Cpl. Seth French, 21, with Combat Assualt Battalion based at Camp Schwab, accepts a certificate of achievement for volunteering from Nago City Board of Education Superintendent Susumu Inamine at the Nago City Civic Center on Thursday. Eight Marines and a sailor were recognized by the Nago City Board of Education for volunteering to teach English to Japanese kindergartners in Nago City as part of the city's "Let's Learn English" program. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Cpl. Seth French, 21, with Combat Assualt Battalion based at Camp Schwab, accepts a certificate of achievement for volunteering from Nago City Board of Education Superintendent Susumu Inamine at the Nago City Civic Center on Thursday. Eight Marines and a sailor were recognized by the Nago City Board of Education for volunteering to teach English to Japanese kindergartners in Nago City as part of the city's "Let's Learn English" program. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Lance Cpl. Andre Mason, 25, with Combat Assualt Battalion based at Camp Schwab, looks on as a fellow Marine receives a certificate of achievement at the Nago City Civic Center on Thursday. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Cpl. David Castro, 19, with Combat Assault Battalion based at Camp Schwab, bows as he accepts a certificate of achievement. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Staff Sgt. Samuel Ponce, 28, with Combat Assualt Battalion based at Camp Schwab, accepts a certificate of achievement for volunteering from Nago City Board of Education Superintendent Susumu Inamine at the Nago City Civic Center on Thursday. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
NAGO CITY, Okinawa — Eight Marines and a sailor from Camp Schwab were recognized by the Nago City Board of Education on Thursday for their volunteer efforts in the local schools.
The servicemembers taught English to Japanese kindergartners in Nago City schools as part of the city’s “Let’s learn English” program.
More than 70 Schwab troops participated in the program in the past year. The nine who received framed certificates Thursday at the Nago City Civic Center had volunteered seven or more times in the schools, according to a Camp Schwab official.
Before presenting the awards, Nago City Board of Education Superintendent Susumu Inamine told the assembled servicemembers that their “charm and entertaining personalities helped kids get along with you and learn English.”
Col. Philip Smith, commander of Camp Schwab and the 4th Marine Regiment, called the volunteer program a “win-win situation.”
The children learn English and the troops learned to work with people from a different culture, Smith said.
But for Lance Cpl. Andre Mason, with Combat Assault Battalion, this was just a great opportunity to work with children — one that has helped him learn more Japanese.
“I would love to do it again next year,” Mason said.
