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Kadena engineers build foundation for higher learning

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason Lake
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Nearly 30 Kadena civil engineers had a chance to improve the quality of life for almost 200 elementary school students while participating in Balikatan 2010, a bilateral training exercise and humanitarian effort between the U.S. military and government of the Philippines.

Senior Master Sgt. James Cupp and 28 Airmen from the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron deployed to a remote village in Llocos Sur to rebuild a school destroyed by fallen trees during a severe storm. The team also seized the opportunity to improve infrastructure within the Cadanglaan Elementary School compound.

"This deployment was unique in the fact that all the work was done by our craftsmen - no private contractors," explained Sergeant Cupp, 18th CES infrastructure superintendent. "We were definitely motivated because we [witnessed] the impact we had while we were there. This type of deployment makes you appreciate things we take for granted like running water."

The 22-year Air Force veteran said his team quickly learned that public schools in the rural areas of Northern Luzon have no running water.

"Only privately funded schools in the area have running water," Sergeant Cupp said. "We installed water lines to all the buildings in the compound and installed a water pump so the children don't have to hand pump the water from the well."

There was also an apparent lack of power lines demonstrated by daisy-chained extension cords between surrounding buildings, so the team decided to install new power lines not only for the two-classroom facility, but throughout the entire school compound. The team also cleared out a few tree stumps scattered throughout the compound to give the children a place to play outside.

In the end, the $80,000 project provided the Cadanglaan Elementary School students with two well-lit, modern classrooms and Kadena's civil engineers returned home with some unique training and new-found friendships.

"The students and teachers were very appreciative of the work we had done," said Sergeant Cupp. "This project was something that we don't normally get the chance to build from the ground up. It was great being able to see our progress as we went from start to finish."

The Cadanglaan school was one of four key engineer civil affair projects (ENCAP) supported by the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force throughout the Philippines during the month-long exercise.

Other projects, supported primarily by the sister services, included building a new healthcare center, building and refurbishing old schools and continuing work on a flood protection Gabion wall.

Altogether, the entire Balikatan ENCAP mission cost $325,000 in materials and 3,500 man-days of construction, explained Navy Lt. David Loberg, a Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force liaison officer. The ENCAP also complemented 13 bilateral medical and dental projects that treated more than 12,000 residents and 10 veterinary projects that treated more than 2,800 animals.

During closing ceremony remarks for Balikatan 2010, Armed Forces of the Philippines' Gen. Delfin Bangit, Chief of Staff for the AFP, thanked American servicemembers for "the most successful conduct of the Balikatan exercise in recent years."

-- Marine Gunnery Sgt. Cindy Fisher, Marine Corps Bases Japan contributed to this article