Special operations Airmen reach out to Bangladesh school

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Marilyn Holliday
  • 353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AFPN) --  Adults and children alike were all smiles during a special delivery of school supplies at Eglal's ABC School April 27 here.

Members of the 353rd Special Operations Group handed out school supplies to all 60 students as part of their community outreach program during Exercise Teak Buffalo, a joint-combined exercise being held now through mid-May at Bangladesh Air Force Base Kurmitola.

"It's important for us to give something back," said Capt. Gretchen Holden, the project officer for the school supply drive and the Exercise Teak Buffalo operations officer.  "People at home station were more than willing to donate the necessary school supplies to make this event a success for the group."

The school includes students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

"Our children come from poverty-level families," said Zahirun Nessa, the head teacher. "If the children were not in school, they would be begging on the street."

Mrs. Nessa went on to further explain that students are sponsored through monetary donations and the school supply donation will defray costs necessary to provide the children with not only an education, but meals, uniforms, supplies and medical needs.
"It puts things into perspective," said Capt. Darin Wheeler from the 1st Special Operations Squadron. "You hear different stories of the plights of different countries, but there's no way to understand it without seeing it firsthand."

In addition to community outreach, the 353rd SOG is training with the Bangladesh air force during joint-combined training through mid-May.

"The exercise is important to both countries," said Maj. Abe Friedman, the mission commander. "Information exchange between both air and ground forces increases our knowledge of how each of us operates."

Air Force members from both nations will be participating in low-level navigation training, night vision goggle use, personnel and cargo airdrop and competency flight training.

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