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Seabees Build Quality of Life Improvements in Baharia

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070411-04
Release Date: 4/11/2007 2:45:00 PM

By Equipment Operator 2nd Class (SCW) Lori Roberts, 30th Naval Construction Regiment Public Affairs

BAHARIA, Iraq (NNS) -- Navy Reservists with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 28, Delta Company, Shreveport, La., finished building Southwest Asia (SWA) huts for and with the Army's 5th Batallion, 7th U.S. Cavalry, at Baharia near Fallujah, April 6.

SWA huts are pre-constructed living spaces, which are shipped to the building site and put together in a short amount of time. The huts arrive in a kit and are partially constructed at NMCB 28’s Builder’s Shop at Camp Fallujah by one crew and then transported to the Army camp at Baharia for complete assembly by a second team consisting of Seabees and Soldiers.

"What would take days if we were building from scratch takes only hours working with these pre-fab huts,” said Chief Steelworker (SWC) Gerald Ramaeker, project manager. “Unlike in the civilian world, where you usually have weeks to plan for a project like this, the biggest credit to the Seabees is our ability to change and adapt on a minute-by-minute basis; because planning often happens while the job is already in motion.”

Ramaeker was impressed by his crew, which completed eight SWA huts in 12 days. The job included more than construction. With the buildings being constructed at two different sites, several Seabees were tasked with loading and moving walls, floors and trusses from one site to the next.

Builder 2nd Class DeWayne Ruff spent several days loading lumber and parts on trucks, which would be carried to their final destination.

“I learned so much,” said Ruff. “It was my first time to use a forklift, to balance a load and to strap it down. I’ll never call the movers again.”

The Seabees are military engineers. While other branches of the military work with the Iraqis to eliminate the insurgency here, Seabees are in their midst repairing and rebuilding the country’s roads and buildings.

"We’re glad to be doing what we’re doing,” said Construction Electrician 2nd Class Sean Phelan. “The work gives us a great sense of pride, and it gives us a chance to hone our skills and bring the benefits home to our civilian jobs.”

Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Stevens, of the 5-7 Calvary, is the Army facilitator on the project site. He said he enjoyed working with the Seabees.

"They're really flexible and definitely assisting us in our needs,” said Stevens. “Most of them have only been on the ground for a week, and they hit the ground running."

Lt. Ivan Cavenall, officer in charge of NMCB 28 Delta Company at Camp Knott, was pleased with the leadership among all three branches involved.

"The opportunity to work with our fellow Marines and Soldiers has been great,” said Cavenall.

Because of the Seabees deployed throughout the region, many more Soldiers and Marines serving with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Forces (II MEF) now have a much better place to live while serving in Iraq.

NMCB 28 is part of nearly 1,300 Sailors and Marines supporting critical construction efforts in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. NMCB 28 arrived in Iraq in February to improve the quality of life for Marines and Army personnel stationed there.