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NMCB 11 Shifts Focus and Headquarters

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090515-20
Release Date: 5/15/2009 6:01:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Nicholas Lingo, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 Public Affairs

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (NNS) -- The Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 are currently deeply entrenched in the process of relocating the battalion headquarters, supplies and equipment from Camp Arifjan, Kuwait to Naval Station Rota, Spain.

All construction equipment will be transported to Camp Moreell, Kuwait, or Port Hueneme, Calif. If the equipment isn't needed in Rota, the remaining tools and materials will be spread out among the different detachments NMCB 11 currently has forward throughout Africa and Southwest Asia.

Once this unique process, also known as retrograde, is completed, the Seabees are not expected to return to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

"As the build up in Afghanistan begins, Seabees are needed to build facilities to accommodate the surge of troops. As operations in Iraq decrease, so will the need for support from Camp Arifjan," said Lt. Brent Richardson, assistant operations officer for NMCB 11.

The camp that NMCB 11 currently inhabits will be turned back over to the base; in this case U.S. Army forces control the facility.

Rota, Spain is a normal headquarters location for Seabee battalions, but after 9/11 an increased need and requirement for Seabees in Southwest Asia, as requested by United States Central Command (CENTCOM), redirected their focus their to Kuwait, Iraq and areas throughout that area of responsibility (AOR).

Now that the need is changing, so changes the Seabees' "home away from home," deployment location.

"The focus of effort with Iraqi operations is now drawing down and is shifting heavily to the U.S. Africa Command AOR. In order to build relationships and a [stronger] capacity in that theatre, Seabees will play a large role in this, and Rota is a very good logistics hub to launch and recover these missions," added Richardson.

As the need continues for Seabees to do the work, they will follow on in the footsteps of Seabee battalions past, building schools, bridges and host nation relationships.

For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11, visit www.navy.mil/local/nmcb11.