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Continuing Promise Seabees Begin School Renovation in Guatemala

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080511-05
Release Date: 5/11/2008 8:07:00 PM

By Private First Class Gisell Martinez, USS Boxer Public Affairs

LINARES, Guatemala (NNS) -- Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 303, embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4), began renovations at Guatemala's Aldea Linares School House, May 9, as part of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

CP is an equal partnership mission enabling American and partner-nation civil engineers to share ideas to provide effective infrastructure solutions, while also building on long-term bonds.

The Seabees worked along with the Guatemalan military's Corps of Engineers to construct foundations for classrooms, repair plumbing and fix electrical wiring.

The partner-nation engineers drove six hours to work with the Seabees on the site, which has not seen repairs in nearly eight years. Most are multi-tasking engineers who regularly perform a combination of repair tasks at sites across Guatemala. CP is the first time many of these engineers have worked with anyone other than fellow Guatemalans.

"The work is a necessity, and we need the support," said Guatemala Civil Engineer Specialist Julio Perez. "And it's a great thing that we're there to help work with them for that reason."

Escuela Aldea Linares is a public elementary school that regularly crams 225 students in three small and overflowing makeshift classrooms. Some classrooms are simply cleared dirt areas outside open to the elements, which turns to mud when it rains.

The work at the school includes building two additional classrooms that are elevated off the ground to prevent flooding and damage in bad weather.

"It feels really good to be able to help here and provide some resources," said Utilitiesman 1st Class (SCW) James Kocsis, Aldea Linares site supervisor for CBMU 303. "It's awesome being here, learning from each other and sharing new ideas."

Thirty-four personnel from both the United States and Guatemala are working at the site, which is expected to be finished in four days.

Boxer's mission exemplifies the U.S. maritime strategy which emphasizes deploying forces to build confidence and trust among nations through collective maritime security efforts that focus on common threats and mutual interests.

Embarked units and organizations aboard Boxer for CP include Amphibious Squadron 5, Fleet Surgical Team 5, U.S. Public Health Service, Project Hope, Project Handclasp, Navy Seabee Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 303, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764, Tactical Air Control Squadron 11, Special Marine Air Ground Task Force 24, Helicopter Sea Combat Support Squadron 23, Assault Craft Unit 1 and Beach Master Unit 1.

For more news from USS Boxer, visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd4/.