For Commander Misero Mujui, Africa Partnership Station (APS) East director of staff, his most enjoyable moments of the 2010 APS mission was watching many of his sailors train while APS East conducted in port training in Maputo, Mozambique.

"Seeing them graduate was my favorite part," recalled Mujui. "It's not only a piece of paper, but what is left in their brains and how they will apply it to their everyday job."

Mujui, born and raised in Chieumbane Province of Gaza, Mozambique, is a 30-year veteran of the Mozambican military. At an early age, Mujui seemed destined for a career within the ministry of education and culture, until he was selected to join the Mozambican navy in 1980.

Chosen to lead the international staff for APS East, the mission would not be Mujui's first experience dealing with new cultural perspectives. Mujui began his naval career with four years of instruction in Germany, followed by tours and assignments in South Africa, the United Kingdom, in the U.S. states of Texas and Virginia, and in the Darfur region of Sudan.

When it comes to APS 2010, this is the first year that an APS mission has been carried out with an international staff. Officers from Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, Brazil and the United States all work together in one large classroom office aboard the APS East platform high speed vessel Swift (HSV-2). Mujui says that the most important thing about working as an international staff is that it requires each person to think from a new perspective in order to execute the mission.

"By sitting together, we started to understand each other, even overcome the barriers of our different languages," said Mujui. "We can see how APS has helped bring us together as one." Mujui went on to reflect about the impact of the APS mission on maritime safety and security.

"Some [APS] countries are well equipped, while others can't give right now," said Mujui. "This must not be a barrier for what we're trying to do with APS. We must investigate how to balance our contributions so that all countries improve maritime security in the region."

Mujui said he had also learned a lot about leadership from this APS East mission, particularly from APS Commander, Capt. James E. Tranoris.

"Commodore is good at transmitting exactly how he wants something done," Mujui stated with deep respect, "Commodore gives direction and feedback that is teaching me how to better manage. I will remember this going back home."

APS East is an international cooperative initiative aimed at strengthen global maritime safety and security through collaborative training and activities.

Swift and Nicholas have visited ports in Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles. The ships bring teams of maritime experts from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps to provide training and participate in exercises with their African counterparts. Combat lifesaving; damage control; law of war; visit, board, search and seizure; small boat operations/maintenance and physical security are just a few of the capabilities onboard.

In addition to in port instruction, almost 60 international shipboard riders have participated in at-sea training aboard the Nicholas. Riders from Djibouti, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Mauritius have been underway for extended periods of time and spent their days not only learning basic watch-standing principles, leadership skills, damage control and engineering, but also building relationships with sailors from the other APS partner nations.

APS East has been conducting missions along the east coast of Africa for a few years; however, APS East 2010 marks the first year that the mission includes an international staff of partnering-nations. Staff officers aboard the HSV-2 Swift from Kenya, Mozambique, Mauritius, Tanzania, Brazil and the U.S., work directly with the Commander to plan and execute the APS East mission, offering a deeper level of experience and exchange of ideas about maritime safety and security in Africa.

Swift and Nicholas are on regular scheduled deployments within the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. APS East is being conducted in cooperation with Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).