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Seabees Perform Valuable Mission in Ethopia

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071016-05
Release Date: 10/16/2007 9:54:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mary Popejoy, Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa Public Affairs

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (NNS) -- Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40 Det. Horn of Africa, currently deployed to Addis Ababa are performing valuable civil military operations in the local area.

Since the team of eight Seabees arrived in August, they have been building an administration building, a library and an eight-stall latrine. The projects also included plumbing, installing a leach field, septic system and wiring all of the electrical at the Abiot Ermeja School.

To check on the status of the project and the health and welfare of the Seabees, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) Command Master Chief (CMC) Roy Maddocks visited Addis Ababa Oct. 4.

“As the new senior enlisted leader for CJTF-HOA, this gives me the opportunity to see what’s happening outside the wire,” said Maddocks. “To see the work they are doing and the interaction they have with the community reminds us that what they’re doing is not only important to us, but the partner nation as well.”

For Builder 3rd Class David Caracas, assistant crew leader in Addis Ababa, the CMC visit was a great way to highlight the great work of his crew.

“It’s always nice when the HOA leadership comes out and sees the great work we’re doing because it lets them appreciate what we’re doing just as much as we do,” said Caracas.

Caracas went on to say that this project will provide the school with more opportunities to provide quality education to many children.

“These new additions will better their education environment so the kids can look forward to coming to school and become excited about learning,” said Caracas.

According to Steelworker 3rd Class Randy Rivera, Addis Ababa crew leader, being able to see the immediate impact of the project makes the project completely worth it.

“Getting to see how we’re helping these kids in the long term makes me feel really good about being able to be a part of something that will make a big difference in their daily lives,” said Rivera.

And it’s because of projects like this that partner nations are able to see another side of the U.S. military that they wouldn’t normally get to see in other parts of the world.

“It shows our partner nations that we’re here to help and make a positive difference in their lives,” said Rivera. “The Seabees are about helping people and these projects show them the true colors of America. We’re happy to be a part of such an important mission here.”

Approximately 1,800 people from each military branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, civilian employees, and representatives of coalition and partner countries (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen, Seychelles, Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar) make up CJTF-HOA.