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NMCB 11 Trains Seabee Combat Warriors

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090408-14
Release Date: 4/8/2009 1:54:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Erick S. Holmes

CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti (NNS) -- Sailors from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 Detachment (Det.) Horn of Africa (HOA), out of Gulfport, Miss., continue to study and train for the Seabee combat warfare specialist (SCW) qualification, even while deployed.

The SCW program requires a Sailor's dedication, according to Equipment Operator 2nd (SCW) Class Dalton J. Kurts, the first person from NMCB 11 Det. HOA to earn the qualification while deployed.

"You really got to earn it," said Kurts. "You really need to know it all, too. In the boards, you get drilled with embarkation, weapons, and you need a field exercise under your belt," Kurtz said.

The Sailors of NMCB 11 are taking every chance they can to prepare.

"I've been studying and letting people in my shop quiz me," said Construction Mechanic Constructionman Brian K. Chilson, from the NMCB 11 Det. HOA Alpha Shop. "And I want the pin. It shows you're trying to do something difficult and that you care a little more than the next guy."

"With Seabee combat warfare, you always use the information you learn," Kurtz said. "You'll use this information for your job, field exercises and deployment. You need to know it."

Earning the pin is a lengthy process. The Sailors need to have all Personnel Qualification Standards books completed and signed, pass a written test and finally pass an official SCW review board. This makes planning a SCW schedule the key to earning the warfare pin, according to the Seabees of NMCB 11.

"I wanted to get it but needed to stay focused," explained Kurtz. "So I determined when I wanted to take the final board and set dates in a reverse time line from there, hitting all of those milestones."

Kurtz's senior leadership emphasized the importance of helping fellow Seabees.

"You need to help non-qualified Seabees, too," Kurtz said. "I was told on my board that I need to share my knowledge and help out my shipmates. This shows a Seabee with the pin on their uniform cares about being a Seabee," added Kurtz.

NMCB 11 Det. HOA is on a six-month deployment to the Combined joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) area of operations, working in five separate countries.