Airmen Spend Time With Students During Deployment 

6/29/2009, AGANA, Guam (AFNS) -- Nine deployed Airmen from the 525th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit spent their off-duty time assisting three teachers with 60 students in the Machananao Elementary School summer program here June 19.

The Airmen deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, are from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, to support U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence in the Asia-Pacific Region. During their visit to the elementary school, the Airmen spent their time reading with the children in kindergarten through fourth grade.

"This is the first year Airmen have assisted with the summer school program here," said Leslie Gomez, a Machananao Elementary School kindergarten and first grade teacher. "I welcome any kind of help, especially in reading. It's really nice for the Airmen to help out the kids." The teachers and staff appreciate the assistance Airmen provide and their efforts with the children.

"We appreciate it any time we can get different people out to help," said Billie-Jo Marzan, a Machananao Elementary School summer school coordinator. "It gets the kids more interested in reading and provides them an opportunity to receive more one-on-one attention. It's so much better for them."

Many of the Airmen enjoyed spending time and lending a hand in the community where they can help children. "Helping out with the summer school program provides kids that extra little help in advancing or catching up," said Tech. Sgt. Raven Worley, a 525th EAMU weapons load crew team chief. "By assisting the teachers, we allow them to concentrate on smaller groups. I think kids, especially the younger ones, enjoy reading time, but only for a couple of stories because they want to run around and play afterward. I like to volunteer with the kids because I'm just a big kid myself, and I think it gives them a little amusement during reading time."

From painting the perimeter fence to playing with the children during recess, the 525th EAMU Airmen donated more than 400 hours to the elementary school since their arrival in May.