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NMCB 7 Supports Operation Unified Response

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100206-07
Release Date: 2/6/2010 8:35:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SCW) Nicholas Lingo, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7's 85-man Air Detachment is currently deployed to Port Au Prince Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response.

The self-sustainability of the NMCB Air Det made them a perfect candidate to assist in the recovery efforts and to provide construction support under these dire circumstances.

The detachments Seabees spent the majority of their first week on the ground building up their own camp and assisting others in doing the same.

"The influx of the U.S. troops has made it a little challenging, so coordinating and providing not only relief to the Haitians we're also helping to take care of our fellow service members by helping them set up their camps so they can support the mission as well," said Lt. Beau Brooks, of Cocoa Beach , Fla., Air Detachment officer in charge.

The main breadth of NMCB 7's mission is Operation Port Opening.

"We're here to provide disaster recovery and humanitarian assistance. We're looking at assisting with road repairs and repairing the port to help in bringing the commerce back into Haiti as well as supplies and aid for the Haitian people," added Brooks.

Though in the short time NCMB 7 has been on the ground they have spent the majority of their time improving their camp as well as offloading equipment from ships anchored out, they have also jumped at the opportunity to assist in humanitarian efforts whenever possible.

"One of the things that made us feel good was we gave some cable to the JTF civilians that were here doing work for one of the orphanages and they did as much as they could do with a donated generator. They needed two hundred feet of cable to make their well operational which provides water for 250 children in the orphanage. Considering what the children are going through, I feel a small sense of gratification for us doing what we can to help," said Master Chief Equipmentman Michael Law (SCW), of Jetmore, Kansas, the Air Detachment's senior enlisted leader.

"For a lot of them (junior troops) this is their first deployment, always with your first deployment you always remember it whether it's bad or good. This being the humanitarian effort that it's going to be, everyone will have a different situation, but it will be lasting regardless," said Law.

This deployment may prove to provide a large number of the troops with memories that will last a lifetime, but it will definitely give them ample opportunities to put their months and sometimes years of training to good use. The road repairs and pier work as well as providing some of the other services assistance will be key in allowing the Seabees of NMCB 7 to hone and perfect their skill sets.

"It's always great to have the opportunity to get our junior troops trained up, an opportunity to apply all of the skills that they've learned in an expeditionary environment, and there's a lot of opportunity out here because of the tasking we'll have. They'll basically get the chance to do all the things they've been trained to do," said Brooks.

There are a few roadblocks in the way of NMCB 7's progress. Communication is limited due to the large number of troops on the ground and the lack of resources. Though daily the process seems to be improving. The 'Bees of 7' aren't allowing it to put a strain on their morale, but they are more than ready to get started on projects in the city.

"The junior troops are chomping at the bit to get involved in projects," said Law.

"I'm really looking forward to being able to get out and get to work. I want to help make a difference in these people's lives. I see them every day and it breaks my heart, I just want to help them in any way I can," said Steelworker Constructionman Apprentice Lindzie Wheelock, native of St. Maries, Idaho.

The projects out in town are slowly matriculating into NMCB 7's workload and will in short time provide these anxious Sailors with a deployment they will not soon forget.