Photo By Lt. Col. Richard Garringer | A Guatemalan engineer operates heavy equipment after training with U.S. Air Force...... read more read more
CHIQUIMULA, Guatemala – The airmen of the Civil Engineering Squadron from the 188th Fighter Wing exited the vehicles after a three hour commute from Zacapa and walked down the dirt road to the construction site here April 7, 2014. This was the first day of construction of Beyond the Horizon Guatemala 2014, and the airmen were eager to start building the new two-room school.
This exercise allows U.S. military personnel and units to sharpen their occupational skills and practice deployment and redeployments while bringing lasting benefits to partner nations and their people. It is a major component of the United States regional engagement efforts and affords the opportunity to train service members while providing needed services to communities throughout Central and South America.
“It makes me proud to be able to come here and give some time to people who are less fortunate than us in the United States. It makes me happy to see their faces as they smile and wave when the U.S. Military drives through town. The people are just waiting for someone to interact with them. It makes you feel good to wave at a child and get a smile in return,” said Master Sgt. Larry Ricketts, a National Guardsman with the Arkansas Air National Guard.
This is Ricketts first time to construct a building in Guatemala. He has 25 years of combined experience with combat and civil engineers. Ricketts grew up in Van Buren, Ark. and graduated from Van Buren High School in 1978. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1988 as a heavy equipment operator, trained at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and was stationed at Fort Knox, Ky. He returned home after his active duty obligation and joined the Arkansas Air National Guard. His unit deployed to Iraq in 2005.
“When I was in Iraq the showers did not come very often and the electricity went off quite frequently. It’s the same thing here. When you are home you don’t have to worry about whether your lights will come on where your water comes from. We take it for granted a lot of times. Coming down here puts things in perspective,” Ricketts commented.
Ricketts’ most memorable moment in Guatemala was when they first arrived at the job site and saw three young children climbing a tree to get a better view of the engineers, not unlike sports fans trying to get a view of the action. “We were giving them something they did not have and they wanted to watch the whole thing from the beginning. It makes you feel good,” said Ricketts.
The Guatemalan soldiers received instruction and training on heavy equipment.
“On heavy equipment the biggest way to learn things is actually hands on. It is something you can’t read in a book,” said Ricketts. The airmen used an interpreter and showed the Guatemalan engineers what the controls do and how to run the equipment. “The best thing you can do is to step back and then let them do it. I think they really enjoyed that. Operating the equipment is something that most of them never get to do in their lifetime,” Ricketts said.
Staff Sgt. Lance D. Hobbs, from Lavaca, Ark., also assisted in the training and commented on the language barrier.
“With the help of the interpreter, it is a fun experience. The interpreter told me they don’t get a chance to operate heavy equipment. You could tell it was exciting for the Guatemalan engineers and it was a lot of fun to see. They seemed to enjoy it and that was a good experience. It just gives you a sense of pride in what you do,” said Hobbs.
When asked about the current school and how he felt after touring the classrooms, Hobbs replied, “It was mixed emotions. It was depressing seeing the conditions that they learn in now and at the same time it was inspiring to know that what we are building will help these kids: give them more room, give them something cleaner, nicer and better.”
Ricketts continued, “The children are carrying loads of wood for cooking every day. They are walking cattle to the water hole. Even the children are part of the work force in the family. I feel, when you give something to people here, they are more appreciative of what little bit you give them.”
In 2012 the Civil Engineering Squadron of the 188th Fighter Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard deployed to Guatemala and built a maternity ward at a medical clinic in Tactic, Coban. “I thought about coming here and what it was going to be like. The first couple of days were pretty hot. After traveling to the work site, seeing the kids, and the conditions of the school it makes me want to volunteer for the next one,” Ricketts commented, “I will come back!”
“Everybody learns at a different rate and many things affect a students’ learning ability. If they are in a better learning environment, I think they’ll learn easier and at a faster rate. The new classrooms will create an environment where the teacher can better instruct. Building the school for the kids is really what this is all about, helping them build their future!” Ricketts stated.
| Date Taken: | 04.11.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.29.2014 18:30 |
| Story ID: | 128131 |
| Location: | ZACAPA, GT |
| Hometown: | FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | LAVACA, ARKANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | VAN BUREN, IOWA, US |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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