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Week Nine

Week Nine: This week we join Cutter Bear as she visits Cotonou, Benin. Not only does Cutter Bear work with the Beninese Navy but the crew finds time for a game of soccer with the French Naval Vessel Orage .

All photos are credited: U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer Second Class Andrew Shinn.

The Coast Guard Cutter Bear, homeported in Portsmouth, Va.

PO1 (MK) Paul Dalton and PO3 (MK) Peter Oren examine engines on a Beninese naval small boat while PO2 (MK) Jeremiah Gray hands them tools in Cotonou, Benin July 14.

PO3 (MK) Peter Oren grips a Beninese naval patrol boat as he boards a small boat to assist with repairs July 14 in Cotonou, Benin.

Small boats from the Beninese Navy stand ready by the fishing fleet in Cotonou, Benin July 14. Crewmembers of the Cutter Bear assisted the Beninese Navy with repairs to their small boats as part of the cutter's theater security cooperation (TSC) mission in the Gulf of Guinea on Africa's west coast.

A member of the Beninese Navy poses while crewmembers of the Cutter Bear assist the Beninese Navy with smallboat repairs in Cotonou, Benin July 14.

A member of the Beninese fishing fleet watches crewmembers of the Cutter Bear assist the Beninese Navy with smallboat repairs in Cotonou, Benin July 14.

PO3 (MK) Peter Oren boards a Beninese naval small boat to assist with repairs July 14 in Cotonou, Benin.

Ensign Patton Epperson checks the security of the pier in Cotonou, Benin as the Cutter Bear pulls into port July 13. The cutter engaged the Beninese Navy in theater security cooperation (TSC) activities.

Members of the Beninese fishing fleet watch crewmembers from the Cutter Bear assist the Beninese Navy with smallboat repairs in Cotonou, Benin July 14.

Ensign Scott Mitchell, in focus, lines up with teammates from the Cutter Bear and members of the Beninese Navy before a soccer game July 15 in Cotonou, Benin.

Lt. j.g. Jonathan Cox, a crewmember of the Cutter Bear, collides with a member of the Beninese navy during a soccer game July 15 in Cotonou, Benin.

Seaman Maykal Manresa stands on the field the crew of the Bear used for soccer games against teams from the Beninese marines and the French navy July 15 in Cotonou, Benin.

Seaman Maykal Manresa, center, lines up with his teammates before a soccer game with the crew of the French naval vessel Orage July 15 in Cotonou, Benin. The Coast Guardsmen won the game 4-3.

PO1 (MK) Paul Dalton works on a small boat engine aboard a Beninese naval small boat July 14 in Cotonou, Benin.

PO3 (MK) Peter Oren works on the engine of a Beninese small boat in Cotonou, Benin July 14. Boat repairs are one aspect of the Cutter Bear's theater security cooperation (TSC) mission in the Gulf of Guinea.

PO2 (MK) Jeremiah Gray works on a Beninese navy small boat engine in Cotonou, Benin July 14. Crewmembers of the Cutter Bear are assisting nations in the Gulf of Guinea with their naval capabilities to help ensure regional security and freedom from regional piracy and terrorism.

PO3 (MK) Peter Oren works on a small boat engine with members of the Beninese Navy in Cotonou, Benin July 14.

Ensign Scott Mitchell kicks up the ball during a soccer game between the crew of the Cutter Bear and the French naval vessel Orage in Cotonou, Benin July 15. The Coast Guardsmen beat the French crew 4-3.

PO3 (MK) Peter Oren, left, and PO2 (MK) Jeremiah Gray board a Beninese naval small boat to assist with repairs July 14 in Cotonou, Benin.

PO1 (GM) Sam Sprenkle stands a security watch aboard the Cutter Bear in Cotonou, Benin July 13.

Ensign Chris Cumberland jumps over a member of the French Navy during a soccer game between the crew of the Cutter Bear and the French naval vessel Orage in Cotonou, Benin July 15.

PO2 (MK) Jeremiah Grey puts on mechanic's gloves while PO1 (MK) Paul Dalton examines an engine on a Beninese naval small boat in Cotonou, Benin July 14.

Lt. James Silcox, operations officer of the Cutter Bear, goes for the ball during a soccer game between the crew of the Cutter Bear and the French naval vessel Orage in Cotonou, Benin July 15.

Seaman Jason West, 20, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., chases the ball during a soccer game between the crew of the Cutter Bear and the French naval vessel Orage in Cotonou, Benin July 15.

A member of the Beninese marines kicks the ball during a soccer game against crewmembers of the Cutter Bear in Cotonou, Benin July 15.

Ensign Scott Mitchell kicks up some dust during a soccer game between the crew of the Cutter Bear and the French naval vessel Orage in Cotonou, Benin July 15. Though the field was dirt and sand, the Coast Guardsmen beat the French crew 4-3.

Lt. James Silcox stretches before a soccer game against Beninese Marines July 15 in Cotonou, Benin.

Ensign Chris Cumberland goes after the soccer ball in a game against members of the Beninese marines in Cotonou, Benin July 15.

PO1 (EM) Thomas Palmeira tees up at the Cutter Bear driving range on the flight deck of the cutter July 13 inthe Gulf of Guinea off the west coast of Africa.

Seaman Jason West speaks with the force protection officer during an anti-terrorism watch aboard the Cutter Bear in Cotonou, Benin July 14. Members of the force protection team are part of a continuum of security provided for each port the Bear visits.

PO1 (MK) Paul Dalton assists the Beninese Navy with smallboat repairs in Cotonou, Benin July 14. Such repairs are part of the cutter's mission of theater security cooperation.