Seabees Build Team Unity in Project Adventure
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080423-16
Release Date: 4/23/2008 2:59:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Ernesto Hernandez Fonte, 30th Naval Construction Regiment Public Affairs
PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- Seabees from the 30th Naval Construction Regiment (NCR) spent a day conducting off-site team building exercises called Project Adventure at Camarillo Grove County Park, Calif. April 14.
The regiment is currently in a reintegration phase. During the past year, the regiment was split into two teams to support both Operation Iraqi Freedom and ongoing Pacific Fleet missions -- one for each area of responsibility.
The first team spent six months conducting command and control of contingency construction operations in the Al Anbar province of Iraq while the other team continued managing the Seabee presence in the Pacific Fleet area of operations. After six months, the two teams switched places. Following the Iraq deployments, the regiment not only had the task of putting the unit back together as one cohesive team, but also to integrate a sudden growth in manning which had created a sea of changing faces.
"Currently the 30th has responsibility of six units including four Naval Mobile Construction Battalions, an Underwater Construction Team and a Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit in one of the most active areas of responsibility in the world," said Senior Chief Steelworker (SCW/FMF) Michael Van Gundy, Operations Department. "Seabees in the Pacific will supply disaster relief if necessary, take part in nine theater engagements, maintain 10 detachments, and complete 25 construction projects that are planned for 2008. All of this work requires a wide range of knowledge from the regiment staff as well as a high pace of work."
Mission demands, significant changes, and a sustained high operational tempo have provided limited opportunity for the unit to reintegrate.
The goals of the exercise were for 30th NCR personnel both civilian and military to gain a mutual understanding of the mission, capabilities, roles and responsibilities, and to improve working relationships by participating in recreational activities.
"It's important that we take the time to take a good look at who we are, what we are responsible for and who we work with," said Capt. Katherine Gregory, commanding officer for 30th NCR. "By spending time with our coworkers in a fun, casual and competitive but cooperative environment, this exercise helped our regiment with critical team building skills that will allow us to better oversee the battalions and other units we support on a daily basis."
The day consisted of three parts. The first part consisted of nine team-building games ranging from the physical to the mental. The second part was a staff brief conducted by all the departments. The last part was a jeopardy session testing the regiments knowledge about 30th NCR and its mission, members and responsibilities.
During the first part of the day, the nine games assigned to each group were designed to force everyone to use teamwork while taking them out of their comfort level, and giving each individual a chance to put their unique leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills in the spotlight.
In one of the games called "The Web," members tried to pass through various sized holes in a giant web structure without touching the web or using any of the openings more than once. With teams balancing the strength on both sides of the net and trusting each other not to be dropped, the game was a test of trust, cooperation and "start to finish" planning for success.
"The web was a challenge since we had two big guys on our team," said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class (SCW) Connie Odom. "We had to figure how to get everyone to the other side without leaving a man behind."
Odom was one of the first to go across the web.
"I didn't hesitate when my turn came," said Odom. "I crossed my arms, became stiff as a plank and held my breath. I put my trust in my shipmates and they carried me smoothly across without touching any of the strings."
The experience gained from the event and the impact on the unit had a lasting impression on the staff and the chain of command.
"This experience was very effective in helping build our one-team concept," said Gregory. "Any military organization, business or unit can only benefit from holding a Project Adventure of their own."
There are more than 3,000 Seabees and civil engineers supporting critical construction projects throughout the Pacific, Southwest Asia and Iraq as a part of 30th NCR.
For more news from 30th Naval Construction Regiment, visit www.navy.mil/local/30NCR/.
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