U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Corey Gates, 673rd Civil Engineer Group, a heating, ventilation, air conditioning craftsman, helps raise a backboard during construction a multipurpose basketball court during exercise Balikatan 2015, in San Rafael on the island of Palawan, Philippines, April 25. The construction of the basketball court was a part of an discretionary project that included excess materials and donations. This year marks the 31st iteration of the exercise, which is an annual Philippine-U.S. bilateral military training exercise and humanitarian civic assistance engagement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal/Released)
BARANGAY SAN RAFAEL, Philippines - Philippine navy Seabees worked shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. Air Force airmen, from the 673rd Civil Engineer Group, during exercise Balikatan 2015 to build a basketball court for an engineering project at San Rafael Elementary School in Barangay San Rafael, Philippines, April 25.
The combined team’s main mission for the project was to build a two-classroom building, but with extra materials the crew was able to plan another project to add something extra for the benefit of the barangay, or village in Filipino, community.
U.S. Air Force Capt. Tyler Akers, 673rd CEG and project officer in charge, explained how the team came up with the idea.
“We were out here watching the kids play sports one day,” Akers said. “There was a kind of impromptu soccer game, and they were playing Hacky Sack, pretty much whatever they could come up with so we got to thinking we brought a bunch of sports equipment - soccer balls, basketballs, etc., - but we noticed they didn’t have a basketball hoop here.”
Akers said that the original plan was to fabricate a piece of rebar into a hoop, use plywood for the backboard, nail it to a tree and paint it white, but after realizing how much the project meant to the kids in the barangay they took it a step further.
The team used 9.7 cubic meters of extra concrete, donated utility poles, and a backboard to ensure that the children and local community would receive a quality court.
“The guys are so excited about this project that they are using their spare time,” Akers said. “We have guys working out until 9 p.m. They are really stoked about the project because they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the kids are excited about this.”
Our Filipino Seabees saw a basketball court as a good project to use the excess project materials.
“We know that all Filipinos love basketball,” said Philippine navy Seabee Engineering 2nd Class Ryan Carina. “It’s like our daily habit as children. When I went to school, I was always thinking about playing with my friends when class ended. I think that the residents of San Rafael will be so glad to have a basketball court here.”
Not only did the team build more than originally expected for the community, but also built upon the Philippine-U.S. partnership as well.
“With the U.S. Air Force we have developed our camaraderie, friendship and unity,” Carina said. “You cannot interpret the feeling we have to see what we’re working for in building this school. I always remind my personnel that we aren’t only building this school, but we are also building the future and education of the kids at San Rafael.”
This year marks the 31st iteration of the exercise, which is an annual Philippine-U.S. bilateral military training exercise and humanitarian civic assistance engagement.
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/161341/bringing-sports-barangay-san-rafael-during-balikatan#.VUBsTpVgPIV
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