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Seabee Reserve Regiment Leads Engineer Effort in Balikatan Exercise

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS040409-22

Release Date: 4/11/2004 4:08:00 PM

By Cmdr. Meg Reed, First Naval Construction Division Public Affairs

FORT MAGSAYSAY, The Philippines (NNS) -- Balikatan, an annual U.S. and Republic of the Philippines Bilateral combined exercise, came to an end in March, but not for Seabees.

Seabees will continue to complete projects, such as the reconstruction of a three-quarter mile runway, the largest joint military exercise-related construction project that U.S. Pacific Command has ever funded. They are also constructing of a 100 x 50 foot K-Span building at Fort Magsaysay located in the Nueva Ecija province.

The 9th Naval Construction Regiment (NCR), headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, and commanded by Capt. Joe Furco, led the Navy's construction element (NCE) of Balikatan, and provided command and control for the engineering Task Force at Fort Magsaysay, the major training site for Balikatan 04 on the island of Luzon. Seabees have participated in Balikatan before, but this is the first time that a reserve Seabee regiment has commanded a Task Force.

The Task Force included personnel from active-duty and Reserve Naval Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCB); Underwater Construction Team 2; U.S. Marines 3rd Recon Battalion and Combat Service Support Division 37 and their counterparts from the Philippine Navy; Army 51st Engineer Brigade, Special Operations; 24th Infantry Battalion; and Marine Battalion Landing Team, totaling nearly 600 personnel. With such a large team and diverse set of capabilities, the 9th NCR participated in several different aspects of Balikatan, thereby capitalizing on a myriad of training goals.

"It's a great time to be a Seabee. Reserves are engaged more than ever before, and to actually lead a real-time exercise is significant," said Rear Adm. Charles Kubic, commander, First Naval Construction Division, who visited the 9th NCR's Balikatan locations.

The Balikatan engineer training included a command post exercise ('Kedge Hammer') for command, control and communications, combat operations center standard operating procedures, staff planning and convoy operations. Specialized and innovative cross-training exercises with field training were led by Lt. Laurie Scott, officer-in-charge of a detachment from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3, and his Philippine Army counterpart, Maj. Florentino Mendes. Three companies participated in an intense, rotating, two-week schedule that included combined weapons training and live fire, tactical construction, convoy operations and counter-mobility training.

"Our gear may not be sophisticated, but our personnel are very highly skilled laborers," Mendes said. "The training objectives are always achieved, because we solve problems together with our American counterparts."

Cmdr. Spiro Colaitis of New York City, Task Force Magsaysay's Operations Officer agreed. "The Filipino equipment operators are very seasoned relative to our younger Seabees and have given them focused hands-on training. The teams complement each other, and the interoperability is working very well."

During the Field Exercise, U.S. and Philippine forces shared building techniques while constructing a strong-back tent, and a bunker for a static display of a camp defensive area, competing good-naturedly with each other using automatic and manual saws.

Philippine methods for tactical construction entail using what's available in the surroundings, such as bamboo poles for barriers, which is something different for the U.S. Seabees.

"This exercise has provided a lot of cross-training for our Seabees, and the Filipino Seabees and engineers," said Builder 1st Class Alec Caligagan, exercise project leader from Camarillo, Calif.

Other construction projects completed during Balikatan included site preparations for troop beddown, the construction of South East Asia Huts, tent camp improvements, and road and range improvements.

Underwater Construction Team 2 worked with the Philippine SEALs and Reconnaissance Marines in Ternate to execute hydrographic surveys and conduct surface supply drills. Additional training included SWAT and close quarter battle instruction.

Seabees from NMCB 25 and their Philippine forces counterparts worked on civil-military operations projects in Palawan, such as installing a water tank and pumping system at an elementary school, constructing a two-classroom building at another elementary school, and refurbishing a medical clinic and pharmacy. Projects such as these not only provide valuable hands-on training for the troops involved, but they also contribute to communities' welfare and quality of life long after the exercise has ended.

The 9th NCR also donated sports equipment to Dingalen Central Elementary School in Dingalen Bay. U.S. Seabees hope to continue their affiliation with future Balikatans and increased tasking within the communities and their schools.