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NMCB 3 Receives Visit from 1st Construction Division Commander

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100202-15
Release Date: 2/2/2010 12:27:00 PM

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) Jesse Sherwin Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 Public Affairs

ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- The commander of 1st Naval Construction Division (1 NCD), visited Naval Station Rota Jan. 22-23 to see firsthand how the Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 are impacting the lives of the Rota community.

This was Rear Adm. Mark A. Handley's first visit to Rota's Camp Mitchell since taking command of 1 NCD.

Handley was accompanied by 1NCD Command Master Chief (SCW) Wade Howk during the visit. They discussed topics ranging from proposed deployment changes, increasing Seabee personnel strength in Afghanistan and new camouflage uniform proposals.

Handley also stressed his commitment to improve building the Seabee technical skills.

"We need to make sure that we are doing the right amount of training at the right time in your career," said Handley. "We are looking at the balance between formal training and on-the-job training.

He said that many of the missions in Afghanistan may focus on construction to support the deployed forces in the region instead of the Humanitarian Civil Affairs construction which has made up the bulk of NMCB 3's work during the 2009-2010 deployment.

"Technical training is front and center, but as we respond to the President to push forces forward, it will be challenging to meet those goals," he said. At the end of his question and answer session, Handley offered his philosophy regarding Seabees in Africa. "If we can build trust with local communities," he said, "we improve cooperative security".

Handley also toured Camp Mitchell and multiple project sites where Seabees were hard at work improving conditions around Naval Station Rota. Handley and Howk stressed their appreciation for the professionalism that the Seabees displayed and wished them luck for the remainder of the deployment.

NMCB 3 is one of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command's warfighting support elements, providing host nation construction operations and security in support of overseas contingency operations.