Misawa CPO 365 members help local school

Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Lisa Reese | Navy Misawa CPO 365 members load furniture onto a truck during a CPO 365-organized community relations project here, June 20, 2013. Navy Misawa CPO 365 members helped move furniture at a local elementary school, which just completed the school year. CPO 365 is a program designed to develop and prepare first class petty officers for their future roles as senior enlisted leaders. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lisa Reese/Released)  

MISAWA, AOMORI, JAPAN

06.20.2013

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Lisa Reese 

Naval Air Facility Misawa

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan – While the school year just ended for children on board Misawa Air Base, school was still in session for Navy Misawa CPO 365 members, June 20, 2013, as they helped move furniture at a local school here.

More than 25 Navy Misawa chief petty officers and first class petty officers banded together to move and rearrange six classrooms on board Misawa Air Base’s Sollars Elementary School.

"When the kids are on summer vacation, we rearrange classrooms for the next school year," said Stanley Herrera, Sollars Elementary tech supply. "In the past, it was done by three people and took over a week to do, but these sailors accomplished the job in less than two hours."

The chiefs and first classes worked in tandem to expedite the furniture move, and even helped LaVerne Outen, Sollars Elementary School principal, move into her new office.

"The sailors were such a huge help," said Outen, who originally hails from Summerville, S.C. "With my new office space, I'll have a more welcoming environment for tutoring students, and space for my teaching materials. I'm very grateful for their assistance."

The project was coordinated by Chief Aviation Support Equipment Technician Carlo Toledo, who serves as the leading chief petty officer for Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Misawa’s 900 Division.

“We had a lot of motivated Sailors out here today working together for a common purpose.” said Toledo, who is originally from Cavite, Philippines. “We have a very robust CPO 365 program up here in northern Japan, and this community relations project is just another great example of our future senior enlisted leaders making an impact.”

And that impact is shared by all of the program’s Sailors.

"Volunteering is very important for me, especially if it's for children," said Yeoman 1st Class Kevin Brinson, a native of Atlanta, who currently serves at Commander, Task Force 72. "Service to your community is important, and it feels good to make a difference helping teachers prepare for the upcoming school year."

CPO 365 is designed so chief petty officers can train, develop and prepare first class petty officers for their future roles as U.S. Navy senior enlisted leaders.

For more news from Naval Air Facility Misawa, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/nafmisawa.

• Date Taken: 06.20.2013
• Date Posted: 06.20.2013 04:19
• Story ID: 108922
• Location: MISAWA, AOMORI, JP
• Hometown: CAVITE, LUZON, PH
• Hometown: ATLANTA, GA, US
• Hometown: SUMMERVILLE, SC, US