By MC1 (SW) Cliff Williams, NMCB 133 Public Affairs
Concentration is the key as BU3 Paul Theile, NMCB 133, completes one of the classrooms at West Elementary School, Gulfport, Miss. 'Bees spent two days sprucing up classrooms before the start of the new school year.
Fifteen Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 recently painted classrooms at West Elementary School, located a few minutes from Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss., as part of a community volunteer activity.
With paint brushes, rollers and rags in hand, the Seabees started a much-needed makeover in the school s classrooms. It was a long two days. The Bees started off clean, but in the end their jeans and shirts were stained, and their hats wet from perspiration. And, their smiles were a whole lot wider.
Honestly, we just wanted to do something to help out the school, said Builder 3
rd Class Paul Theile, NMCB 133. We always want to help the community as much as possible, and sponsoring this school has been a great way to do it.
NMCB 133 has sponsored the school for the past five years. The Seabees have also participated in study sessions with students and celebrated fun days. There are more events planned in the future.
A small number Seabees from NMCB 133 remain at the battalion s permanent duty station during deployment. They help maintain the unit s personnel affairs and facilitate communication with family members in support of Seabees deployed to various locations in Europe, Africa and the Pacific.
With all the great things our Seabees are doing in remote locations, it feels good to do something at home that helps out other people, especially when [it] helps little children have clean and presentable classrooms, said Religious Program Specialist 3
rd Class Jacob Valle. We hope to do more in the future and not limit those things to just the West Elementary School.
(Clockwise from bottom left) BU3 Mark Wallace, BU3 Victoria Haley, BU3 Daniel Blount and BU3 Paul Theile, NMCB 133, work together to paint classrooms and furniture at West Elementary School, Gulfport, Miss.
RP3 Jacob Valle (left) and UT3 Claire Grady, both assigned to NMCB 133, put the finishing touches on one of the classrooms at West Elementary as they volunteer at the local school in Gulfport, Miss.
CECA Reese Culberson, NMCB 133, applies the finishing touches of primer to a classroom wall at West Elementary, Gulfport, Miss.
UT3 Clair Grady, NMCB 133, begins painting one of the classrooms at West Elementary School, Gulfport, Miss.
BU3 Skylar Brown, NMCB 133, begins to prime a wall at West Elementary School, Gulfport, Miss.
BU3 Stephanie Wolf, NMCB 133, paints a classroom at West Elementary, Gulfport, Miss., a school the Seabees have sponsored for the past five years.