KAHUKU, Hawaii -- The 25th Sustainment Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, extended the size of its ohana during formal signing ceremonies with officials from Kahuku Elementary and Kahuku High and Intermediate School on Sept. 10.
Leaders of the 25th Sust. Bde. signed official letters of agreement signifying the start of its School Partnership Program with the Kahuku Schools. The SPP is a subordinate element of U.S. Army Hawaii's Partnership of Ohana Program. The purpose of this program is to develop positive, mutually supportive relationships between U.S. Army Hawaii and the local community. Each of the participating units are given a geographical area of responsibility. The 25th Sust. Bde. has assumed responsibility for the Ko'olauloa Community which includes the city of Kahuku. The two subordinate battalions of the 25th Sust. Bde., the 25th Special Troops Battalion and the 524th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, are each paired with Kahuku Elementary School and Kahuku Intermediate and High School, respectively, as part of this program.
The Commander and Acting Command Sergeant Major of the 25th Sust. Bde., Col. Gavin Lawrence and Sgt. Maj. Walter Dunn, along with the brigade's Partnership of Ohana Program Manager, Maj. Justin Brown, and 25th STB Commander, Lt. Col. Steve Morris, met with members of the faculty at each of the schools. During the discussion and tours of the facilities, Lawrence and his group spoke with school staff members about the way ahead for the program while garnering ideas about ways the Lightning Support Brigade could assist or enhance each school and its programs. Before leaving each school, Lawrence and a member of each of the school's administration, signed agreements documenting the brigade's commitment to assisting the Kahuku schools.
"This program is part of U.S. Army-Hawaii efforts to make sure we're establishing positive relationships between the military and our local community," said Lawrence. "We understand that we are very fortunate to be stationed on this beautiful island. With this privilege comes a responsibility to be good stewards of our local community. The military realizes how critical it is to provide positive role models to our kids. The School Partnership Program provides a prime opportunity to provide mentorship and needed assistance to make a positive difference."
"We really appreciate the partnership and support," said Sam Izumi, the principal of Kahuku Elementary. "I know that when the kids do see the Soldiers come through the school they really enjoy it."
This is Lawrence's second assignment to 25th Inf. Division. Lawrence, then a company commander, reminisced about the strong partnership his previous command fostered in the Kahuku area.
"The history of the 25th Infantry Division is tied to Hawaii," said Lawrence. "You look at our patch; it has the taro leaf. You look at our brigade symbol; it has the taro leaf superimposed with a volcano. All of those symbols are there specifically because of 25th Infantry Division's ties to Hawaii and its people. It's in our roots -- in our DNA -- as the Tropic Lighting Division."
"I think it's something that is beneficial to all of us and I can't say enough how much we appreciate all of you and your service," Izumi told Lawrence. "We just feel humbled and thankful that you guys are taking the time to be with us."
Vice-Principal for Grades 7-8 at Kahuku High and Intermediate School, Annette Ostrem, met with Lawrence and his group and discussed the Junior Reserve Officer Training Course offered at the school.
Ostrem is a former school principal at a Marine Corps base and said she can relate to how beneficial military and civilian education partnership programs can be.
"I understand everything that you can do and can give. I asked to come back here to Kahuku because this is where my heart and soul is," Ostrem said. "My children all went to school here and my son went through the ROTC program here and is currently in the Marine Corps Reserves working his way to (the rank of) Major. So, I do so much appreciate everything you and your unit do for our communities. Our schools need this kind of support."
The most likely types of sponsorship initiatives to take place between the 25th STB and the Kahuku Elementary School are tutoring, reading improvement, and field day assistance. For the 524th CSSB and its sponsorship of the intermediate and high school, the focus will be more on supporting the Junior Reserve Officer Training Course program and its development of the next generation of military service members.
"We're here to invest in our relationship with the local communities," Lawrence said. "So we see this as an initiative to do that."
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