Briefs

Advertiser Staff

NAVY

$19 million lodge almost ready

Work on the $19 million Navy Lodge Hawai'i on Ford Island is almost complete. The 155-room lodge incorporates Building 78, built in 1941 as bachelor officers' quarters, and is part of the Pearl Harbor National Landmark District. The building was featured in the 1970 film "Tora! Tora! Tora!"

Fifty-five of the 155 rooms will be in Building 78. The remaining rooms are in an adjacent new three-story structure. The lodge will have a swimming pool, large lobby area with mini-mart, and meeting space overlooking the historic courtyard garden and fountain, the Navy said.

A "soft opening" is scheduled for Dec. 8.

Seven war veterans seek citizenship

Seven sailors aboard the Pearl Harbor-based frigate USS Reuben James want to become American citizens. Last month, Navy Legal Services Office offered a forum for sailors desiring to become American citizens while serving in the armed forces.

"It is truly a wonderful opportunity that I have to become an American citizen," said fireman Joseph Hill, from Panama. "I am excited beyond belief."

All seven of those seeking citizenship served aboard the Reuben James during a recent deployment to the Arabian Gulf and participated in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

ARMY

Soldiers prepare for Afghanistan

More than 700 soldiers from Schofield Barracks recently deployed to California for force-on-force training at the National Training Center. Part of the exercise was a primer on building relationships with host nations as the 25th Infantry Division (Light) looks ahead to deploying a brigade combat team to Afghanistan in February.

"We can't go in ready to shoot everyone. Not everyone poses a threat," said Pfc. Dale Gargac. "We go in as nice guys but willing to take it up a notch."

Col. Joe Moore, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment "opposing forces" commander, said "we have soldiers in Afghanistan right now that we communicate with daily with real-time lessons that we incorporate into the training here."