ESL Sailors promote health and fitness at local Guam school

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Timmy Wakefield | 170407-N-YJ133-193 MAGNILAO, Guam (April 7, 2017) Electrician's Mate 1st Class Enrique Servatico plays volleyball with Capt. H.B. Price Elementary students during the school's "Spring Games," an outdoor exercise event to promote the importance of daily physical activity in students' everyday lives. Sailors set up various events ranging from relay races, tag, volleyball, and a plethora of other physical activities. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Richard A. Miller)  

MANGILAO, GUAM

04.10.2017

Courtesy Story

USS Emory S. Land (AS-39)

MANGILAO, Guam (April 11, 2017) – Twelve Sailors assigned to submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) visited Capt. H.B. Price Elementary School in Mangilao, Guam, for a community relations (COMREL) event, April 7.

Sailors assisted with the school’s “Spring Games”, an outdoor event that promoted the importance of daily physical activity in the children’s everyday lives to encourage their overall health and well-being. Sailors helped in the setup of various events ranging from relay races, tag, volleyball and other physical activities.


The COMREL helped foster a growing understanding and bond between Land Sailors and the people of Guam. Being stationed on the island provides Sailors the unique opportunity to demonstrate the U.S. Navy's commitment to the local communities while also learning about their culture.

“The goal of this event was to connect with a local school district and show that we care as ambassadors to the island of Guam and the people living here,” said Land’s COMREL coordinator Lt. Takana Jefferson, a chaplain. “We want to show that we care about the local community. What better way to do that than through engaging and encouraging children?”

More than 150 students ranging from third to fifth grade and 15 faculty members participated in the event. One Sailor immediately recognized the positive and enthusiastic energy of working with the school.

“I could see and feel the excitement from the very start, both from the staff and students and my fellow Sailors,” said Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Enrique Servatico. “The children exuded a tremendous amount of positive energy during the activities and were excited that we, United States Navy Sailors, were taking time out of our day to spend time with them.”

One Sailor had a very specific message he wanted to convey to the children.

“I’m out here to help push an important message: you have one life to live, so live it healthily,” said Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Eric Oliver. “I want to influence these children’s lives as a Sailor and Navy representative in their community and as a health advocate. This was a perfect opportunity to do that.”

Guam is home to the U.S. Navy's only submarine tenders, USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) and USS Frank Cable (AS 40), as well as four Los Angeles-class attack submarines. The submarine tenders provide maintenance, hotel services and logistical support to submarines and surface ships in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation. The submarines and tenders are maintained as part of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed submarine force and are readily capable of meeting global operational requirements.

For more information about USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), visit http://www.csp.navy.mil/emorysland/ or like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/EmorySLand, or on Twitter @EmorySLand.

For more news from USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), visit http://www.navy.mil/local/as39/.

Are you interested in taking orders to Guam? Want to learn more about the duty station and life on our island? For more information, check out the ‘Go Guam!’ website at http://www.csp.navy.mil/go-guam/ and download the ‘1st Fifteen’ checklist.

• Date Taken: 04.10.2017
• Date Posted: 04.10.2017 19:43
• Story ID: 229888
• Location: MANGILAO, GU