ByCE3 Quennie May Galarpe, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 Public Affairs BUCNAvery Delosh, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, briefs 2nd grade students on the rules of the newspaper tower building contest during a volunteer event at the Edward C. Killin Elementary School on Camp Foster, Okinawa. NMCB 5 Seabees volunteered to assist and support the school with their Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program. Photo byBU3 Michael Capcino Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 assisted the faculty and students of Edward C. Killin Elementary School on Camp Foster, Okinawa, during their Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) week, April 1. The schools event was hosted by the Society of American Military Engineers, who invited military engineers from the Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, and NMCB 5 to participate in the event, whichprovided school-aged children an inside look at science, technology, engineering and math career fields. CM3Brian Lanasa (left),andSW3 Shanna McKee, both assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, cheer a 3rd grade student while he tests the newspaper tower's strength during a volunteer event at the Edward C. Killin Elementary School on Camp Foster, Okinawa. NMCB 5 Seabees volunteered to assist and support the school with their Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program. Photo byBU3 Michael Capcino "Helping these young children gives me a chance to influence and shape their minds on what they want to be in the future, said Builder 3rd Class Michael Capcino, one of the NMCB 5 volunteers. I am also happy to be able to teach them about teamwork and trial and error." During the engineering activity, five kids from each grade partnered with one volunteer to build a tower made of three sheets of newspaper and three feet of masking tape. With the resources given, each team had 25 minutes to construct the tallest wind resistant tower. "I really enjoy myself when working with kids. They might have some ideas that I never thought about that maybe I will be able to take with me in the construction world," added Capcino. Along with a4th grade student from Edward C. Killin Elementary School on Camp Foster, Okinawa, CE3Quennie May Galarpe, from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, checks the stability of a newspaper tower during a volunteer event at the school. NMCB 5 Seabees volunteered to assist and support the school with their Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program. Photo byBU3 Michael Capcino The volunteer event not only helped out the kids and the school in their journey through education, but it also gave the Seabees a chance to showcase their expertise learned from construction operations performed on active duty. "I loved it. I love playing with kids and the fact that I can do it during my work day was that much better, said Steelworker 3rd Class Shanna McKee, also from NMCB 5. The groups had different levels of excitement and each one was very interested to learn, said McKee. Some thought it was impossible to do it but once they built it, they were pretty amazed." With enthusiasm, expertise and patience, the Seabees were able to apply all of the skills they have been developing during their careers and use them in assisting the students of Killin Elementary School hone and develop their young minds on the concept of engineering, building team work and camaraderie. The Port Hueneme, Calif., based battalion is currently operating forward throughout the U.S. Pacific Command supporting U.S. naval and joint forces under the command.