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Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 Goes Hi-Tech

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070625-02
Release Date: 6/25/2007 11:14:00 AM

By Air Force Master Sgt. Rickie D. Bickle, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, Guam Public Affairs

DARWIN, Australia (NNS) -- Since arriving at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin on May 13, members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 have been preparing for Exercise Talisman Saber, a Joint Rapid Airfield Construction (JRAC) exercise conducted at a remote location in the outback of Australia’s northern territory.

This exercise will demonstrate that United States and Australian engineers, from six different branches, working under the command of U.S. 7th Fleet, are able to deliver complex tasks through close cooperation and interoperability.

During the exercise, JRAC Combined Task Force personnel will construct a 4,100 foot by 112 foot runway capable of supporting heavy lift aircraft in just 24 days instead of the normal six months.

This exercise is also designed to provide valuable training utilizing a combination of equipment and technology, which will increase construction speed and accuracy while decreasing manpower requirements.

During the past two weeks, members have been training with technological advances including Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance for heavy equipment and a remote controlled bulldozer.

These advances will revolutionize the current practices that are used when working on a project. Instead of placing survey stakes to lay out the runway, the plans are loaded in a GPS computer system that has a display on the dash for operators to see where they need to be working and how to position the working surfaces of their earth moving equipment to achieve the proper grades and elevations.

“I feel very fortunate to be able to be in Australia on such a big project straight from ‘A’ school,” Constructionman Chance Keiter said.

The week of training ended with a Mission Readiness Exercise in which JRAC personnel constructed a road at Robertson Barracks Driver Training Area. Using GPS technology to guide the construction process, team members were able to complete the entire project, typically a week-long endeavor, in only three days.

“It’s kind of like driving a big remote controlled truck, only better,” Constructionman Steven Rich said after operating a bulldozer by remote control.

Constructionman Pedro Brito believes that this training is invaluable and is going to be beneficial to him.

“I am learning on more equipment than I would have normally,” said Brito.

The JRAC Task Force will now put their newly learned skills and technology to the test constructing an airfield in a remote location in Australia.