FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan — While the U.S. Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment does extensive work in and around Khowst province in terms of providing security and assisting in reconstruction, the work they are doing on Forward Operating Base Salerno is also gaining recognition with the local populace.

Responding to multiple requests from the community, the Marines bring 75 children from the surrounding community on to Forward Operating Base Salerno twice a week to provide English language classes.

The three-month course focuses on students ranging in ages from 6 through 15, and it concentrates on basic English speaking skills. It also teaches the alphabet, however, along with basic grammar and sentence structure.

"It is equivalent to what is taught in the first or second grade in the United States," said Marine Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Joy, 3rd Bn., 6th Marines, Salerno English School administrator. "It is different, of course, because the students are learning to speak English the same time they are learning about the other areas (of the language)."

With the high demand for education in the area, the Marines have to take an equitable approach to the make-up of each class.

"To make it as fair as possible, we give slots to each village and have the elders select which student they would like to send," said Joy.

The Salerno School has students from 17 different villages through the province, with some children walking up to 12 kilometers to get to class.

By giving opportunities to each village based on population, Joy said the aim of the classes is to touch as many people as possible.

"There is little difference between teacher and students when it comes to language," said Noor Mohammad, Salerno English School instructor. "By teaching a few children from each village they can pass on what they know to family and friends."

Mohammad is employed through the unit to teach the classes, a move that has multiple benefits, said Joy.

"We are helping the economy by employing the instructors from the local community, and we are also giving the students somebody they can relate to," he said.

Mohammad said whether the students use their knowledge of the language to communicate with Coalition forces, or pursue it to higher levels, there are many benefits to knowing English.

"English is the international language," he said. "It is predominately used in business."

He also said English is a key language to learn if the student plans on going to an international university.

Aside from all the positive feedback the unit gets from community members concerning the school, one of the most rewarding aspects in being involved with the Salerno English School is working with the children, said said U.S. Marine Cpl. Aaron Tompkins, 3rd Bn., 6th Marine Rgt.

"(The children) are very excited about coming to the school," he said. "They will even come up to the gates on days when the classes aren't being held to show us they have completed their assignments."

Along with the positive feedback, the school is also getting a lengthy waiting list for future classes.

Joy said this is exactly the type of reception his unit wanted out of setting up the school.

"We wanted to gain trust with the community," he said. "By opening up our gates to provide English classes, we hope it will be one way to establish a positive relationship with the community."