DIKHIL, Djbouti - Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74, Detail Horn of Africa remain hard at work on a 6.75 by 25.60 meter block and concrete school building as well as a health clinic in Dikhil, Djibouti, despite the region’s extreme summer climate.

According to Lt. Bobby Kendall, Det. HOA’s officer-in-charge, the school and clinic are just one of many initiatives in direct support of a Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa mission; Enhance relationships and build capacity with African partner nations through infrastructure development and improvements.

Kendall said that logistical challenges make it difficult to keep a steady flow of building materials to the remote project site and the constant heat make it a tough job however, they continue to move forward.

While waiting on solar panels to complete the school, the crew in Dikhil made renovations on the school’s latrine facility and began constructing a health clinic nearby.

“These Seabees realize that this is the tip of the spear for NMCB 74 and CJTF HOA for this deployment and are proud to be a part of that,” said Kendall. “Many days are long, all days are hot, but the work is good for all the Seabee rates here,”

Many of the Seabees currently working on the clinic were part of the same crew that finished the construction of a school in the Ecole 5 district of Djibouti on April 21. That school contains five classrooms, two offices, two latrine facilities and a 610 meter long wall around the perimeter, and should be filled with more than 1,000 students by the end of the summer.

“These projects are helping to provide basic infrastructure for the local communities in Djibouti,” said Kendall. “We hope our work here will help the local populace gain confidence in their government’s ability to provide for their basic needs as well as foster a positive image for the United States and its allies.”

NMCB 74 Det. HOA has been deployed to the region since December 2010 and is scheduled to return in August later this year. The school and clinic will be a turnover project with NMCB 5.

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