Students receive their completion certificates and are congratulated by Col. Donald Gertrude, Head of Coast Guard here, and Capt. James E. Tranoris, Africa Partnership Station East Commodore, during a graduation ceremony held aboard APS platform HSV 2 Swift. APS East is an international cooperative initiative aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and other collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa, and is being conducted in cooperation with commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa and U.S. Africa Command.