Sailors and Marines from the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Lemoore volunteered to support the King's County Special Olympics track and field events April 20 at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Hanford, California.

The CNATTU Lemoore volunteers work with the Special Olympics program through a year-round partnership, where they lead and encourage nearly 300 athletes.

"Working with the King's County Special Olympics athletes is always an honor," said Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Angela Doyle, the CNATTU Lemoore Special Olympics coordinator. "The Sailors and Marines got the chance to meet and interact with the athletes and their guests, which always puts a smile on the athlete's faces. It is very heartwarming knowing the kind of impact we can make."

The Special Olympics competitions are designed to provide physical and mental challenges for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

"Words can't express the pleasure and excitement that this event brought to my heart," said Aviation Structural Mechanic (Equipment) 1st Class Jeremiah Clark. "Having the opportunity to assist in making these athletes have a brighter day was amazing, their smiles and laughter was priceless, and I cannot wait to participate again in the future."

While designed to foster teamwork among competitors, volunteers expressed a sense of camaraderie among the service members as well.

"The Special Olympics was one of those events that brought everyone together as a team," said Aviation Machinist Mate Airman Recruit MacKenzie Cramer. "Every face had a smile and every heart was a little more empowered that day. I look forward to attending another event."

CNATTU Lemoore is a training unit specific to the F/A-18 Hornet platform and is part of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT), headquartered at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

CNATT is a technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) an organization designed to advance and sustain Naval Aviation warfighting capabilities at an affordable cost, and is a training center under Naval Education and Training Command (NETC).


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