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NMCB 4 Completes Field Training Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080508-20
Release Date: 5/8/2008 3:42:00 PM

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SCW/SW/AW) Steve Bansbach, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 Public Affairs

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 closed up shop and moved from Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) to Fort Hunter Liggett, near King City, Calif., April 18.

The reason for the move was to complete their field training exercise (FTX) in preparation for their upcoming deployment in August.

Taking the battalion's entire table of allowance, NMCB 4 constructed a logistical staging area and established a Forward Operating Base, popping tents, placing concertina wire and digging fighting positions to protect the camp's assets.

The purpose of the FTX is to ensure a battalion is mission capable and has the ability to carry out tasking as required. During the exercise, evaluators praised NMCB 4 and their personnel on their performance and engagement of troops during the entire evolution.

"The continual effort and engagement across the board by everybody was phenomenal," Lt. Adam Christopher, FTX operations officer said. "Every drill was better than the last and we learned from our mistakes and improved on them."

This graded evolution allowed NMCB 4 to demonstrate its capabilities and helped junior troops see what areas they could improve in.

"This FTX was better than last year's FTX in comparison to learning," Builder 3rd Class Brice Roberts said. "When the scenarios were over there was an evaluator who went through the scenarios step-by-step. He was able to get the group together and tell us what we did right and wrong and how we could do it better. This teaching aspect encouraged us to learn and plan better."

For some this was the first time they participated in an FTX. For Constructionman Andrea Lopez, it was an opportunity to apply what she's learned.

"Being in the field you're able to see everything you've learned these past months," said Lopez. "I saw how SAFE (set security, automatic weapons placed, fields of fire set, entrenchment) is set and how everything works together. Putting it into action, it was very interesting."

For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, visit www.navy.mil/local/nmcb4/.