TOGO: US NAVY DIVE TEAM VISITS POST

UNCLAS LOME 000138 PARIS FOR BOB KANEDA SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM TO SUBJECT: TOGO: US NAVY DIVE TEAM VISITS POST ¶1. SUMMARY: From March 21-28, 2009, a Navy Dive Mobile Training Team (MTT) from the U.S. Navy Expeditionary Training Command (ETC) was deployed to Lome, Togo. The MTT consisted of Lieutenant Christopher Donabella; Chief Navy Diver Michael Linzy; and Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Angelo Sanchez. The team delivered classroom and practical familiarization training in basic underwater evolutions and SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) dive fundamentals. END SUMMARY. ¶2. CURRICULUM: Twelve students were subject to a four-day vigorous training schedule involving physical exercises designed to improve their swimming and diving ability. They also participated in dive gear management, classroom discussion of basic dive physics, basic dive medicine, and SCUBA operations and maintenance. By the end of the week there was a clearly visible improvement in the swimming ability of every student. ¶3. PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS: The MTT observed a number of problems with the Togo Navy dive team's equipment, maintenance and knowledge of dive operations. To address these problems, The MTT advised Togo Navy divers to perform routine maintenance and inspection of their equipment and seek commercial dive certification. The MTT expressed their desire to work in conjunction with a future U.S. Navy ship visit in order to stage and transport necessary dive equipment for a follow-on dive MTT. ¶4. CONCLUSION: The training motivated the Togo Navy dive team members as they became more proficient in the basic equipment maintenance and dive physics. The students were impressed with the breadth of the material covered in the training, and their feedback showed an overall satisfaction in the course. It was evident that Togo's Navy is eager to continue training in dive operations and maintenance. Given the desire of the Togo Navy divers to acquire the traits and skills necessary to have a competent Navy Dive unit, ETC proposes to provide continuous training. ¶5. COMMENT: The Embassy is encouraged by MTT's assessment of the Togo Navy dive team's training progress and supports their recommendations for additional instruction to improve their knowledge of dive operations. The Embassy will encourage Togo Navy divers to responsibly perform routine maintenance of their SCUBA equipment, regularly practice exercises and procedures driven from the course and pursue commercial dive certification. With the anticipation of a U.S. Naval ship visit in August 2009, the Embassy's POL/MIL Officer will work with Command Naval Forces Africa in support of this visit and request ETC to include more advanced dive training as part of the onboard curriculum for Togo Navy shipriders. END COMMENT. THORBURN