Photo By Kristen Wong | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM — Lt. Robert Torrison, suicide prevention program...... read more read more
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM — More than 70 service members and families attended the inaugural Aloha Welcome Academy (AWA) at Club Pearl Complex, May 14.
Eligible service members (regardless of branch) and their spouses may attend this weekly class, which runs Monday through Wednesday. The three days include information about Hawaiian culture, various activities, base amenities, the history of the Navy and Air Force in Hawaii
and more.
On May 14, attendees listened to a presentation, took a bus tour of Hickam and Pearl Harbor, and a boat ride past the USS Arizona Memorial.
On May 15, after a morning informational session, the Honolulu Navy League provided a bus tour of Oahu. Wednesday included information on topics such as travel, pay and healthcare.
“I think this is a great way to welcome our military ohana that’s getting stationed to the island and help them acclimate to all the unique, different and wonderful opportunities that we have living here for a few years,” said Shelly Habeck, a program analyst with Navy Region Hawaii, and an
AWA presenter.
“As the program continues to grow and the information gets out there I think it’ll help make everybody’s lives a little bit easier and transitioning here to the island easier.”
Habeck is also a military spouse, and having moved to six different duty stations, added her personal experiences to her presentation.
“The AWA allows attendees to be in a comfortable environment and adjust faster,” she said. “The sooner they get an introduction, the better.”
Habeck said attending the AWA can help with several aspects of transitioning. For instance, because there are multiple bases in close proximity to each other, there are more opportunities for the service member, from renting a cabin at Bellows Air Force Station to competing in a race.
Logistically, they can also find out necessities such as registering a vehicle in the state.
In addition, service members can learn what makes Hawaii unique, from learning about historic sights to pronouncing Hawaiian words.
“Hawaii has a deeply rooted culture and history you won’t find anywhere,” she said.
The tour highlighted Nuuanu Pali Lookout, Mokoli‘i (Chinaman’s Hat) at Kualoa Beach Park, and lunch at one of the shrimp trucks parked near Kahuku.
The attendees visited beaches along the North Shore and Haleiwa Town.
“I think (the AWA is) a great thing,” said Lt. Robert Torrison, the suicide prevention program manager for Navy Region Hawaii and an AWA presenter. “When I came to the island, I didn’t know where anything was; I didn’t now what there was to do,” he said. “There are a lot of growing pains in trying to figure out where to go and how to do it.”
Torrison said it initially took him months of trial and error to find simple needs such as the gym or the grocery store.
“If you come in and have an opportunity to take a class where somebody can tell you or teach you all of that stuff up front than you don’t struggle as much trying to figure everything out,” he said. “(The AWA) gives the service member an opportunity to hit the ground running.”
Chief Mass Communication Specialist Xander Gamble, the officer in charge at Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Detachment Hawaii, and his spouse, Ashlee, attended the class. They arrived last month from their last duty station in Japan.
“This is really focused,” Gamble said of the AWA. “This is really bringing a lot of good things in bite-sized nuggets so people can take it in a more palatable format.”
Ashlee Gamble said the family is looking forward to “living in paradise,” and going on hikes.
“We’re already impressed,” she said on the first day of the class.
| Date Taken: | 05.18.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.22.2018 19:37 |
| Story ID: | 277806 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 100 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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