Many U.S. Navy Sailors have come to Ghana for the first time to support Exercise Obangame Express 2015, but for some it was also an opportunity to return to their birth place.

Maritime forces from Gulf of Guinea nations, Europe, South America, and the United States and several regional and international organizations concluded the multinational maritime exercise, Obangame Express 2015, March 27.

Ivory Coast boarding team members establish perimeter security aboard the German navy vessel FGS Brandenburg (F215) March 21, 2015 during an illegal fishing training scenario as part of Obangame Express 2015. Obangame Express is a U.S. Africa Command-sponsored multinational maritime exercise designed to increase maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea. (U.S. Army photo by Specialist Raul Pacheco/Released)

Boarding teams from five Gulf of Guinea countries are using the German navy frigate FGS Brandenburg (F215) to enhance their abilities to complete visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations during Exercise Obangame Express 2015, from March 19 to 27, 2015. After boarding the ship, the boarding teams are confronted with situations that require them to detain and question suspects, clear rooms and respond to medical emergencies in order to effectively demonstrate their capabilities to perform in potentially hostile shipboard environments.

Maritime professionals from more than 20 maritime nations met in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, to finalize plans for Exercise Obangame Express 2015, Jan. 12, 2015.

Planners from more than 20 African and European maritime nations attend a final planning conference in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, for Exercise Obangame Express Jan. 12, 2015. The exercise will take place in the Gulf of Guinea in March 2015, and will focus on developing regional maritime interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Kent Laborde/Released)

GULF OF GUINEA (April 21, 2014) – Personnel assigned to U.S. Naval Special Warfare Group (NSWG) 10, Nigerian Special Boat Services (NSBS), Cameroonian Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) and Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces (NMSOF) secure the flight deck during a simulated boarding of the joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) as part of Obangame Express 2014. Obangame Express is a U.S. Africa Command sponsored multinational maritime exercise designed to increase maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Justin R. DiNiro/ Released)

United States Service Members, Cameroon and Gabon sailors conduct a search and seizure familiarization in Douala, Cameroon as part of exercise Obangame Express 2014. Obangame Express is a Gulf of Guinea-based multinational maritime exercise

Exercise Obangame Express 2013 (OE-13), an at-sea naval exercise focused on counter-piracy and maritime security operations wrapped up in the Gulf of Guinea, Feb. 28.