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NMCB 1 Pours on Another Triumph

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071121-03
Release Date: 11/21/2007 10:57:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Demetrius Kennon, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1 Public Affairs

CAMP COVINGTON, Guam (NNS) -- Seabees with U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1, Guam Detachment completed their first overhead concrete pour at the Orote Point concrete masonry unit-block (CMU) mechanics' shop on board Naval Base Guam, Nov. 20.

With a crew of 10 Seabees, "The First and the Finest" pulled together as a team and took on the task at hand.

"We had a tall task ahead of us," said Utilitiesman 2nd Class Jeffrey Irby, one of the crew members. "I think every crew member took a personal initiative to meet the crew's goal of completing it."

"Our portion of the overall project is to complete two sections of the concrete roof," said Steelworker 2nd Class Joshua Baker, the project crew leader. "We're doing two overhead concrete pours out of three, and each pour is 40 cubic yards."

Before the crew poured the concrete, tedious preparations had to be made.

"We used a scaffolding and post shore system to support the form-work for the concrete roof," said Baker. "It was pretty time consuming -- adjusting all the screw jacks to get the forms to the right elevation."

The hard work of the project crew is evident in what they've produced thus far, but their efforts shine brighter to their crew leader.

"I just want to emphasize how good of a crew I have," said Baker. "This is probably the best crew I've ever worked with."

Baker is confident in the quality of work of his team members because of their experience with the Seabees.

"We've got a crew full of very seasoned second class [petty officers]," he added. "Together, we can tackle anything out here."

After a few other adjustments, the CMU mechanics' shop was ready for its first overhead pour. This is also the first mechanics' shop construction project for some of the crew.

"We're getting to do something that Seabees don't normally do," said Irby. "It's good to get the experience, and maybe in the future, if we can handle it, we can do projects like this more often."