Articles

Civil Action Team improves quality of life for Palau residents

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alexa Ann Henderson
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  About 800 miles southwest of Guam lies a collection of small islands that make up the nation of Palau. There are approximately 18,000 Palauan residents, some who live without consistent plumbing, and air conditioning.

Since 1970, service members from all branches of the U.S. military have deployed to Palau and participated in a Civil Action Team to foster good relations, transfer technical skills to local apprentices and to provide relief from natural disasters.

Andersen AFB's 554th RED HORSE and 36th Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen deployed to Palau earlier this year to repair infrastructure and plumbing facilities so residents can have easier access to fresh water. In addition, medical Airmen from around the Pacific theater deployed to Palau to provide health care and education.

The Airmen work together with Palauan apprentices to enhance running water into common facilities like schools, churches and install air conditioning in other key buildings like one of the more popular medical clinics on the islands.

While the deployment is all for a good cause, it can sometimes bring extra challenges to the Airmen in addition to the work they are doing, but it can also bring rewards found nowhere else.

"The biggest challenge I have faced would be the language barrier on explaining techniques using plumbing technical terminology," said Tech. Sgt. Branden Behee, 554th REDHORSE water and fuels maintainer. "However, it has been rewarding to teach the local apprentices and watch their skills develop and grow when it comes to installing the plumbing for running water and making sure it works properly."

In addition to REDHORSE Airmen, the people of Palau work hand-in-hand with 36th CES Airmen building roads, repairing damaged buildings and helping out anywhere else they are needed.

"Whether it's helping out downtown at an event or providing assistance in the welding shop, ... we're here to help," said Airman 1st Class Lucian Root, 36th CES structures journeyman.

Another key part to the mission is ensuring that Airmen and workers alike are healthy.

"First and foremost, my mission is to provide medical coverage for the Civil Action Team Palau," said Capt. Jeffrey Jarvis, a physician's assistant deployed from the 18th Medical Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan.

Once he is finished overseeing the CAT member's health, he sees patients from across the islands at multiple clinics. In addition to seeing patients, Jarvis trains Palauan medical apprentices in combating non-communicable diseases.

The Airmen keep themselves busy regardless of unit, and the work is beginning to show.

As of October, the deployed Airmen purified more than 40,000 gallons of water, built a few roads around schools, and informed local students on the importance of good health and nutrition. The deployers hope to build more roads and improve more infrastructure before they leave the island.

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