Photo By Senior Airman Christa Ross | U.S. Airmen assigned to the 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, and 567th...... read more read more
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WAIANAE, Hawaii – The ability to mobilize quickly, adapt under pressure, and work in austere environments is essential for mission-ready civil engineers. This summer, Airmen from the Georgia Air National Guard’s 165th Civil Engineer Squadron (165 CES) traveled to Waianae, Hawaii, to benefit a community in need during a Department of Defense sponsored Innovation Readiness Training (IRT) project.
During the IRT, Airmen supported the construction of Puʻuhonua o Waiʻanae, an affordable housing development, and in return gained valuable hands-on experience.
“We had a mixture of every trade that’s within the civil engineering competency here, from electricians to heavy equipment operators and structural engineers,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Lamont Griffin, the 165th’s IRT project manager. “Every different skill set came together under one mission to strengthen their skills and contribute to something greater than all of us.”
Innovation Readiness Training connects military units with real-world projects across the U.S. and its territories by providing critical services to underserved communities.
In the span of two weeks, the 165 CES helped advance construction in the Puʻuhonua o Waiʻanae village and support a sustainable housing project that will house nearly 250 individuals.
“This is such a unique opportunity for these Airmen and for this community,” said Ron Nishihara, the site’s leading architect. “At the end of the construction period, this neighborhood will house nearly 300 people, which is about 5% of the houseless community in Hawaii.”
The Puʻuhonua o Waiʻanae village is the result of a years-long grassroots movement led by local organizers determined to create a stable, self-sustaining community. The planned site includes small plug-in homes, shared sanitation and kitchen facilities, and additional support services to help residents transition toward long-term stability.
“This community will hold great meaning to the residents of the village because of the conditions they are currently living in,” Nishihara added, while leading the 165 CES on a tour of the site. “Some of the children who live in this neighborhood don’t even know what it feels like to take a shower without clothes on. Some of these families go to work every single day and still don’t make enough to cover their basic essentials. That’s where projects like this come in and we see the surrounding community and even our partners help bring this concept to life.”
During this mission, civil engineering Airmen strengthened their skills in job specific functions and learned how to work cross-functionally in high-stress environments.
“Unlike our typical training environment where we don’t get to interact much outside of the worksite, here we were working, living and doing life together,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Hicks. “That made us more effective as a team and helped us learn to adapt when plans changed.”
“We faced the kind of challenges we might come up against on a deployment and improvised solutions,” said Hicks. “We had limited tools and a tight timeline but it forced us to think critically, lean on one another, and execute under pressure.”
Once completed, the homes will serve families and individuals currently living in self-made shelters near the construction site.
“This mission has just been heart touching,” Griffin added. “To see a houseless community go from having nowhere to stay to brand new homes, there’s no words to describe the feeling.”
The IRT mission at Puʻuhonua o Waiʻanae reflects the 165th Airlift Wing’s growing model of military and community collaboration.
Based in Savannah, Georgia, the 165th Airlift Wing provides mission-ready Airmen and support capabilities for both federal and state operations. Through programs like Innovation Readiness Training, the unit strengthens its readiness while serving communities in need across the country.
| Date Taken: | 07.12.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.06.2025 15:08 |
| Story ID: | 542759 |
| Location: | HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 59 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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