Seabees Strengthen Bond with ROK Engineers During Foal Eagle 2008
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080423-17
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 Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 Det. Chinhae participated in construction projects with Republic of Korea (ROK) Engineers as part of Foal Eagle 2008 (FE 08) from Feb. 12 to March 8 in Seoul.
The projects included the repair and construction of infrastructure simulated destroyed by enemy forces. Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 303 also participated in the operation as part of camp maintenance support for Combined Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) Det. Pohang.
Foal Eagle is an annual joint exercise in the ROK that provides an opportunity for American and Korean units to work together to simulate a defense against invading forces. The exercise is important to strengthen the integration of Seabees with ROK forces for all future contingency operations.
This integration comes at a time when U.S. military components are reviewing how they provide support to the ROK, according to Lt. Pamela Bou, CNFK Public Affairs. This is due to the transfer of control of Combined Forces Command, which heads operations of both ROK and U.S. units, from a U.S. general to an ROK general for the first time.
"In 2012, wartime operational control will be shifted from the U.S. to the ROK," said Lt. j. g. Christopher W. Archer, NMCB 5 Det. Chinhae officer in charge. "It is imperative that we train to our capabilities with the ROK military engineers to strengthen interoperability and proficiency prior to the shift."
Seabees from NMCB 5 worked with both ROK Navy and Army engineers to construct a Southeast Asia (SEA) hut, perform rapid runway repair, and build bridges in Seoul -- the capital and second largest metropolitan city in the world.
SEA huts are tropical berthing structures that can be adapted to multiple uses that include housing military members or creating new work centers.
"The SEA hut project was the first vertical construction that the ROK Navy had ever been a part of and was a great success," said Archer.
The runway repair mission, also completed in conjunction with the ROK Navy simulated the bombing of an airstrip rendering it inoperable and in need of immediate repair. Using filling material, both units working together repaired the strip in less than 30 minutes.
NMCB 5 worked with 1175th ROK Army Engineering Group and a contingent of the ROK Navy to build several Bailey and medium girder bridges (MGB). Bailey and MGB bridges are portable and do not require heavy equipment making them ideal to simulate the repair of a destroyed bridge.
"There was a lot of interaction between us and the ROK Army; we swapped MREs [meals ready to eat] during lunch time, had little competitions on our break time, and really built some good friendships with them," said Builder 1st Class (SCW) Justin R. Hilton, Detachment Chinhae Projects Supervisor. "This experience made us all realize the reason we are here and helped to build confidence between us and ROK military."
While forces can quickly respond to a crisis, trust and cooperation build slowly. By practicing and developing mutual understanding and respect in the ROK, Seabees help build goodwill and inspire teamwork with a country that is home to the sixth largest armed forces in the world.
"With the projects completed as part of Foal Eagle, the Seabees clearly demonstrated their competency in several missions that support the ROK Army and Navy as well as contributing to the overall teamwork with our ROK allies," said Capt. Bill Finn, assistant chief of staff SIM/Engineering for CNFK. "For the ROK Navy, as they are developing their military engineering capability, these exercises are very important steps on the path to the U.S. and ROK transfers in 2012."
The mission of CBMU 303 at operation Foal Eagle was to support the 1st Naval Construction Division with Camp Maintenance support and set up of the Harvest Eagle galley.
"We proactively maintained the compound and ensured a high quality of life for all personnel who lived and worked in the camp," said Builder 1st Class (SCW) Kirk D. Johnson.
"We built the Harvest Eagle galley which had the capacity to feed more than 500 people per meal."
CBMU 303 did not directly work with ROK personnel but did get a chance to interact with the ROK community.
"We played soccer, baseball and other sports with them," said Johnson. "The experience was one of great pride for the international relationship we have with the ROK."
Seabees will participate in more than nine exercises and 35 projects in 15 countries while continuing to support humanitarian efforts during 2008.
For more news from 30th Naval Construction Regiment, visit www.navy.mil/local/30NCR/.
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