Retired Officers Donate Phone Cards for Deployed Seabees

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Ventura County Chapter donated phone cards valued at more than $500 in support of the Seabee Warrior Transition Program during a luncheon and fund raiser at the Bard Mansion on Naval Base Ventura County, Calif. Sept. 4.

The association actively looks for ways to help servicemembers by approaching commands and asking about the needs of their Sailors. This time the association came to the 30th Naval Construction Regiment and Lt. Cmdr. Ronald Cooley, regimental chaplain. They asked Cooley how they could help the Seabees.

"By giving Seabees this opportunity to call their families, they can let their mother, father or spouses know that they are out of Iraq and safe,"
said Cooley, who provides oversight for the Seabee Warrior Transition Program.

For Seabees, Camp Morrell, Kuwait is the last stop before coming back to the states after their deployment to Iraq, Kuwait or Afghanistan. The camp is also where they complete the Warrior Transitioning Program.

The program helps Seabees deal with the transition from the high operational tempo and combat stress of deployment to a more relaxed homeport environment in the U.S. According to Cooley, the calling cards are a good complement to the program as Seabees make the important transition back to the U.S.

The association plans to continue raising funds for phone cards and other programs in support of servicemembers. The phone cards will be given to those who are in most need and those in special situations such as expectant or new fathers and those who lost a loved one while deployed.

"We don't really have a set goal," said retired Navy Capt. Bob Quinn who is the president of the Ventura Chapter of the MOAA. "We will continue to buy phone cards until they no longer need them. If that happens we will just find something else to help them with."

MOAA is known as nationwide advocate of servicemembers through both local and state levels. The associations Ventura chapter, which meets once a month, supports local servicemembers. The national association lobbies for rights of retired and active servicemembers and veterans affairs.

"Any officer veteran can join the association," said Quinn. "Our association supports military recognition programs, Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, as well as provides assistance to local servicemembers."

For more news from 30th Naval Construction Regiment, visit www.navy.mil/local/30NCR/.