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NMCB 7 Seabees Depart For Field Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080626-11
Release Date: 6/26/2008 8:19:00 PM

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

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. (NNS) -- Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 departed Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss., June 19 for the battalion's unit field exercise (FEX).

The FEX will test the battalion's ability to survive independently in the field.

"[The] FEX is the superbowl of homeport," said Lt. Peter Benson, NMCB 7's assistant operations officer. "The battalion is tested on all skills and training we obtain in homeport and also prepares us to become a mission taskable unit.

"Everybody gets to see what everyone is like in the field so we can know their strengths and weaknesses. As a leader, we get to see [in] what areas our junior troops need help and what areas where they are strong."

The exercise takes place in various phases including receipt, staging, onward-movement and integration (RSOMI); logistical support area (LSA); forward operations base (FOB) and retrograde phases.

"The first phase is the RSOMI phase, where the battalion members get in-field practice and training with different military tactics," explained Benson. "It also prepares us for the main portion of FEX: The LSA and FOB stages. The LSA phase is where the battalion's main body prepares to deploy to the FOB, which the battalion's air detachment sets up."

"Once we get our LSA up and running, we redeploy to a FOB," said Builder 1st Class Eric Elliott, a NMCB 7 safety officer and a chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) plotter.

"Once we're there, we have to set up a defensive perimeter, build a bunker and a timber tower while defending that area from aggressors, simulated CBR attacks, people probing our wire, enemy patrols, snipers and intruders."

The LSA and FOB phases of the FEX begin when the entire battalion is in the field, currently schedulted through July 2.

"Following the FOB phase, we enter retrograde," said Benson. "It's the part of FEX where everyone goes home and where the equipment is cleaned and packed."

A battalion FEX lasts for approximately 30 days, but the main body members are in the field for an average of 12 days.

"We've been doing magnificently so far," said Benson. "We really performed well on our RSOMI phase, and we've entered the LSA phase strongly. Our goals are to build, fight, communicate and move. On top of that, we want to master the basics."

"[The] FEX is one of the culminating efforts that brings the battalion together and helps bring each of our members together as a team," said Cmdr. John Adametz, NMCB 7's commanding officer. "It fits perfectly with our original homeport goals while also preparing us to be mentally and physically prepared for a deployment to U.S. Forces Central Command."

For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Batallion 7, visit www.navy.mil/local/nmcb7/.