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NMCB-74 KAF Detail Completes Mission in Kandahar

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091012-07
Release Date: 10/12/2009 6:50:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Lindsey, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 Public Affairs

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (NNS) -- Thirty Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 successfully completed their mission in Kandahar, Afghanistan. NMCB 74's Detail Kandahar (Det-KAF) was sent to bridge the gap between the departure of NMCB 11 and the arrival NMCB 22 Sept. 16.

Directed by the 30th Naval Construction Regiment, Det-KAF arrived in Kandahar to assume control and responsibility of over 3.2 million dollars worth of building materials and Civil Engineer Support Equipment (CESE) from NMCB 11. The turnover with NMCB 11 lasted one week.

"We were a very small detachment. We took over from NMCB 11, a 120 man Det, and turned over to NMCB 22 a month later, which had 287 people in its main body," said Lt. Adnan Ahsan, Det-KAF officer in charge. "We did an excellent job maintaining control and accountability of all the equipment and material."

Immediately after their turnover with NMCB 11, Det-KAF began working on their first project, a 20 by 40 foot Southwest Asia Hut (SWA-Hut) that will serve as a humanitarian aid operations center for Joint Sustainment Command - Afghanistan. The structure was completed ahead of schedule and passed all building inspections.

The second project, which arose unexpectedly, was to relocate the entire Alfa yard lay-down area in preparation for the arrival of NMCB 22. All CESE, tools, construction materials, and work space had to be moved and reassembled safely to a new location about a half a mile away.

"We had to move over 100 pieces of CESE, 40-50 cargo containers, over 100 pallets and two huge metal structures," said Builder 1st Class Trevor Griffin, quality control petty officer. "It was very challenging logistically."

NMCB 22 arrived in Kandahar Sept. 8 and completed the turnover with Det-KAF Sept. 15. NMCB 22's Operations Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Wiegrefe, had nothing but good things to say about the turnover.

"It went really well. [NMCB] seventy-four had a good lay-down for us when we got here," said Wiegrefe. "They had a good plan going forward so we just fell in, provided some more labor and made a few minor changes for what we wanted. I couldn't have been happier with the teamwork we received from 74."

For their service with the International Security Assistant Force in Kandahar the detail was awarded the NATO Service Medal. Sept. 18, Det-KAF joined NMCB 74's main body site on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.