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NMCB 1 Completes Diverse Far East Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070103-01
Release Date: 1/3/2007 9:41:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ja’lon Rhinehart, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1 Public Affairs

GULFPORT, Miss. (NNS) -- The final airlift of Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 returned home Dec. 15, officially ending a six month deployment to the Far East.

The battalion spread across 18 sites in nine different countries around the world during the deployment.

“When we deployed, our goals were three-fold: provide forward contingency readiness; provide construction training; and support our customers,” said Operations Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Chad Brooks. “During our deployment we maintained a state of mission readiness that allowed us to always be ready to deploy anytime, anyplace.”

Deployed in task-tailored detachment teams around the globe, the construction professionals of NMCB 1 made an impact at every stage of their deployment. A team of 20 Seabees participated in infrastructure support to the U.S. Department of State by drilling wells in the Federated Republic of Micronesia on the island of Pohnpei, resulting in sustained potable water production to a population suffering from cholera and other water-bourn illnesses.

“Knowing that we improved their lives, helped keep us going,” said water well team member, Construction Electrician 2nd Class Leandra Cubillios. “We came to Pohnpei to improve their water, and we did that. It has been a very rewarding deployment.”

As participants in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Exercise (CARAT) 2006, teams of NMCB 1 Seabees built schools and clinics to service underdeveloped communities in the Philippines and Indonesia. The Seabees worked hand-in-hand with host nation military members as well as civilians living in recipient communities.

“I have never seen a group of people work so well together,” said Senior Chief Equipment Operator (SCW) Mark Thomas, Indonesia Detachment assistant officer in charge. “They were teaching us as much as we were teaching them.”

In Iraq, 80 Seabees provided security support and military construction to a Navy-led task force.

“This was a really difficult assignment for us, but it’s part of our “Can Do” nature to rise to the occasion,” said Builder Chief (SCW) Jeffrey Johnson, leading petty officer for the Iraq Detachment. “My guys really took a strain, and we’re just grateful to be home.”

Around the Far East, NMCB 1 deployed detachments to complete military construction projects at the base of Mount Fuji; in Chinhae, Korea; Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan; Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni; Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan; Naval Base Sasebo, Japan and to military commanders in areas surrounding the unit’s main body site at Marine Corps Base Okinawa.

Two NMCB 1 detachments remained in the continental United States at Camp Pendleton and San Clemente Island. When not working with cinder block and rebar, members of the unit engaged in a wide variety of community relations projects with schools, orphanages and organizations in need near Seabee detachment sites.

The projects completed this deployment helped keep the Seabees prepared for their next scheduled deployment to Iraq in 2007. The command and control flexibility required to manage 18 different locations across five different time zones, and the agility to deploy and redeploy task-tailored teams to diverse missions will serve the unit well in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“While deployed it was imperative that we foster relationships with other service branch commanders and learn to assess their needs and assert our capabilities,” said Brooks. “When we deploy with the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, we need to already be familiar and efficient in our ability to move, complete short duration projects, and move again; because that is what will be expected of us in a contingency environment.”

Cmdr. Dean Tufts, who assumed command of NMCB 1 in July 2006 related the serious nature of deploying to primarily non-combat detachment locations.

“Right now, there are Seabees from Gulfport operating on the tip of the spear in Iraq. There is little room for error. What we do on deployment to Japan, Korea, and the states has to be good, and we have to sharpen our skills now, because we know we’ll have to hit the ground running next year,” said Tufts.