NMCB 133 Completes Annual Field Exercise
Navy Newsstand
Story Number: NNS040421-05
Release Date: 4/21/2004 2:36:00 PM
By Journalist 2nd Class Landon Mason, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 Public Affairs
GULFPORT, Miss. (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 completed a 15-day field exercise (FEX) here March 30 in preparation for its upcoming deployment to Asia.
After seven months of homeport training, NMCB 133 mobilized to support Operation Southern Blast, a fictional scenario where the battalion had to move into a hostile area, secure a camp, build all necessary support facilities and defend the area against an aggressive enemy force.
"FEX is designed to stress both individuals and the chain, and it did," NMCB 133's Command Master Chief Tommy Gomes said. "It was great to see leadership on all levels stepping up."
In order to pass the exercise, the battalion had to complete a list of objectives set by the 20th Support Readiness Group (SRG).
NMCB 133's objectives at the main camp included the construction of a working galley to feed the members of the battalion, working showers, a working medical clinic and a command operations center, and they had to erect a 30-foot guard tower on site. The battalion also had to conduct chemical, biological or radiological (CBR) drills, providing rapid decontamination of people and equipment in the event of a CBR attack. Every member of the battalion had to don chemical protective suits and gas masks, and a CBR team had to test and clear the environment.
The main camp wasn't the only place NMCB 133 was conducting its FEX. At two other sites, teams from the battalion's air detachment and water well team were going through their own evaluations.
At the air det. site, the detachment was charged with conducting sweeps and fixing a road at Camp Shelby, all of which they accomplished.
Meanwhile, the water well team performed a job vital to any deployment into a hostile area--drilling a well to simulate providing water for the entire battalion.
One primary objective remained the same no matter what site was concerned--constructing defensive positions to protect the camps.
"These were absolutely the best fighting positions I have ever seen in my two-and-a-half years with the 20th SRG," said Marine Capt. Elvino Mendonca, who was grading the battalion on behalf of the 20th SRG.
To simulate the battalion's enemy, the SRG recruited volunteers from NMCB 7 to engage the site. For the sake of realism, the battalion used real weapons with blank rounds and equipment called MILES gear, the military's version of laser tag.
"The MILES Gear was definitely better," said Construction Electrician 2nd Class Aaron Jordan, who was on his third FEX. "Before, we would just sit around and shoot blanks at each other, but with the MILES, we were a lot more attentive. We had something to lose."
Hostile troops weren't the only thing NMCB 133 had to be on the lookout for. Being in a simulated foreign country, there were also simulated guerilla warriors, mobs of civilian protestors and friendly partisan fighters who would come looking for the battalion's help in fighting the enemy troops.
"The success of our battalion in so many areas was due in large part to the motivation of every Seabee," NMCB 133 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Jeff Borowy said. "From the embark up to Camp Shelby through the retrograde and restow of the gear we used, from supply operations to the timber tower, from the mass casualty drill to the 100-person riot scenario at the front gate, our troops were incredible. They reveled in every challenge thrown their way. I could not be more proud of their effort."
"There was an outstanding display of motivation, a 'can-do' attitude and a desire to learn everything they could," Mendonca added. "The exceptional effort I saw everyone in the battalion put out made this the best FEX I've seen put out by a battalion in my time with the SRG."
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