NCTC Gulfport Steelworkers Ready for Training In New Facility
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090428-30
Release Date: 4/28/2009 5:39:00 PM
From Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast Public Affairs
GULFPORT, Miss. (NNS) -- Naval Construction Training Center (NCTC) Gulfport steelworkers began moving into the final portion of a new 49,226-square foot steelworkers training facility.
The combined steelworkers training facility consists of classrooms, offices and applied instruction areas for steelworkers and builders and will primarily train Navy, Air Force and Army personnel in hands-on welding and installation/finishing of gypsum wall board.
"The new facility gets us out of the weather, and the eighty-four welding stations allows for flexibility in course instruction," said Steelworker 1st Class Cobey Chasse, course director.
Another huge benefit to the facility is now all steelworkers labs and classrooms are located on the new NCTC campus vice being spread across the base. The new training center area closes Bainbridge Avenue north of Eighth Street, which will enable students to pass from the academic east side to the applied instruction (lab) spaces on the west side without having to cross streets.
In the future, vehicles will be prohibited from the campus, except for forklift traffic delivering supplies to the various labs and maintenance vehicles.
One of the primary goals of Package 1 was to replace many old structures that were damaged during Hurricane Katrina and subsequently received temporary repairs in order to remain in operation. Working in various different facilities at NCBC Gulfport, the completion of this facility is the culmination of NCTC's new campus.
Consolidating the functions of over 20 facilities into three, maintaining operations instruction for students, coordinating construction activities and phasing move-in was not without challenges. However, contractor partner Roy Anderson Construction Company, NCTC, ROICC and Public Works worked together on a daily basis to minimize impacts.
"It's great to be a part of a project that improves facilities tremendously from when I went through A school," said Jim Walimaki, site superintendent and former Seabee builder. "There are always going to be some growing pains when our construction site is in the heart of ongoing NCTC operations. We did our best to accommodate alternate walking paths that were constantly changing with various construction activities."
An example of partnering was the coordination of the early move-in of the Builder's applied 'C' phase training bays. In the 'C' phase of the Builder's Applied 'A' school, students are instructed on finishing work on interiors, including installation/ finishing of gypsum wall board and installation of ceramic tile.
NCTC instructors were proactive in constructing mock ups in the new facility before contract completion as courses were previously taught in buildings scheduled to be demoed and on the future sites of NCTC's new parking lot. This allowed training blocks to be uninterrupted and C phase training classes to begin at the new location three weeks ahead of scheduled contract completion.
"It's motivating to see everyone's dedication and commitment in achieving a common goal. The best part is hearing the 'wows' of first-timers walking into the new facility," said Chris Coggins, ROICC Gulfport construction manager.
He noted that the contributions of Bobby Wayne, Skip King and Brenda Benny ROICC Gulfport; Matt Shultz, Bill Wear and Dave Hines of PWD Gulfport; Darrin Hill of NCBC Gulfport; Jason Grimes of NAVFAC Southeast; CEC Jim Stewart, Bill Bailey and the Charlie Company of NCTC; and Ernest Wolfe, Charlie Dunn and Eric Pickreign of Roy Anderson Construction really made this project happen.
Final landscaping, remaining associated demolition and new parking lot construction are contracted for completion in August.
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