Seabees Partner with Filipino Counterparts to Make a Difference
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090515-11
Release Date: 5/15/2009 4:41:00 PM
By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (AW/SW) Anthony Briggs Jr., Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40 Public Affairs
ANGELES CITY, Republic of the Philippines (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 took part in the voluntary demonstration of response (VDR) on Luzon Island, the Republic of the Philippines, May 8.
VDR is one of several theater security cooperation (TSC) projects NMCB 40 has participated in during their planned seven-month deployment to the Pacific Command Area of Responsibility.
Exercises like these assist the host country as well as the participants in working together during a natural disaster, humanitarian or contingency operations.
Working in the shadow of Mount Ayrat, a 3,366-foot inactive volcano, eight Seabees worked hand-in-hand with military engineers from Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Republic of the Philippines to make repairs at two schools in Arayat and construct a water well with storage tanks in Sapang Bato.
During the 21-day exercise, Seabees lived on school grounds, repairing roofs and running electrical lines for lighting and fans along with a fresh coat of paint in each classroom.
"When we arrived, there was no roof in this classroom," said Construction Electrician Constructionman Shawn Collins at the San Nicholas Elementary School. "The children could look up and see the sky. They are very happy to have us here."
The various nations represented in this exercise allowed for an exchange of cultures as well as engineering techniques.
"When we arrived, we noticed some of the other engineers didn't speak too much," said Chief Builder (SCW) Eric Chamberlin, assistant officer in charge.
"It was only after speaking with them did we find that they felt their English wasn't very good. After we assured them that their English was very good and we understood them, the lines of communications opened up, and we got along very well."
The Port Hueneme, Calif.-based Seabees were very impressed with the skill level of the partner nation engineers.
"These folks may not have the best equipment to work with, but they do awesome work with whatever they have at their disposal," said Construction Electrician 2nd Class Brian Reeves. "Some of the Filipino engineers have thirty years of carpentry experience, and they are just amazing."
The team assisted in constructing a well, a pump house and a water storage tank for the residents of Sapang Bato - a remote village at the top of a 200-foot hill. Before the VDR, residents had to traverse up and down a steep trail for water.
Sitting on top of a 30-foot metal platform, the four 1,000-gallon storage tanks will supply the villagers with clean water. Before the storage system, any container that could hold water collected rainwater from the torrential storms that frequent the area.
"This project was a physical challenge," said Lt. Robert Fredriksen, officer in charge.
"We had to devise a way to get the massive storage tanks up the hill, and we came together and got the job done."
During the final day of construction the Seabees along with their multinational teammates worked right through torrential rains - remnants of Typhoon Emong.
"After a while you can only get so wet, so at this point, we'll just keep going," said Builder 2nd Class Leon Sandiford.
"I'm having a good time out here, and I'm proud of the job we're doing here. We're making life better for these people, and they're very appreciative of what we're doing."
Before wrapping up their time at the water storage project, the team joined at the base of the water tower for a group photo in the driving rain. As the Seabees said their good-byes to their new colleagues, exchanging emails and phone numbers.
For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40, visit www.navy.mil/local/nmcb40/.
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