Photo By Tech. Sgt. Francesca Popp | Staff Sgt. Charles Coles, 407th Provost Marshal Office traffic accident investgator,...... read more read more
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By Tech. Sgt. Francesca Popp
407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
ALI BASE, Iraq - More than 450 elementary school students attending one of two schools this year in Iraq's Muthana province will receive refurbished desks built by volunteers.
Airmen chipped into an effort spearheaded by the Army's 7th Special Troops Battalion chapel to build desks for Iraqi school children, providing two-thirds of the total volunteers, said Army Chaplain (Capt.) Damon Saxton, the 7th ST Battalion chaplain.
"It's important for the kids to get a good education and to have a nice desk to sit in and work on," Saxton said.
The Muthanna Provincial Reconstruction Team discovered about 3,000 rusted steel-frame desks sitting in a warehouse after meeting with the Iraqi director general of education. A PRT staff member contacted the Contingency Operating Base Adder chapel staff here to see if they were interested in taking on a refurbishing project.
"The desks didn't have tops or seats on them and were damaged, but the PRT felt the Army could provide the expertise and manpower to refurbish those desks," said Saxton, who is deployed from Fort Eustis, Va. "It seemed like it was something we could easily handle, [so] we volunteered to take on the project."
COB Adder chapel staff started off with 25 desks to test how long it took for each part of the process. The PRT provided tools, wood and supplies. Saxton said he and one other Soldier spent an entire day cutting the wood.
"We worked more than 24 hours straight the first day. We were both excited about getting it done," Saxton said. "When my boss saw me with red eyes, she said, 'You need some help.' That's when we called for volunteers."
The call for volunteers went out through word of mouth and via e-mail. Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Defense Department civilians showed up the next day to learn how to rebuild the remaining 125 desks.
"This is a nighttime operation, with most volunteers working three to four hours at a time," Saxton said. "Almost all the volunteers work a 12-hour day and then come here to work on the desks."
Tech. Sgt. Dennis Coffer, the non-commissioner officer in charge of supply for the 407th Provost Marshal Office, rallied others in his unit to volunteer with him. He and his co-workers sanded and varnished pieces of wood for the desks, and straightened and painted more than 20 desk frames.
"Each of us has general [construction] experience," said Coffer, a native of San Diego. "Our superintendent built his own house deck. I worked in assembly before I joined the Air Force, and our military police investigator likes to paint. We just combined all our talents, and it worked out better than we imagined."
Saxton said this project was originally going to be a training opportunity for the Iraqi army, but they were called away on other missions.
"Without the volunteers, the whole project would have been in trouble," said Alex Bennett, a Muthanna PRT governance specialist. "With their efforts and commitment, we've managed to bring the project to life."
Coffer, who is deployed from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., said he wanted to be a part of the project, because it improves the quality of life for the children here.
"It makes me feel proud because I am part of something really special," he said.
The desks have 4-foot wide wooden tops and backless bench-style seats. The hollow steel frames measure 1 inch by 2 inches. Each desk seats four children.
"They remind me of a 'Little House on the Prairie' desk," said Saxton, who is originally from Emmett, Idaho.
The chaplain estimates the project, which began, Sept. 2, 2008, will take several weeks to finish. After the desks are delivered later this month, an Iraqi non-governmental organization will continue to refurbish the remaining desks.
"This will help Iraqi primary school children get better facilities, as well as show that the U.S. military is helping Iraqi community rebuild itself," said Bennett, a Brisbane, Australia, native who has worked with the PRT since April 2007. "Elected Iraqi officials, working with the PRT and U.S. military, can deliver tangible quality-of-life improvements to their people."
| Date Taken: | 09.18.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2008 07:11 |
| Story ID: | 23796 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 138 |
| Downloads: | 117 |
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