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Seabees Complete Pre-Deployment Project

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081122-04
Release Date: 11/22/2008 8:22:00 PM

By Builder 2nd Class James W. Walters, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 Public Affairs

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. (NNS) -- After several weeks of planning and 23 days of blistering hot construction work, Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 completed a pre-deployment project at Camp Wilson on board Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Nov. 10.

The Seabees completed the construction of two K-span (hanger type) buildings and four Southwest Asia (SWA) buildings, also known as SWA huts. K-spans and SWA huts are prefabricated buildings that can be assembled quickly on site. The completed structures will be used by the Marines as multipurpose facilities for equipment storage and troop berthing.

In addition to the construction work, NMCB 5 Seabees conducted daily mission-specific training - known as unit driven training - to prepare themselves for the upcoming deployment to the Middle East.

Upon arrival at Camp Wilson, the Seabee crews immediately began staging storage containers full of tools, separating materials and planning convoy transportation to projects in preparation for the first 100 degree-plus temperature day of work. The Seabees at Camp Wilson worked 13-hour days, six days a week.

"This project was a fortunate learning experience for all ranks throughout all aspects of military and construction and training," said Chief Builder Ian Doyle, Task Force Lightning (TFL) operations chief. "Teamwork was learned; different construction methods were introduced; new skills passed from seniors to juniors and vice versa. Many leadership styles and traits were tested, and unconsciously the cohesion of the group became tighter."

Operations such as these assist military units with readiness and prepare members for arduous deployments. NMCB 5's next scheduled deployment is to Iraq with several detail sites located throughout the Middle East. The teamwork and contingency construction skills learned during this exercise could not have been accomplished in Port Hueneme, leaders say. The isolated conditions and harsh environment of Twentynine Palms were an invaluable setting for the construction projects that were completed by the crews.

NMCB 5 is one of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command's warfighting support elements providing host nation construction operations and security. NMCB 5 is homeported at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme.

For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, visit www.navy.mil/local/nmcb5.