.
All in all a fantastic visit with a tremendous multinational group of people. My only regret was that two days was too short.
On 1/20/2011 3:04:06 PM Anonymous in Unspecified wrote I was born in Cameroon and I am in the U.S Air Force. How can I help with developing this partnership? Can I volunteer for an assignment with Africom?
On 1/20/2011 3:04:06 PM Anonymous in Unspecified wrote I was born in Cameroon and I am in the U.S Air Force. How can I help with developing this partnership ? Can I volunteer for an assignment with Africom?
On 5/3/2009 7:49:51 AM Chrys in Tampa Fl wrote I was thrilled during my visit to my native land this April 2009, Cameroons to see the Marines' humanitarian efforts such vaccination against rabies and other medical aids in the local hospitals. I was glad matter of factly that the Americans have arrived finally and will certainly leave positive landmarks. I am now an American citizen and will like to volunteer back in Cameroons every year with the Marines.
On 5/1/2009 12:52:03 AM Anonymous in Unspecified wrote How may I assist in developing your partnership with communities in Cameroon?
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