• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Thai Marine Engineers, Navy Seabees Team Up for Thai School

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090720-01
Release Date: 7/20/2009 2:35:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason M. Tross, Commander, Task Group 73.5 Public Affairs

RAYONG PROVINCE, Thailand (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Marine Engineers attended the grand opening of a new multi-purpose building, part of an engineering civic action program for Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2009, July 15 in Rayong Province.

Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, commander of Logistics Group Western Pacific, and Vice Adm. Komin Komutanon, RTN deputy commander in chief, officially dedicated the building on behalf of the U.S. and Royal Thai Navies and commended the weeks of teamwork between Thai and U.S. construction forces.

"Everything we did was a team effort, and that's how we got it done," said Builder 3rd Class Royce Bacon, a Seabee from NMCB 40. "It was a pleasure being here and working side-by-side with these folks [RTN Sailors] to accomplish something good."

The building is for Ban Khao By Si School, a school for students with various disabilities, ranging from learning and social to physical and emotional.

"We feel it is very important to do work like this," said RTN Lt. Jartuporn Gongtimthai, a member of the RTN Marine Engineers. "The Navy must show our people we care and do things that help everyone."

While local communities benefit from civic action programs such as the construction project at Ban Khao By Si, Sailors from both countries are gaining something from the experience as well.

"There's a certain sense of satisfaction you get when you do something helpful for someone - especially folks in need," said Bacon. "Just working around the autistic children made me feel like I was helping. I value that experience and feel I'll use it in so many areas of life."

CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Thailand and five other Southeast Asia countries to strengthen relationships and enhance the operational readiness of participating forces.