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Active-duty, Reserve Seabees Join Forces in Field Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050713-03
Release Date: 7/13/2005 10:02:00 AM

By Journalist Seaman Ron Kuzlik, 1st Naval Construction Division Public Affairs

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. (NNS) -- Nearly 600 Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 were joined by another 500 'Bees' from NMCB 25 for the "Operation Bearing Duel" field exercise (FEX), West Coast-style at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., in late April and early May.

The FEX was designed to prepare the battalions and certify them as ready for possible future deployments and contingency operations to areas outside the continental United States.

"The challenges that our Seabees face on a day-to-day basis as they deploy around the globe are constantly changing," said Capt. Steven M. Wirsching, commander, 31st Seabee Readiness Group (SRG). “To keep pace and achieve success at every level, their training must be constantly updated and upgraded to meet those challenges.”

According to Senior Chief Builder (SCW) Charlotte E. Romine, NMCB 3 battalion operations chief, this particular field exercise is unique from previous field exercises in that each battalion established its own Logistics Support Area Activity (LSA) and then moved out to a common Forward Operating Base (FOB).

"In the past, we shared an LSA with another battalion, occupying a specific location and then planted in and stayed put," she noted. "For this exercise, the battalions are continuously mobile, moving out, deploying a number of detachments, bringing them back, and then relocating to another area again, making the scenarios as realistic as possible, putting the 'mobile' in Naval Mobile Construction Battalions."

During the 18-day field exercise, the nearly 1,100 Seabees trained in tactical movement and combat operations training, as well as force
protection, Chemical/Biological/Radiological (CBR) drills, reconnaissance and patrols, training, and learned to operate in a hostile field environment while sustaining construction and security operations through various exercise scenarios.

Simultaneously, the battalions engaged in a variety of projects, including a water purification project, construction of a medium-girder bridge, and building a timber tower and security bunker at the FOB.

The experience level of the Reserve Seabees was clearly evident to NMCB 3 Air Detachment Officer in Charge (OIC) Lt. j.g. Sydney Vest, of Foley, Ala.

"These Seabees have not only have their military experience, but years of civilian experience as plumbers, carpenters, laborers, and contractors that is so critical to getting the mission done, and getting it done right in the time allotted," Vest said.

Naval Mobile Construction Battalions are distinct from other units in that not only do they provide responsive military construction support to Navy and Marine Corps military operations and humanitarian efforts, but they must also be able to defend themselves at construction sites outside of their base camp and convoy through unsecured areas. With the constant threat of mortar attacks, sniper fire and other hostile actions, force protection was stressed prior to the battalions moving on to the forward operating base.

“Force protection measures are changed or aligned with the real or perceived threat. Our Seabees must have a good situational awareness and will be at an elevated security posture to match any perceived threat,” said NMCB 25 Operations Officer Lt. John Jaros of Lake Elmo, Minn. “Simply put, effective security/force protection training saves lives.”

"This has been a very good FEX," said Cmdr. (select) Jessie Mills, NMCB 25 executive officer. "There's been so much more emphasis on real-life situations that the troops need to be exposed to and engage in, in order to make them more effective in completing a successful mission.

"The benefits of the logisticals, planning and execution of gathering in one location, then deploying and moving out to forward locations, and then bringing them back again in retrograding is invaluable," he added.

NMCB 3 is an active-duty battalion headquartered in Port Hueneme, Calif., and is one of eight active battalions tasked with providing advance base construction, battle damage repair, contingency engineering, humanitarian assistance, and disaster recovery support to fleet and unified commanders.

NMCB 25 is a reserve battalion headquartered at Fort McCoy, Wisc., with detachments at Naval Reserve Centers in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. Its mission is to provide and maintain a trained, ready, and immediately available organized reserve force capable of responding to the requirements of the Naval Construction Force.