• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Talon Vision Departs on Humanitarian Mission

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071009-08
Release Date: 10/9/2007 2:46:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Lavender, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 Public Affairs

OKINAWA, Japan (NNS) -- Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 departed Okinawa Oct. 6 on a joint-service humanitarian mission to the Philippine Islands.

The mission, dubbed ‘Talon Vision 2007,’ will involve projects focused on improving the quality of life for Filipino citizens living in sub-standard conditions.

“Talon Vision is a community relations project and training opportunity with the Marines of the 171 and 172 Marine Wing Support Squadron to provide citizens of the Laguna Province with better living conditions than they’ve ever had,” said Steelworker 1st Class (SCW) Jeremy Nettleton, the NMCB 7 detachment operations officer.

The 29-Seabee detachment will work on two different project sites while in the Philippines, placing six latrine-style restroom facilities over pre-existing structures, 16 hut-style houses with wooden floors, and improving a road that the jungle has nearly reclaimed.

“The living conditions over there are horrible,” explained Nettleton. “For example, the houses they currently have are very fragile and have no floors at all. These are conditions no one should live in and our crew is ready and capable of taking on the challenge of making their village a better place to live.”

“I think this is an outstanding opportunity for us to go out and fulfill the Seabee mission,” said Ens. Ryan Decker, the detachment officer in charge. “Even with a small group like this, we hope we can make a large difference.”

“That’s what I’m looking forward to most; helping those families,” said Builder Constructionman Apprentice Katie Meadows. “This is my first deployment and my first humanitarian mission. I’m excited and motivated because I’m getting out to an experience in the field that not many will be able to encounter.”

The NMCB 7 Seabees will be joined on their mission by the U.S. Marine Corps, Filipino Seabees and the 202 Army Brigade, continuing NMCB 7’s legacy of working on projects in cooperation of not only other services, but other nations.

“This is our third joint-service humanitarian mission this deployment,” said Senior Chief Equipment Operator (SCW) James Sweet, the detachment assistant officer in charge. “We’re really outdoing ourselves this deployment. We’re looking forward to helping these people on a level that will hold up to the expectations the [Cooperation Afloat Readiness Training] and Pacific Partnership missions have laid down for us. We want to win the hearts and minds of the people we help on this contingency mission.”

The mission has been in the planning stages for eight months, with two months of planning strictly done at the Seabee level to avoid as many problems as possible.

“We plan for the worst and hope for the best,” said Sweet. “Weather is always an issue, but regardless of what it dishes out at us, we’re going to adapt and overcome. Additionally, we’re also ensuring that all materials are in place and the quality of the gear is up to the standards we require to allow us to assist with the humanitarian effort.”

Foul weather came into play upon the start of the mission, with the detachment originally slated to depart Okinawa October 5. Despite having to reschedule due to a Category 5 typhoon moving through the region, the Seabees of NMCB 7 will continue forward with the “Can Do” spirit the Seabees are famous for.