POHNPEI, Federated States of Micronesia (NNS) - Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133's Detail Pohnpei dedicated a three classroom building at Palikir Public Elementary School, Oct. 14, as part of a construction civic action detail (CCAD) in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).

U.S. Ambassador to FSM, Peter Prahar was the guest speaker at the dedication. Prahar said he hoped the school would serve as an anchor for the community; however, he stressed that the school building alone would not ensure a good education for the students. He advised the audience that the community, the parents, the teachers and most especially the principal of the high school would need to demonstrate how much they value education by making sure each is meaningfully involved with the school.

Palikir Elementary School, which serves more than 600 students from early childhood education to eighth grade, provides primary education for the residents of central Sokehs, the capital of FSM.

The new 30-foot by 100-foot building was constructed by four Seabees from the detail and four apprentices from the Pohnpei State Department of Education's Work Development and Skills Transfer Program. The three classroom structure with removable interior partition walls and additional computer lab capability will greatly improve the learning environment for the students. It can also serve as a community hall for public functions or to facilitate school graduation ceremonies.

CCAD FSM is a U.S. endeavor to provide humanitarian and civic assistance construction projects to the government and communities of FSM, while informally training local construction trainees in general engineering methodologies. The goal of this mission is to develop lasting relationships between the U.S. and Micronesia and also assist the Micronesian government in the development and implementation of a certified construction skills apprenticeship program.

To facilitate this mission, NMCB 133 Seabees teamed up with 16 local apprentices selected by program. The fundamental construction and safety knowledge gained by the apprentices during this mission will provide a basis for acceptance into Center for Micronesian Empowerment construction projects in Guam, ultimately creating a potentially healthy work environment and rewarding career for members of the Micronesian society.

NMCB 133 is deployed to the Pacific Command area of operations in support of ongoing humanitarian and civic missions

For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133, visit www.navy.mil/local/nmcb133/.