Photo By Chelsea Smith | U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Ulysses Griffin (front) and Tech Sgt. Amouri Parks (back) cut...... read more read more
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WAHIAWA, Hawaii — U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 165th Airlift Wing and 116th Air Control Squadron are building homes and strengthening partnerships with residents and community leaders of ORI Anuenue Hale, Inc., a program that seeks to provide relief and promote the general welfare of the elderly, disadvantaged, and disabled at Helemano Plantation in Wahiawa, Hawaii.
The multi-service project led by the U.S. Air National Guard in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, brings sorely-needed affordable housing to seniors who require access to support services in the underserved communities of Central Oahu and North Shore.
The initiative is part of the Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training program, a volunteer training opportunity that provides training and readiness for military personnel while addressing public and civil-society needs.
“The IRT allows us to work with our community partners and utilize that synergy to be innovative and better utilize our military resources,” said Maj. Tim Riley, 165th Civil Engineer Squadron base civil engineer. “Our volunteers can attain purposeful training that keeps them proficient in their craft and ready to deploy for wartime missions.”
The IRT program provides volunteers meaningful opportunities to train alongside civilian partners and helps the DoD achieve mission readiness in a joint military environment. The program also offers value-based solutions to communities with critical infrastructure or service-based needs. For instance, DoD officials estimate the Helemano project saves ORI Anuenue $550,000 in costs.
Moreover, the training service members gain improves military retention and recruiting by moving service members out of the office and into a dynamic working environment, said Riley.
Participating in the project helped Airman 1st Class Chadwick Driver, a 165th Airlift Wing electrician, achieve nearly 30 hours of upgrade training during the two-week deployment.
“Participating in this effort gives me the upgrade training I need to advance in my career field,” said Driver. “It’s great to know that I’m energizing homes for people with special needs and being apart of something that will have a positive impact on their community.”
As the project nears completion, the future looks promising for seniors who will have a new place to call home, and volunteer Airmen who will indelibly be rooted in the community’s history.
| Date Taken: | 06.27.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.27.2018 13:26 |
| Story ID: | 282462 |
| Location: | WAHIAWA, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 112 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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