The U.S. Navy's Africa Partnership Station (APS) arrived in Dakar, Senegal, on April 2 to provide a variety of training courses for more than 100 members of the Senegalese Navy. This marks the 15th port stop of the APS, which aims to enhance regional and maritime safety and security in West and Central Africa.

The APS consists of African, American, and European staff who respond to requests by partner countries for specific areas of training. Although the U.S. Navy has conducted training during routine deployments in West Africa for years, the size and focus of the APS mission has changed.

"There are a lot of courses the Senegalese Navy have requested from APS. There will be more than 100 students on board this time, which shows what we brought last time is important to them," said Lieutenant Commander Clement Fru Fon of the Cameroonian Navy. "The Senegalese Navy will be able to use this training to better secure their waters, and the safer the Gulf of Guinea is, the safer the world will be."

In addition to training, APS is scheduled to perform community relations projects to improve and build upon partnerships with the local community. "We have set up a community relation project with Empire of the Children Shelter that cares for runaway children," said Lieutenant Paul Wigginton, APS Community Relations coordinator. "We are taking 20 Sailors and Seabees to paint, fix desks and some roof work."

APS seeks to take partnerships into action in a concerted interagency and multinational effort to promote maritime governance around Africa. APS is inspired by the belief that effective maritime safety and security will contribute to development, economic prosperity, and security ashore.

"This is the first APS deployment, and it is good for Africa, because if this is the first and the last, then we have wasted our time. But I am very sure that there will be many APS deployments in the future and Africa is ready for that," said Fru Fon.

Part of the U.S. Navyyâ?s Global Fleet Station, APS provides a platform with the capacity and persistent presence to support sustained, focused training and collaboration on a regional scale to maritime partners in West and Central Africa. Commander Task Force 365 and training teams from various U.S. and European military commands, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations are embarked on board Fort McHenry to enhance cooperative partnerships.