Helping out the local community is a Navy tradition that goes back nearly as long as they Navy itself. In that spirit, Sailors and students from Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes volunteered their time to read to students at a local elementary school, Feb. 10.

TSC Sailors and students spend one morning each month reading books and answering questions from students at Forrestal Elementary School in Great Lakes as part of the reading buddies program.

"The kids really like having the Sailors here," said Julie Port, a 2nd grade teacher at Forrestal. "It's a nice partnership, especially with us being on the base."

During each visit one or two Sailors visit classrooms in the school for children in kindergarten through 2nd grade. Once there, the Sailors will read two to three books and then answer questions from the students or help in the classroom.

"I like giving back to the kids," said Seaman Tyler Andre who is training to become a fire controlman. "It's always nice to make a good impression, too."

The reading buddies program began in 2014 and continues today with these monthly visits.

"It's something that I started but it's still going now because it's actually effective," said Navy Military Training Instructor (NMTI) Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW) Richard Kinnison, who helps oversee the program. "It's a random idea that popped up but it's seemed to have a long-lasting effect."

Reading buddies will continue throughout the remainder of the school year with Kinnison accepting anyone who wants to volunteer for the program.

For more news from Training Support Center, Great Lakes, visit http://www.navy.mil/.