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U.S. Navy Seabees, ROK Army Build More than Just Bridges

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070331-02
Release Date: 3/31/2007 11:25:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Lisa Wassilieff, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea Public Affairs

SEOUL, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- U.S. Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 were yelling the importance of "safety first" with their Republic of Korea (ROK) counterparts as they worked side by side during a bridge building exercise from March 26-29 near Seoul.

NMCB 3 Seabees and 61 personnel from the ROK Army 1175th Engineering Group braved cold temperatures and endured heavy lifting to complete the mission in a timely manner. The bridge building exercise was conducted near the Hangju Bridge, located 30 minutes outside of Seoul.

The combined exercise was part of the annually scheduled spring exercise cycle involving two exercises -- Reception, Staging, Onward Movement & Integration and Foal Eagle 2007 (RSOI/FE 07).

The Combined Forces Command in Korea routinely conducts these field exercises along with computer simulated components to train and evaluate ROK and U.S. interoperability while preparing and mentoring junior military personnel and exercising senior leaders.

For the exercise, the ROK Army personnel and NMCB 3 Seabees practiced putting together, testing and tearing down Medium Girder and M2 Bailey Bridges. The purpose of these types of infrastructures is for expeditionary bridging. During a contingency operation, they would serve as a quick and expedient means of providing bridging capability in case the existing bridges were destroyed and other bridges were nonexistent.

Lt. j.g. Mark Nelson, officer in charge of the detachment, said that even though the Seabees train on building these types of bridges in their homport, the ROK Army has more experience since they build these types of bridges four times every month.

“We brought the bodies and the ROK Army provided the training and equipment for this exercise,” Nelson said.

ROK Capt. Myoung Seo, the company commander for the Army 1175th Engineering Group, felt the exercise was more than just a training evolution.

“The experience has gone well. The combined training has brought us closer together,” Myoung said.

For Equipment Operator 1st Class (SCW) Thomas Allen, the leading petty officer of NMCB 3, he felt the training was enjoyable.

“It makes me feel great to work with the ROK Army. It was a fun time for everyone involved," said Allen. “The best part of this exercise was just seeing how they [ROK Army] operate. They are a well-organized group. It was a pretty amazing experience.”

NMCB 3 is home ported out of Naval Base Ventura County, Oxnard, Calif.