An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Aug. 31, 2017

South Dakota National Guard renovates school with partner Suriname

By South Dakota National Guard

PARAMARIBO, Suriname – Soldiers from the South Dakota Army National Guard and the Suriname Defense Force partnered together to renovate portions of the O.S. Majosteeg 3 School in Paramaribo, Aug. 13-24.

The renovation project, part of the Suriname and South Dakota State Partnership Program, provided an annual training opportunity for SDARNG engineer units and further developed partnerships with the SDF, while simultaneously assisting with a community need.

"The South Dakota National Guard has been the backbone for U.S. Department of Defense engagement in Suriname for more than 11 years," said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Paolo Carcavallo, U.S. Navy deputy chief, Security Cooperation Office Suriname. "This second school renovation they've done shoulder-to-shoulder with Suriname's military engineers and is just another manifestation of the

Working together was a team of 10 Soldiers from the 155th Engineer Company, one from the 211th Engineer Company, and about a dozen engineers with the Suriname Defense Force. The service members focused on restroom improvements and the addition of a teacher's office.

The service members spent nine days on the renovations, which included panel construction, electrical, plumbing, tiling and painting.

"You get to learn how the Suriname engineers do things compared to how we do things," said Sgt. Zach Heesch, 155th Engineer Company. "I got the opportunity to learn how to do stuff I've never done before - like tiling."

Since 2006, Soldiers from both countries have conducted over 100 subject matter exchanges through the program, which have benefitted men and women from both organizations to gain knowledge and experience in both military operations and civilian culture.

"It feels great to be able to help so the kids have a better facility to use when they get back to school," said Heesch, who hopes he can return to Suriname someday. "You get to experience a whole new culture. It's an awesome experience." 

"This will mean so much for the school and the students," said Mrs. Gail Burleson, school director. "When they return from summer break, they will get to come back to all new bathrooms. On behalf of myself, the school, and the students, we greatly thank you." 

Throughout any particular year, about 20-30 service members from either South Dakota or from Suriname, travel to each other's respective countries and engage in about 10 subject matter exchanges covering a wide spectrum of topics.

"Engagements like these school renovations where soldiers from both countries work together to improve the quality of life for children really drive home what the partnership is about," Paolo said.  "We look forward to continue working with the Ministry of Defense and other government organizations to find more opportunities like this where we can directly impact for the better the lives of our friends in Suriname."

Funding for the project was provided by U.S. Southern Command and all materials and supplies were purchased in Suriname.

For the past 11 years, the SDNG and SDF have successfully partnered together to established a security cooperation relationship in coordination with USSOUTHCOM under the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program. The partnership has flourished during the past decade, becoming a model for mutual security cooperation.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Soldiers with the Army National Guard speak with D.C. locals while patrolling Metro Center Aug 26, 2025. About 2,000 National Guard members are supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission providing critical support to the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in ensuring the safety of all who live, work, and visit the District.
Guard Members From Six States, D.C. on Duty in Washington in Support of Local, Fed Authorities
By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy, | Aug. 29, 2025
WASHINGTON – More than 2,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from six states and the District of Columbia are on duty in Washington as part of Joint Task Force – District of Columbia in support of local and federal...

Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, Maj. Gen. Russel Honore, Task Force Katrina commander, and Brig. Gen. John Basilica, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team commander, talk to news media during the aftermath of Hurricane Rita on Sep. 29, 2005. Basilica was appointed commander of Task Force Pelican, responsible for coordinating National Guard hurricane response efforts across the State. The task force included tens of thousands of National Guard Soldiers from Louisiana and other states.
Louisiana Guard’s Tiger Brigade Marks 20th Anniversary of Redeployment and Hurricane Response
By Rhett Breerwood, | Aug. 29, 2025
NEW ORLEANS – This fall, the Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, known as the Tiger Brigade, commemorates the 20th anniversary of its redeployment from Iraq in September 2005, coinciding with the...

Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk aviators and Guardian Angels, assigned to the 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons, respectively, conduct a hoist rescue demonstration while participating in a multi-agency hoist symposium at Bryant Army Airfield on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 22, 2025. The symposium, hosted by Alaska Army National Guard aviators assigned to Golf Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, included U.S. Coast Guard crews assigned to Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic out of Air Stations Kodiak and Sitka, Alaska Air National Guardsmen with the 176th Wing rescue squadrons, U.S. Army aviators from Fort Wainwright’s 1-52nd General Support Aviation Battalion, Alaska State Troopers, and civilian search and rescue professional volunteers from the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group. The collaborative training drew on the participants’ varied backgrounds, experiences, and practices, to enhance hoist proficiency and collective readiness when conducting life-saving search and rescue missions in Alaska’s vast and austere terrain. (Alaska Army National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña)
Alaska Air Guard Conducts Multiple Hoist Rescues of Stranded Rafters on Kichatna River
By Staff Sgt. Seth LaCount, | Aug. 29, 2025
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Air National Guard members with the 176th Wing rescued three rafters Aug. 28 after their raft flipped over on the Kichatna River.The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center opened...