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USS Doyle Sailors Renovate Chilean School

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090725-08
Release Date: 7/25/2009 8:25:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Patrick Grieco, Southern Seas Public Affairs

VALPARAISO, Chile (NNS) -- Sailors from Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 40 and guided-missile frigate USS Doyle (FFG 39) conducted a community relations (COMREL) project July 10, at the Arturo Prat School in Valparaiso, Chile.

"This is a good way to get involved with the community and see the culture," said Interior Communications Technician 2nd Class (SW) Justin Myers, assigned to Doyle's Combat Systems department. "It shows we are willing to come in and get our hands dirty to help out the local community."

Myers said he volunteered for the COMREL because he enjoys helping people and he feels it gives him a firsthand look at the lives of the local community.

"It's good to interact with the children and see how they live," said Myers. "You not only get to help them out, but you step into their shoes for a little while, and I think it makes you understand the culture a little better."

Sailors renovated the schools grounds by conducting several painting jobs and offering the children free hair cuts. Most of the Sailors agreed it was time well spent and bonds were formed between the nations.

"I think it brings us closer to our counterparts in these far away lands," said Storekeeper 1st Class (SW) William Snyder, assigned to Doyle's Supply Department. "Everybody had a great time with us, and we had a wonderful time with them. It's all about helping each other out."

Snyder said by inviting the U.S. Sailors to renovate the grounds, the Chileans displayed their trust and partnership with the United States. Over the past few months, Doyle, and other ships, conducted various training exercises together designed to strengthen interoperability.

After lunch and finishing up their work, the Sailors took a few minutes to interact with the school children by playing a round of soccer.

"All I get is good vibes here," said Snyder. "This was a great opportunity to come out and meet the public and see the kids."

Myers said he also enjoyed spending time with the children and feels a sense of self-satisfaction from it.

Doyle is on a six-month deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean as part of Southern Seas 2009 in support of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)'s Partnership of the Americas strategy.

Southern Seas is an annual deployment that focuses on conducting exercises, military to military engagements, and theater security cooperation engagements to enhance relationships with partner nations in the Region. This year's deployment includes Doyle and USS Kauffman (FFG 59), and is executed by DESRON 40 as Commander, Task Group 40.0.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.