RIGA, Latvia - Thirty-six Alaska Air Guard members from the 176th Civil Engineer Squadron and support units are repairing a children's rehabilitation center here for the next two weeks as part of a humanitarian-civic assistance (HCA) project.
The Alaska Airmen are the third rotation of Air National Guard members on the project working alongside Latvian military and contractors to upgrade "Mēs esam līdzās" Rehabilitation Center, a nongovernmental organization housed in a 53-year-old building.
HCAs allow Guard members to participate in humanitarian missions during annual training, honing technical skills while helping the local community, which in this case, improves conditions for children in need of care.
The annual training includes electrical work, plumbing, structural improvements such as windows and ceilings, as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning installation.
"I love that we're able to train our folks on their mission—they'll be getting their hands dirty getting better at their jobs," said Col. Kass Larson, commander of the 176th Civil Engineer Squadron. "At the same time, we're helping build the partnership with one of our NATO allies."
HCA projects are coordinated and supported by multiple organizations including the National Guard Bureau and U.S. Embassy. Previous HCAs by other Air Guard units include reconstructing a Latvian orphanage near Daugavpils and renovations on an Armanean hospital in Ashtarak.
The Michigan National Guard and the Republic of Latvia have been partners in the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program for more than 20 years. Their relationship has produced military-to-military training, mentoring opportunities, support of peacekeeping missions, and advocating and participating in multiple HCA projects, such as the Alaska Air Guard's current duty with the "Mēs esam līdzās" Rehabilitation Center.