3rd Marine Aircraft Wing restores local schoolhouse

Courtesy Photo | Major Michael Mori, staff judge advocate and project purchasing officer for 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, discusses the final phase of the schoolhouse restoration project for a local village with Oras Kasar Shokre, the contractor for the project. The improvements made for the schoolhouse included, but were not limited to an electrical generator and power to the classrooms, air-conditioning, blackboards, new windows and a working septic system. (Photos/Sgt. Lukas Atwell)  

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ

05.15.2008

Courtesy Story

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

By Sgt. Lukas Atwell
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron-115 Public Affairs

AL ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq – While school may almost be out for children in America, it has finally opened for the children of a local village, thanks to the efforts of resident workers and help from 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

The restoration and improvement of the schoolhouse included, but was not limited to an electrical generator and power to the classrooms, air-conditioning, blackboards, new windows and a working septic system. The project also includes a well, which is still under construction that will provide clean drinking water for the students.

"Regimental Combat Team 1 identified the need for improvements in the area nearly a year ago," said Maj. Kevin Bright, the operations officer of Marine Wing Security Group 37. "The resources were not available at the time, but now that we have them, we are making good on our promise to help this community."

The resources came in the form of funds provided by the Commander's Emergency Response Program, which allows a commander to provide urgent humanitarian relief and reconstruction assistance to make a positive impact in their area of operations.

The CERP funds would provide the budget for the contractor and the materials and also be needed to hire local workers to begin improving their school, according to Bright.

Once the project began, command representatives would be needed to check on the progress of the schoolhouse, throughout the reconstruction effort.

"As the project purchasing officer, I visit the sites to make sure that progress is being made on time with the right materials," explained Maj. Michael Mori, the project purchasing officer for the project. "As deadline for the project were met, it was my job to make the appropriate payments to the contractor for the next stage of restorations."

Maintaining oversight throughout the project took vehicles, drivers and security personnel, said Sgt. Amanda Sagebiel, the assistant coordinator for the project. This took a coordinated effort between Marine Wing Security Group 37 and Marine Wing Support Squadrons 172 and 274.

"I am extremely pleased to see the improvements made at the school," said Warrant Officer Emile Peterson, a security forces platoon commander for MWSS-274. "The renovations gave the villagers hope and my Marines were proud to be a part of the project because they got a chance to see the positive effect that we are having in the region."

The schoolhouse has potential to be more than just a place for education according to Bright. The school will bring the community together. A room in that school will become a town hall and a room also will become a village clinic.

"I look forward to working on more projects like this," added Sagebiel, a Houston native.

"I think this is a step in the right direction toward restoring peace in the area."

• Date Taken: 05.15.2008
• Date Posted: 06.04.2008 09:59
• Story ID: 20098
• Location: AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IQ