Service members volunteer at Tinian school, community center

Photo By Sgt. Antonio Rubio | Marines and sailors repaint the Tinian Community Center Dec. 13 to improve existing relationships with the locals during Exercise Forager Fury II. During this FFII, MAW aviation units are able to practice, train for, and execute the six functions of Marine aviation: assault support, anti-aircraft warfare, offensive air support, electronic warfare, control of aircraft and missiles, and aerial reconnaissance. Service members took time from their daily routine to read to the children at Grace Christian Academy Tinian and repaint the community center. The Marines are with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force and Combat Logistic Company 36, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistic Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Antonio Rubio)  

TINIAN, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

12.13.2013

Story by Lance Cpl. Antonio Rubio 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

TINIAN, Northern Mariana Islands - Marines and sailors participated in a community relation event on Tinian Dec. 13 at the Tinian Christian Academy and the Tinian Community Center to improve existing relationships with the local community.

The service members are participating in Exercise Forager Fury II, and took time from their daily routine to read to the children at TCA and repaint the community center.

FFII is a joint exercise and the purpose is to employ and assess combat power generation in a deployed and austere environment.

“One of objectives of Forager Fury II is to enhance local relationships on Tinian,” said Navy Lt. Alexander J. Cho, chaplain with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

“People can see what we’re doing with the reconstruction of North Field and the aircraft in the sky, but volunteering at the school hits home. For the students, it’s almost the best day of the whole school year and an event like this impacts the entire family.”

The presence of the service members who volunteered their time to make a difference within the community us greatly appreciated, according to Jim Howard, senior pastor and principal of TCA.

“This was a really positive experience for the students,” said Jim Howard. “This was not just a military group coming in and doing operations, but coming in and taking some time to give back to the community and it means so much for the students.”

The volunteer group consisted of Marines and sailors various military occupational specialties within MWSS-171 and Marine Air Support Squadron 2, Marine Air Control Group 18, all currently assigned to MAG-12 for the exercise.

The service members read stories, interacted with students. Afterward, they began repainting the community center with the intent to leave a clear message to the Island of Tinian, according to Lance Cpl. Ramaique Tota, air support net operator with MASS-2.

“Marines do have a caring heart,” said Tota. “This is just a start. Other than helping students, we can do more in the community, even more than painting the community center.”

While the purpose of FFII is to train and maintain operational readiness, the Marines are also committed to building local relationships and respecting the local community.

“The students see troops on shows and movies, but for them to play and laugh and actually interact with their heroes, has a huge impact, an impact that a principal or teacher cannot make,” said Howard.

• Date Taken: 12.13.2013
• Date Posted: 12.16.2013 07:02
• Story ID: 118260
• Location: TINIAN, MP
• Hometown: ST. KITTS, KN
• Hometown: WAYNE, NJ, US