U.S. ARMY GARRISON-KWAJALEIN ATOLL, Republic of the Marshall Islands -- Members of the Navy Seabees Construction Civic Action Detail-Marshall Islands flew out of Bucholz Army Airfield on U.S. Army Garrison-Kwajalein Atoll early this week, headed west to reunite with the rest of their Naval battalion in Guam before flying back home to Gulfport, Miss.
Having wrapped up a four-month humanitarian construction deployment to Kwajalein Atoll, home to the Reagan Test Site in the Marshall Islands, the 21-person team left behind a suite of completed development builds on the islands of Enniburr, Ebeye and Kwajalein.
The projects--which ranged from the construction of clean rainwater catchment and distribution systems, to bathroom and shower facilities, to a large beach pavilion--targeted important quality-of-life improvements for the thousands of Marshallese citizens who live on Enniburr and Ebeye, along with the U.S. military and civilian personnel who live on Kwajalein.
Ribbon cutting events at completed job sites and appreciation parties on Kwajalein sprung up during the detachment's last few days on the atoll. The events were avenues by which Kwajalein Atoll local government leaders, Republic of the Marshall Islands representatives, USAG-KA command personnel and U.S. civilian contractors expressed thanks to the Seabees for the time and energy they spent toiling in the tropical heat for months to improve living standards on the islands.
"It is indeed a great moment for us, as we are here to witness the completion of a well-done job," said Jesse Riketa, protocol officer for Kwajalein Atoll local government, on behalf of Ebeye Mayor Johnny Lemari at the Island Community Center on Ebeye Jan. 9. "Without the care and kind consideration and help from the military personnel, this necessary renovation project would not have been done."
The site of one of the larger construction projects completed by the detachment during its time on the atoll, Ebeye's Island Community Center was refitted five weeks ago with new concrete flooring, dozens of new marine-rated LED light fixtures and a brand-new, large-scale rainwater catchment system. Under the glowing fluorescent warmth of the banks of newly installed lights overhead, Riketa reminded those in attendance that it was these types of projects that showcased the commitment of the U.S. military and federal government to the Marshall Islands.
"The leaders of Kwajalein Atoll, in representing the people, very much appreciate your continual support to us," Riketa said. "This shows the depth of our close relationship we started many years ago. As the mayor of this community, I will continue to work with you on needed resolutions and issues that are affecting both of our communities."
Jimmy Kemem, an RMI government representative, weighed in on the detachment's projects on Ebeye and Enniburr. Speaking alongside Lemari, RMI liaison to USAG-KA Lanny Kabua and others at the ribbon cutting ceremony, he said that the detachment's work on Kwajalein Atoll did not go unnoticed by the RMI federal government in Majuro.
"As the representative from the RMI government, we work side by side with all of those who initiated these projects," Kemem said in Marshallese and later in English. "To witness this project is great; we thank you on behalf of everyone here in Ebeye, on Majuro and everyone on the outer islands. Komol tata."
Lt. j. g. Meredith Martin, the officer in charge of CCAD-Marshall Islands, returned similar sentiments during her remarks shortly before she, USAG-KA Commander Col. Nestor Sadler, Lemari and Leroij Seagul Kabua James cut the ribbon to commemorate the projects on both Ebeye and Enniburr.
"We were very happy that we were able to come here and do these projects," Martin said. "I don't think that it's an experience that anyone on our team will ever forget. So thank you for being so helpful and welcoming. And again, to the traditional leadership, the mayor and Col. Sadler, thank you for being here. I very much enjoyed working with you. Komol tata."
Sadler, speaking at several events set up to commemorate the Seabee's work at the end of their deployment, acknowledged some of the hardships the team endured to complete their projects on time. Equipment failures, delays on getting supplies on the atoll and slim resources when working in remote areas were just a few of the obstacles the team overcame. Being away from friends and family during the holidays did not make their tour any easier, Sadler said.
"What's special about this team here is that they spent their time away from their families during the holidays and the New Year," he said on Ebeye Jan. 9. "But they've truly embraced the experience, and they've truly embraced the time that they've spent here. And they've truly embraced the impact that they've had not only on this community, Ebeye, but also on Enniburr, with the projects that they were able to complete."
The congeniality of the Kwaj, Roi, Ebeye and Enniburr communities made sure to warmly welcome the Seabees during their deployment. When they were not interacting with the curious children of Ebeye during their work breaks or being honored with traditional seashell necklaces by families on Enniburr and Ebeye, they were thrown parties at the American Legion Post #44, invited to dinners at private residences and befriended by Kwaj and Roi residents. It was also a rare occasion to not see at least a few Seabees participate in community athletic events like the Columbus Day Run or the 9/11 Remembrance Run/Walk on Kwajalein. The friendliness that the Seabees team experienced and the degree to which they were able to become involved in the community went a long way to making them feel at home, Martin said.
"On behalf of my whole team, I just want to say that we felt very welcome here," she said.
However it was the impact of the team's development projects on the lives of the people that live and work on the islands that made their deployment so meaningful.
Speaking at a separate ribbon cutting ceremony at a brand-new bathroom and shower facility built by the Seabees specifically for Marshallese C-badge workers, Sadler tipped his hat to the Seabees' ability to meet the humanitarian development goals outlined by the detachment's green deployment. Where there was once only an outdoor tap and a hose for Recycling Center and Buildings and Grounds employees to clean up with after their shifts, there now is a brand-new six-stall indoor shower and bathroom facility that the employees can use to wash up and store clean clothes. Morale boosters like that go a long way to reinforcing the 70-year bond between both USAG-KA and C-badge workers and also the United States and the Marshall Islands as a whole, Sadler said.
"The quality of life that you guys improved across the board, specifically for the Marshallese work force, is great," Sadler said at the shower facility Jan. 10. "And one of the things I'd like to say about that is, this relationship … has endured for 70 years. … So [these development projects have] a significant impact on their lives and us as Americans and what we do across the world."
Having completed those projects four months after arriving on the atoll, Sadler continued, the Seabees were leaving behind builds that amounted to nothing short of the team's legacy on the islands--both the material evidence of their hard work and a lasting symbol for America's commitment to the Marshall Islands.
"If you ever think about coming through this area again, you can always come by and look at these projects and say, 'Hey, I built this. This is what we did,'" Sadler said. "This is your legacy, your team's legacy and your detachment's legacy. So once again, job well done."
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