Joint Region Marianas, Partner Commands, Answer Southern High School's Call for Help Ahead of Campus Inspection

ASAN, Guam — In response to a request for assistance from Southern High School, Joint Region Marianas coordinated with service members from the U.S. Navy Chiefs Mess, Guam National Guard, the 554th RED HORSE Squadron and the 36th Civil Engineering Squadron to help the school prepare its campus for an upcoming inspection.

Before Department of War support began, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Brett Mietus, commander, Joint Region Marianas, reached out to Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero, who convened a meeting between military and local government representatives to include Guam Department of Education Superintendent Judith Won Pat. The meeting galvanized a coordinated effort between the local government and military to meet the needs of Southern High.

The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services conducts periodic sanitary inspections of Guam Department of Education campuses, with schools required to meet certain conditions to remain open.

About 70 Navy chiefs and chief selectees kicked off the efforts Aug. 30. Guam National Guard, 554th RED HORSE Squadron, 36th Civil Engineering Squadron and JRM volunteers followed Sept. 3-6.

Southern High School's DPHSS sanitary inspection was scheduled for Sept. 8.

In all, nearly 190 volunteers from across the joint force cut back overgrown vegetation, replaced drop ceiling tiles, assisted with the school's HVAC system, cleaned and painted classrooms and buildings, cleared debris, pressure washed walkways, and cleaned bathrooms. The work will allow multiple classrooms, including a special education classroom that had been closed for years, to reopen for student use.

Southern High School, which opened in 1997, serves about 1,000 students from Guam's southern villages and has a decades-long relationship with the military community.

Vincent Bamba, Housing Projects Manager for JRM and a 2002 graduate of Southern High School, said the volunteer work is personal.

"It feels good to give back to a school that gave me so much,” he said. “They gave me a good education, and it feels good to help them keep giving that to today's students.”

“Southern villages are like one family,” he added. “Since we've been out here, three students have already stopped to say thank you. That's what makes it worth it; hearing it from the kids who use this campus every day."

Southern High School Vice Principal Shawna Tainatongo-Cruz said the scale of the campus makes the help meaningful.

"The amount of work that goes into this huge campus takes a lot of commitment,” she said. “The fact that we have service members of all military branches and all ranks makes a difference for the students. It helps build their pride for the school, and they deserve a school that makes them feel proud and special."

Southern High School Principal Michael Meno said the partnership with JRM extends beyond the current project.

"Our partnership with JRM has been present for decades," Meno said. "Our relationship goes beyond volunteer work, it's a community partnership. Our students are able to see more than just volunteers; they're seeing real, live service members giving back to the community. It really shows the strength of the force and it gives our students a better view of what community means."

Meno said he hopes the relationship continues to grow. "To the military: saying thank you is not enough,” he said.

Mietus said the response reflects the command's commitment to the region.

"Above all, we’re in this together,” he said. "Sailors, Guardsmen, Airmen and civilians from across this joint force, who have full-time jobs, made a point to spend their time on this campus because the students of Southern High are part of our community. I'm proud of every volunteer who gave their time, and I'm grateful to Southern High for the trust they've placed in us. This is what it means to be good neighbors in the Marianas."

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