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560 RHS helps Navajo families out West

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Scott Mathews
  • 315 Airlift Wing Public Affairs
GALLUP, N.M. --  As the early morning sun begins to light up the sky in western New Mexico, more than twenty members from the 560th Red Horse Squadron are starting their day.

These Airmen are in Gallup, N.M., building homes for needy families who are part of the Navajo Indian Nation.

This project, headed up by the Southwest Indian Foundation with help from the Air Force Reserve Command, has been going on for over 10 years.

"This has been an ongoing project for many years and has helped many needy Navajo Families," said Chief Master Sgt. Ray Eanes, 560 RHS. "This group is here for two weeks, and there will be a total of five two-week rotations from Charleston Air Force Base."

"We have many different career fields here including electricians, plumbers, etc., but we also have others such as security forces, computer and admin folks working outside of their career fields building houses for needy Navajo families," said Capt. Hinson, 560th RHS.

Chief Eanes has been in Gallup since June 13 and is expecting to stay in New Mexico until the last group leaves.

"There are a few us who are here for the duration so there can be some continuity on the project," said Chief Eanes.

The goal is to have a total of five houses completed over the 10-week project period.

The homes are built in phases from the ground up in a Southwest Indian Foundation warehouse. Phase 1 includes the structure, the floor foundation, the walls and roof. Phase 2 consists of the drywall, doors, windows, electrical, plumbing, flooring, texturing and painting. Phase 3 is when the final touches are put on the home, such as the cabinets, fixtures and bathroom contents.

"After the homes are completed and inspected by the SWIF, they are brought out to the home sites, put on foundations and given to the needy Navajo families," said Capt. Chris Hinson.

Capt. Hinson views this project as a win-win for everyone involved.

"This is great training for our guys and we get to help people at the same time," he said.


For a video story, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx7EdHkHGrw&feature=player_embedded

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