Snapshots from Africa Partnership Station 2012
Swift showcases skills & goodwill

By Jessica F. Alexander, MSC Public Affairs

Swift pulls into Durban Harbor, South Africa, June 5 for a two-day port visit. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Suzanna Brugler

HSV Swift (HSV2), a U.S. Military Sealift Command-chartered high-speed vessel, is providing critical support to the U.S. Navy's partnership mission in Africa this year.

Since January, the U.S. Navy has been deployed to Africa as part of an ongoing international effort to improve regional maritime safety and security during a mission called Africa Partnership 2012.

APS is an international security cooperation initiative aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa. Training activities focus on counter-piracy, illicit trafficking, and energy and resource security.

Sailors aboard HSV Swift (HSV 2) practice hose-handling techniques during damage control training May 8. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonathan Garcia

In the past five years, APS has brought together more than 30 African, European, North and South American countries. The mission is in part motivated by the belief that effective maritime security and safety will contribute to development and economic prosperity.

Swift arrived in Africa May 4 after a fuel stop in Dakar, Senegal. Once on station, the ship's crew conducted brief port visits in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Lome, Togo and Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo before heading further south to Namibia and other locations in South Africa.

There are currently 60 total crew members aboard the ship, including contracted mariners, U.S. Sailors and Marines and the Embarked Security Team.

U.S. Marine Sergeant Oscar Gallegos, right, shows Congolese service members a security training video May 17. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonathan Garcia

HSV Swift is a mission-critical element to APS 12, providing a versatile, agile platform for a variety of subject-matter expert exchanges with host nations.

In remarks aboard Swift, Capt. Susan Dunlap, Navy Africa Region Director, talked about the impact of the APS mission commitment in terms of resources.

"It is a huge task to schedule ships, hold conferences, make plans and do everything that needs to be done to bring off an event of this magnitude," said Dunlap.

Partner nations benefit because the concerns of the maritime environment today are global.

"Piracy affects all nations that transport goods on the ocean. Drugs trafficked through most of Africa mostly reach European shores. Terrorism is exported to the United States and all over the world. So it is in our own interest to help Africa improve maritime security," Dunlap said.

Boatswain Ray Tinay touches up the paint while Swift is in East London, South Africa, June 2. U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Martin Wright

APS bolsters maritime safety and security by increasing African nations' capabilities to secure their own territorial waters and enforce their own economic exclusive zones.

However, true mission success is also dependent upon the friendships and partnerships that are built along the way, and maritime security in Africa is a long-term effort.

Ensign Joe Keiley, the public affairs officer aboard Swift, reflects on his time aboard the ship and the value of the APS mission:

Sailors dig a hole for a new fence post May 22 during a community service project in Walvis Bay, Namibia. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Suzanna Brugler

"A month into my adventure on high speed vessel Swift (HSV 2) and I've already visited more foreign ports (five) than my previous 18 months in the Navy.

It takes a lot of people working together, but hopefully our continued presence will give the chance to really see the growth in new friendships across the continent."

Two embarked Marines demonstrate how to move an injured patient to Congolese service members on Swift’s flight deck May 18. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Suzanna Brugler

Another U.S. Navy Sailor aboard Swift, Logistics Specialist 1st Class Shane Mitchell, reflects on the community relations aspect of the APS mission:

"I had a tremendous experience traveling to an orphanage in Pointe Noire, Congo. The children, along with their instructors, were singing to us as we arrived. Their faces were aglow, and they were singing from their hearts. Smiles often go long distances, and I can say with great certainty that they touched my heart and continue to touch it today.

APS is about touching people's lives in tangible ways. To make a child's day is something that should be strived for daily, and I was certainly glad to have contributed to that young man's life. Our friendship is one that I always remember."

During the month of June, Swift continued the mission in Mozambique, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Kenya before the APS East mission concludes and heads to the west coast to begin APS West with visits in Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin.

The ship's gold crew and blue crew plan to turnover in July, and APS 12 is scheduled to conclude in September.

For more information and to join the conversation visit: http://www.facebook.com/hsv2swift.