NMCB 28 Reservists Train at Camp Robinson
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050808-15
Release Date: 8/8/2005 3:19:00 PM
By Equipment Operator 3rd Class Lori Roberts, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 28 Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 28 gathered at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark., to participate in several exhausting days of field and classroom training July 11 through July 19.
During the day, Seabees attended classroom training for Basic Combat Skills Levels 1 (940.1) and 2 (940.2), Medevac Familiarization, and Personal Chemical, Biological and Radiological Safety (980.1). Seabees who were not in the classroom participated in field exercises simulating wartime conditions, practicing patrols, construction and combat training, among other scenarios.
“Camp Robinson is an ideal place to conduct field training because we can simulate so many different scenarios and environments here," said Equipment Operator 3rd Class Billy Kirby, who lives in Jonesboro, Ark. "We have urban, desert, woodlands, rough and hilly terrain, and the airstrip, along with so many other possibilities.”
Construction Electrician Constructionman Randy Renaud from Detachment 01, who drills locally at Camp Robinson, participated in 940.1 training, spending two days learning Seabee basics, including weapon uses and identification, convoy structure, land navigation, organizational structure and many other topics. He also participated in the advance and delay parties, arriving two days before the main body and leaving two days after them to help make sure supplies were issued and equipment was available for training.
“It was nice to have everyone come to the place I call home," said Renaud. "I got to see a lot of people, good old friends that I don’t talk to often enough, and I made new friends as well. Training as a group like this always increases battalion cohesiveness and is good for morale. All in all, you can tell the battalion is a good team and these are good people when we all get together like this.”
Equipment operators, including Equipment Operator 2nd Class Tomasa Wickert from Chicago, used this opportunity to drive vehicles over terrains and in weather they had never experienced before.
Wickert, who was cross-assigned several months ago with several others to billets in NMCB 28, traveled the furthest for this training evolution.
“It was worth it,” she said. “I learned how to drive a 15-ton truck on hills using an air brake, and I had the opportunity to learn and practice basic dispatch. I enjoyed the learning experience, and especially liked getting the chance to get to know more people my new battalion.”
Equipment Operator Constructionman Christopher Davis of Detachment 08 in Baton Rouge, La., was attending his first training with the battalion. Davis, a former Marine, found the training he received to be a good refresher.
“The instructors I had were excellent. This type of training is important for all of us, because no matter what our individual jobs might be, we need to be ready for all aspects of combat.”
Lt. Cmdr. David Hebert, commanding officer of Navy Marine Corps Reserve Center Little Rock, was pleased that his reserve center could sponsor the evolution.
“This is a great place for training. We have so many weapons ranges, the only active sniper school in the United States, and so many other facilities. We like being a part of real-time Navy exercises. It’s nice to see in action that our jobs go beyond the daily paperwork.”
Ultimately, the battalion experienced successful and effective training and increased battalion readiness. Members became qualified on vehicle licenses, received training in both their individual jobs and general military combat skills, and met many Seabee Combat Warfare and basic Seabee qualifications, bringing training readiness to an all-time high.
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