Vote for your favorite AFRICOM-related photo of March

Here are a few of our favorite photos from March from around U.S. Africa Command, our components and partner organizations and nations.  (You are also welcome to nominate a photo that’s not listed here, as long as it relates to U.S. Africa Command’s mission and the photo was taken in March.)

Which is your favorite and why?

Tell us your vote in the comments section. We’ll announce the winner next Monday.

Senegal: USS Simpson performs daily operations

DAKAR, Senegal (Mar. 10, 2012) – Ensign Tom Callahan uses a laser rangefinder while standing junior officer of the deck watch aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) as the ship leaves Dakar after refueling. Simpson is conducting theater security cooperation and maritime security operations in the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeff Troutman/Released)

Watch a slideshow of more photos from USS Simpson.

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Liberia:

An Armed Forces of Liberia soldier, right, jumps to receive the tip against his Pakistan opponent during a basketball match between the AFL’s Armed Forces Training Center and their United Nations Mission in Liberia counterparts at Camp Sandee Ware, Liberia, March 21. The game was the final event of a three-day sports festival between the two organizations. The AFL team defeated the UNMIL team 19-17, giving them the overall title. The two organizations also played each other in soccer (won by the AFL) and volleyball (won by the Pakistan-based UNMIL squad).

Read more about the United Nations Mission in Liberia.

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Djibouti:

U.S. Army Sgt. Clayburn Johnson (left) and Spc. Michael Knee (right), U.S. Army 257th Engineer Team members, observe the well development process of the second of four newly drilled wells just outside Camp Lemonnier here, March 12. This project allowed the team to evaluate the water tables in the aquifer and make plans for camp expansion. The well development project directly supports Camp Lemonnier’s initiative to identify alternative well locations and assist in development of camp infrastructure. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Hector Garcia)

View the photo album from the water drilling tests.

“The wells are part of a study to determine if pulling water from a beach aquifer is a viable option for removing Camp Lemonnier from the Djiboutian Fresh Water Aquifer and leaving that resource solely for the Djiboutians,” said U.S. Army Captain Joseph Bzdok, 257th Engineer Team commander. Read the full story here.

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Benin: Daily life at the fish market

Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi, U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs, covered the Maritime Safety and Security Conference hosted and facilitated by U.S. AFRICOM and the Africa Center. The seminar brings together nations of West and Central Africa to discuss maritime safety issues, including ways to combat piracy and illicit trafficking. Femi got to visit the fish market during a break. (U.S. Africa Command photo by Staff Sgt. Olufemi Owolabi)

Read a story about the Maritime Safety and Security Conference  gathering of representatives from Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

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Morocco: U.S. Soldiers Observe Training at Moroccan Field Artillery Center

MOROCCO, Mar 26, 2012 — In order to help improve the security of Morocco, 20 members of the 15th Royal Artillery Group purchased approximately 60 armored vehicles called M109A5 howitzers through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.

At the request of the Royal Moroccan Field Artillery Training Center, an artillery tactics military-to-military exercise was executed in the cities of Fes and Guercie, March 4-10, 2012 to help provide the Moroccan soldiers with training on the maintenance, safety and firing of the M109A5 system.

Read the story here.

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