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Navy, Air Force Team Up For Shelter Construction Efforts

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080822-02
Release Date: 8/22/2008 5:47:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Maddelin Angebrand, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs

PUERTO CABEZAS, Nicaragua (NNS) -- Seabees from Construction Battalion Mobile Unit (CBMU) 202 and engineers from Air Force Civil Engineering Squadron (CES) 5's Prime Based Engineer Emergency Force (BEEF) are working together to construct two shelters at the Regional Government Compound as part of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008.

CBMU 202 and CES 5's Prime BEEF are currently embarked aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3).

"I'm excited to be here helping these people," said Senior Master Sgt. Robert Chandler, site project leader. "We've got a great group of guys. We're blending well, the Navy and Air Force. It's great to work hand-in-hand with another service, and it's great to be here doing a project like this that will help the local population."

Building the shelters is just one part of Continuing Promise's joint efforts between the United States, partner nations and non-governmental support organizations to build partnerships and lasting memories.

"The best part of my job is knowing that I'm actually helping someone," said Construction Electrician 2nd Class Ebony Harris. "That's when I get the most satisfaction."

The local population has shown their interest and appreciation toward the twenty-two engineers working on the huts.

"I have talked to quite a few of the locals," said Chandler. "Everyone I've talked to has been overwhelmed that we're here on the project site. They're bringing us coconuts as gifts, and constantly asking us if there is anything that they can do to help us. They're very appreciative."

The shelters will be used to conduct training to the locals on various skill trades. They will have proper ventilation, multiple electrical outlets, and ceiling fans.

In addition to Nicaragua, Kearsarge will visit Panama, Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago we they will construct similar engineering projects.

Kearsarge's mission exemplifies the United States 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.

The CP Caribbean Phase is the second of two humanitarian civil assistance missions to the Southern Command area of focus for 2008. The first CP mission was conducted by USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific.

For more news on Continuing Promise, visit U.S. Southern Command's Web site at www.southcom.mil.

For more news from USS Kearsarge, visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd3.