Guam Commands Awarded for Community Service

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Peter Lewis, Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

April 14, 2010 - SANTA RITA, GUAM (NNS) -- Three U.S. Navy commands on Guam were among six commands recognized April 6 for their community service excellence as Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) announced the Navy Community Service Program (NSCP)/Project Good Neighbor Community Service Flagship Award winners for 2009.

The award recognizes the best volunteer-supported program or special project that promotes outreach activities throughout the year to establish and restore hope to the community.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead released a message selecting U.S. Naval Base Guam (NBG) as winner in the large overseas category, U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas as winner in the medium overseas category, and Mobile Mine Assembly Unit (MOMAU) 8 as winner in the small overseas category.

A command effort from NBG saw 159 Sailors volunteer 2,573 hours to help members of Guam Animals In Need, Salvation Army, Guam Department of Parks and Recreation, Special Olympics Guam, the Hagatna soup kitchen, several elementary and high schools, and many other worthy causes.

According to Chief Master-at-Arms (AW/SW) Jason Smith, NBG's community service coordinator, receiving this award reflects the command's commitment to volunteerism.

"U.S. Naval Base Guam takes pride in continuing to contribute to the betterment of the community for the benefit of all who live within it," Smith said.

The 26 volunteers from NAVFAC Marianas accumulated 825 service hours, helping causes such as the Girl Scouts of Guam, Island Girl Power, Special Olympics Guam, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Harry S. Truman Elementary School.

Receiving the award shows that partnerships between the commands of Guam and the island's community are mutually beneficial, according to Mark Cruz, a civilian volunteer from NAVFAC Marianas.

"Receiving such a prestigious award really serves to validate all the hard work all the Navy and civilian volunteers put in," Cruz said. "I feel like our efforts are being recognized and really make a difference in the community."

Of the 35 service members at MOMAU 8, all are volunteers, and they were able to spend 688 hours helping is sister village of Talofofo, Talofofo Elementary School, Commander William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School and the Guam National Park Service.

"The crew of MOMAU 8 exemplifies the core value of commitment with the long-lasting dedication and continued excitement for this program and for the positive effect it has on our sister village of Talofofo," said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Kleva, MOMAU 8 commanding officer.

The Navy Community Service Program was launched in 1992 by then-CNO Adm. Frank B. Kelso. The program's goal is to foster and nurture community ties with the Navy and promote volunteerism while developing better naval leaders through experience in the program.

The program consists of five flagships, including the Health, Safety, and Fitness Flagship, Personal Excellence Partnership Flagship, Project Good Neighbor Flagship, Campaign Drug Free Flagship and Environmental Stewardship Flagship. A separate Navy command sponsors and administers each flagship.