West African and U.S. sailors joined together for a three-week program aboard the USS Nashville to build relationships and review training, maintenance, and logistics techniques, as part of the Africa Partnership Station (APS), February, 2009.

The running mates program provides opportunities for building and strengthening relationships between U.S. and African navies and to practice techniques important to maritime security efforts.

"I think it's a really good way to build relationships at the fundamental level," said Lieutenant Will Phillips, assistant embarked trainee coordinator. "Normally, we see high-ranking officials or defense attaches building relationships at the strategic or operational level. Now you see one-on-one interaction between junior officers and enlisted as well."

The time spent together opened crucial lanes of discussion and interaction between the U.S. and Senegalese sailors for an information exchange that benefited both parties professionally and culturally, according to Phillips.

Togoese Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Mouzou Banadjuba talked about the program's benefits. "My [running mate] explains what he is doing and that helps me to understand all the personal qualifications on the ship," said Banadjuba. "I think this is a good program. When I follow him, we do the work together and it helps answer any questions I may have."

APS works cooperatively with U.S. and multinational partners to enhance maritime safety and security for the continent of Africa. The running mates program builds upon that idea from the deckplate level allowing the relationships built to act as the catalyst for a safer maritime environment.

"This endeavor has been a very rewarding experience," said Ensign Rene Juarez, running mate program participant. "It is important to APS, I believe, in order to build long lasting relationships on personal and professional levels that will build a solid foundation for future cooperative agreements and partnerships."

APS Nashville made its first port stop in Dakar, Senegal and will soon make its second port visit in Sekondi, Ghana. Additional port visits will include stops in Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon.