Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Colby Mothershead | 180313-N-JO829-1016 SAN DIEGO (March 13, 2018) Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class...... read more read more
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On a chilly overcast Tuesday morning, power tools buzzed and hammers echoed while Sailors labored in a small residential neighborhood. Clouds of sawdust and drywall powder rolled through the sky while Habitat for Humanity Construction Superintendent Leonard Keefer delegated the assignments for each Sailor who had come from USS Makin Island (LHD 8) to volunteer.
This site, a quick 15-minute drive from General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, was the home of Makin Island’s most recent community relations project March 13, where Sailors would work with Habitat for Humanity to help with the construction of a new townhouse in San Diego.
COMRELs, local volunteer events set up regularly by the ship’s chaplain’s department, give Sailors the chance to help those in need and serve the community.
“It’s unbelievable how much help I get from Sailors on these projects,” said Keefer, who has been with Habitat for Humanity for more than five years. “It’s not just a job that is being done, it’s making a difference.”
Six Makin Island Sailors came out for this construction event; however, the ship sends many more Sailors out on a monthly and sometimes even weekly basis to events and programs like Habitat for Humanity and similar campaigns.
“Habitat for Humanity needs people who want to help and when it comes to the Navy, that’s what we get,” said Keefer.
For many active duty service members who participate, it was their first opportunity to serve their country in a new way outside of their job or rate.
“I love an opportunity to help people,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Gregory Ogle, assigned to Makin Island’s Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) Production Control. “COMRELs are special because you get to meet people and offer them a hand even when they have nothing to give you in return but the satisfaction of knowing that you had the privilege to help them through hard times.”
Ogle has been in the Navy for more than 12 years and still gets involved in programs outside of his job. He participated in the event by hanging drywall in the attic. This was hiss third COMREL in the past year.
“I think it’s extremely important that we continue to do COMRELs because it strengthens our relations between the Navy and our communities,” said Ogle. “It lets citizens in the area know that even though we may come from out of town or out of state, that at the end of the day we are just here to help.”
Sailors have many opportunities to participate in events outside of work and through the COMREL program; additionally, the Navy offers tons of incentives to Sailors to try to encourage people to get out in the community and get involved.
“I think it’s great that the Navy pushes COMRELs because, personally, I love the opportunity to work hand in hand with my brothers and sisters outside of work,” said Aviation Support Equipment Technician 1st Class Cody Clayton, Makin Island’s AIMD Leading Petty Officer.
Clayton has been in the Navy for more than 11 years and, like Ogle, actively pursues volunteering in the community. Clayton spent most of his time during the most recent project making measurements and cutting drywall for his partner to hang. This was Clayton’s sixth COMREL in the past year.
“I’ve done more COMRELs than I can even count,” said Clayton. “I can’t imagine a reason why I wouldn’t continue to do them going forward and through the rest of my career.”
COMRELs help build a bridge of camaraderie between active duty service members and the civilians in the area. The time spent to interact with and aid those within the community in which the Navy has Sailors stationed is essential to the growth and strengthening of relations, this group of Makin Island Sailors were able to continue the cycle of service within the community one sheet of drywall at a time and construct the framework of future friendships.
| Date Taken: | 03.13.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2018 17:02 |
| Story ID: | 271312 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 43 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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