HSV Swift Departs Nigeria Following Africa Partnership Station Visit

By Ensign Joseph Keiley, High-Speed Vessel Swift Public Affairs

LAGOS, Nigeria (NNS) -- High-Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) completed a weeklong visit to Lagos, Nigeria, in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) 2012, Aug. 24.

During the visit, Swift conducted several classroom and field training engagements with Nigerian service members, hosted a health fair, and held a reception for the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria.

Capt. Richard N. Soucie, commander, Task Force 63, said that visits such as this helps to promote partnership and interoperability between African countries.

 "Maritime domain awareness has been an issue at the forefront of our visits to Africa," said Soucie. "This serves as an opportunity for us to get together and work on common issues, and it's very exciting because we have numerous people and trainers aboard Swift who interacted all week with the Nigerian people as well as the Nigerian navy."

Terrence McCulley, U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, commended the crew for their partner-building training and their community outreach efforts during their visit.

"I'm delighted to have Swift in Lagos," said McCulley. "I'd like to thank the Swift team for their efforts in demonstrating partnership between the U.S. and the Nigerian navy. They showed how effective our military can be."

Local military officials said they valued Swift's visit.

"This visit strengthened our relationship as we sharpened our skills and ready ourselves to turn our attention back to the sea," said Commodore HM Babalola, Nigerian navy.

Upon leaving Nigeria, Swift will continue its APS deployment, making several more stops along the West African coast.

APS is an international security cooperation initiative, facilitated by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.

Nigerian man serves his new country in the Missouri National Guard

By Jennifer Archdekin
Missouri National Guard

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (2/27/12) - The unique journey of one Missouri Guard member begins more than 6,500 miles away in Nigeria.

New recruit, Army Pvt. Precious Abraham, spent his first 22 years in Nigeria before coming to America to embark on a journey setting him up for success. In 2010 he left the only life he knew in Africa, along with his Family, in search of a better future.

“For me, to be an American citizen, it is a very great thing I have achieved,” Abraham said. “Everywhere I go in the world I know that I’m proud to be an American citizen. America is the best country, unlike my country where there is corruption and illegality down there.

“In the United States everything is so organized. I love to be a citizen of a country that is good,” he said.

Abraham came to Missouri to study nursing at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. It is there he met and married his wife, Margaret. She, too, is a foreign national who happens to be from Sierra Leone, about 1,400 miles from his home country. Margaret is a student at UCM and is slated to graduate with a biology degree this spring.

The huge transition did not come without sacrifice. Abraham had to give up his Nigerian citizenship, but does not regret the trade-off.

“Most people in Africa want the best,” he said. “The United States is the best, best in education, best in everything. I come to the United States for the best.”

Once in Missouri, Abraham began to consider what opportunities awaited him in the National Guard.

“I discussed joining with my parents and they approved of it because I told them all of the benefits, like paying for my school tuition,” Abraham said. “They believed in what I wanted to do.”

Serving in the military was always something Abraham had been interested in, but said he never had the right guidance to follow through with it.

“When I was young I was always passionate about joining the force,” he said. “I had nobody to encourage me or to push me through. When I came to the United States, the encouragement and the support was there. I was like, wow, this is a great opportunity for me to go ahead and join.”

Abraham’s recruiter, Army Sgt. 1st Class Jim Neighbors, met him through a referral. Neighbors was very impressed with the bright, young man, and his eagerness to serve. Once his training is complete, Abraham will be a cannon crewmember with Battery D, 1-129th Field Artillery in Independence.

“He’s really amazed at how together our country is—how organized the United States is and how cool it is,” Neighbors said. “He loves it here and wants to be a part of it. He has a different perspective on this than a lot of people. Delta Battery is excited to have him.”

It goes without saying Abraham may have more obstacles before him at basic training than most recruits, but Neighbors is confident he will do well. He said Abraham grew up bilingual and has always spoke English, so the language barrier should not be too difficult.

“I think the cultural differences will probably be the biggest hurdle,” Neighbors said.

The decision to serve as a citizen-Soldier wasn’t just for practical reasons - though what Abraham stands to gain is substantial - he also wants to give back to the country that is doing so much for him.

“When I enlisted I was very happy,” Abraham said. “I’m happy I’m supporting the U.S. government. It brings great joy to me.”

With the 2012 presidential election not too far off in the distance, Abraham anxiously awaits to have his voice heard and cast his ballot as a new citizen—one of the very liberties he now defends for all Americans. He cannot help but grin from ear to ear when talking about it.

“I will be very happy for me to vote,” he said. “I’ll be very, very happy.”

USS Simpson Makes APS Port Visit in Ghana

By Lt. Cmdr. Suzanna Brugler, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa/Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

TEMA, Ghana (NNS) -- The flagship of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West 2012, USS Simpson (FFG 56), along with embarked staff, arrived in Tema, Ghana, Feb. 18 to begin their involvement with the APS 2012 Ghanaian hub.

The hub, taking place after a recent port visit to Nigeria, brings training designed to strengthen African maritime partnerships to improve maritime safety and security to more than 40 maritime professionals from the Ghanaian navy, as well as 10 ship riders from partner nations including Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria, Republic of Congo and Togo.

Simpson provides APS with a platform to give hands-on experience in a maritime working environment.

Simpson commanding officer, Cmdr. Leonard Milliken said the hub was an opportunity for him and his crew to build relationships, share knowledge with Ghanaian partners and show off their ship.

"The Simpson crew and I are excited about the opportunity of working with professionals from the Ghanaian navy," said Milliken. "It's an essential mission within our current maritime environment, bringing African solutions to global problems with international support."

Hub participants will attend courses on board Simpson in basic first aid and basic damage control. This training furthers APS objectives to strengthen maritime professionals and develop response capabilities while encouraging regional integration.

Milliken is scheduled to make office calls with senior leaders from Tema including Ghanaian navy base Command Operations Officer (COO), Cmdr. Emmanuel Kwafo; Tema Local Chief, Nii Adjei Kraku II; and Tema Mayor, the Honorable Robert Kempes Ofosuware.

Simpson Sailors will have the opportunity to partake in local cultural tours including a trip to nearby Akosombo, to embark on a day cruise on the world´s largest man-made lake, and to Kakum National Park, where they'll have the opportunity to look down on a rain forest from a canopy walk.

A friendly, unofficial soccer match with the Ghanaian navy is also scheduled for Simpson Sailors as an integral hub event, providing a means to enhance and enrich the APS training through fostering teamwork and camaraderie on the field and off.

The hub will end with a reception on board Simpson, co-hosted by U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, the Honorable Donald Teitelbaum, and Milliken.

Simpson will then depart Tema and participate in a scheduled passing exercise (PASSEX) with the Ghanaian navy ship Anzone, which will involve shipboard maneuvers out at sea, completing the hub´s APS training.

APS is an international security cooperation initiative, facilitated by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.

Simpson is on a regularly scheduled deployment to the Sixth Fleet area of responsibility.