MSCPAC Sailors Volunteer at Local Elementary School

UNITED STATES

Story by Sarah Burford

Military Sealift Command Pacific

Three Navy Sailors from Military Sealift Command Pacific (MSCPAC) made the students at a local San Diego elementary school stand a little taller, as they took the opportunity to volunteer at the school’s quarterly awards ceremony.

Lt. Cmdr. Craig Richardson, MSCPAC Chief Staff Officer, Lt. Eric Bardot from the MSCPAC Operations department, and Information Systems Technician First Class Natasha Osborne presented selected children with leadership awards during the ceremony at George Dewey Elementary School.

According to the school’s principle, Tanya McMillian, the presence of the uniformed military members at the ceremony was extra special for her students, because nearly 80 percent of the student body is made- up of children from military families.

“Having these Sailors here today really sends a powerful message to our very concentrated group of military families,” explained McMillian. “Not only does it show we support our military members, but these Sailors in uniform display good values, respect and leadership. They have a huge impact on our kids and how they can step-up and be leaders too.”

According to Osborne, the call for volunteers came from the Command Master Chief of Naval Submarine Base Point Loma, where MSCPAC is a tenant command. When she heard of the volunteer opportunity, she reached out to the Navy School Liaison Officer for the school and then recruited members of MSCPAC to volunteer.

For Osborne and the other volunteers, the opportunity to be at the school was as impactful for them as it was for the students.

“I remember when I was a kid in school and how important role models were for me and I wanted to be the same thing now that I am an adult,” said Osborne. “I’m happy I could represent the Navy as a leader and I hope I was able to pass that on.”

“This was a wonderful opportunity,” said Bardot. “The kids were very much into it, and it was very rewarding to present them with their certificates and to give them a little recognition, while helping them realize their potential as future leaders.”

Dewey Elementary school has a variety of programs in place to educate, support and council military families through not only the education system, but also with issues such as deployments and homecomings, military moves, tutoring and after school programs.

“It was great having these young people here with us today,” said McMillian. “We look forward to other opportunities to welcome our military members to our school and to share their stories and values with the students.”