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NMCB 4 Seabees Support Units Deployed to Afghanistan

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090405-01
Release Date: 4/5/2009 7:49:00 AM

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

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 received orders March 26 to prepare water-well equipment for deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

As numerous units are deployed in Afghanistan, it is a priority for all Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) to establish potable water-sources for all service members.

Water-well assets are deployed worldwide, and enable units to produce potable water within remote locations, giving the U.S. Armed Forces the ability to set camp and operate in any location.

NMCB 4 received the tasking from the 31st Seabee Readiness Group to clean, prepare and palletize gear for airlift. Personnel were quickly assigned to the embarkation team to help in this real-world endeavor.

"This is similar to any mount-out exercises that every battalion completes," said Dan Fowler, the force mount-out control center officer for 1st Naval Construction Division. "NMCB 4 is well ahead of schedule, and we can push this gear out to the theater at any time."

Members of this embarkation team quickly caught up on the mission once the process started.

"These guys are quick learners," Chief Steelworker (SCW) Shon Smith, the designated embark chief, said. "I only had to show them how to do something once. Now I don't have to tell them what to do, they're taking charge -- doing everything right and getting it done [quickly]. They have really performed well above what I expected."

"I have never really done embarks," Builder 3rd Class Nicholas Babcock said. "During this process I have learned a lot and realized just how important of a job this is. We are the main pipeline to get equipment to our fellow Seabees overseas."

The equipment is slated to leave soon and will augment NMCB 5 for their Southwest Asia deployment.