Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. -- The command element of the Security Cooperation Task Force, Africa Partnership Station 2011, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., is hard at work supporting the efforts of its forward element during its deployment in Africa.
APS-11’s mission is to build professional relationships and partner nation capacity in Senegal and Gabon in order to promote regional naval interoperability and information sharing. Accomplishing such a mission requires an enormous amount of logistical coordination, but the Marines of APS-11’s command element make it look easy.
“Day after day, the forward element’s food services, supplies and maintenance management are being taken care of back here,” said Capt. Thomas Watson, the logistics officer with APS-11. “If any gear or equipment breaks out there, we put parts on order and make sure it makes its way to where it’s needed.”
With the task force nearing the end of its deployment, as of June 10, 2011, the command element’s Marines have begun organizing and dispersing unused equipment so the forward marines can transition back to the United States as smoothly as possible.
“My Marines have done a fantastic job and have been extremely professional supporting the forward element,” said Sgt. Kathryn Novelozo, the communications chief with APS-11. “They have done their jobs and then everything else they could to help them accomplish their mission.”