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Navy Seabees Build New Schools In Espirtu Santo

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110430-11
4/30/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Michael Russell, Pacific Partnership 2011 Public Affairs

ESPIRITU SANTO, Vanuatu (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 began working with Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) engineers April 7 during Pacific Partnership 2011 to build three new school buildings and bathrooms around the island of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu.

The Seabees are working on three new school buildings, including full-service restroom facilities.

The primary schools at Kameua, Ban-ban and Lorethia-Kar Kar were chosen because they did not have enough capacity for the number of children in the communities and the existing structures had water damage that made them unsafe for the students.

Currently there are 30 Seabees working in teams of 10 at each primary school. Each team has Seabee and VMF engineers who are subject matter experts on certain aspects of the project. These experts are teaching local apprentices how to conduct life cycle maintenance for the facilities.

"The one-on-one Seabee and VMF involvement has been astounding," said Lt. Wesley Howard, NMCB 133 officer-in-charge. "We have been trading methodologies, learned the construction skills of each side and passed the knowledge on to the community apprentices."

Because of the limited amount of potable water available on Espiritu Santo, clean water is limited at these schools. One of the engineering projects will reduce this problem by providing water catchments to improve the schools' facilities and quality of life for the students.

The students are excited to see the progress of the schools and are anticipating the outcome, said Howard.

"From the day we stepped foot on the projects, the children have been excited about having a place that they can learn in a new structure with desks," said Howard.

"The kids are great around here. They watch us work a lot and laugh at us all the time," said Builder Constructionman Gregory Kaminski. "They really seem excited about their new schools."

The mission for the Seabees in Espiritu Santo is executing engineering, humanitarian and civic projects to contribute to the economic and social development of local communities and strengthen the professional relationship between nations. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held May 8 for the opening of the schools.

Amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland (LPD 7) arrived April 28 for Pacific Partnership 2011. Cleveland is the flagship for Pacific Partnership 2011, which completed its mission in Tonga April 23 and will visit Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Federated States of Micronesia. Pacific Partnership 2011 is a humanitarian assistance initiative, which promotes cooperation throughout the Pacific.