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NMCB 7 Completes Turnover With NMCB 3, Begins Operations in 6th Fleet

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100307-02
Release Date: 3/7/2010 10:25:00 AM

By Construction Electrician Constructionman Ivana P. Flores, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 Public Affairs

NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 are carrying out operations at a rapid pace just two weeks after completing turnover with NMCB 3 and assuming control of Camp Mitchell, the Seabee camp located on Naval Station Rota.

NMCB 7 Seabees with the battalion's advanced party worked alongside their NMCB 3 counterparts for a week of turnover prior to arrival of NMCB 7's delayed party and departure of NMCB 3. The week successfully prepared NMCB 7 with key information about the deployment site and ongoing projects, information that ensures a smooth start to the battalion's 10-month deployment.

"For being my fourteenth turn over with Alfa Company, it seems like the hardest part was getting over the jet lag," said Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Joseph Murrell, an Alfa Company crew member. "Alfa Company's turn over went rather smoothly. NMCB 3 was very organized with their technical library."

NMCB 7's advanced party consisted of over 150 Seabees who arrived on Camp Mitchell to learn the roles that the Seabees would fulfill to bring mission success.

"I felt the hardest part of turnover was learning and exploring the area," said Utilitiesman 3rd Class Joshua Silva, a Camp Maintenance crew member. "But I did like the interaction and meeting fellow Seabees from NMCB 3. They taught me a lot, and I'm putting that knowledge into use in Delta Company Camp Maintenance."

Operating in a foreign country where regular interaction with local nationals brings about different challenges for NMCB 7 Seabees to overcome.

"Getting used to the language was the hardest part, you have to learn some Spanish in order to communicate with the civilian workers properly," said Construction Electrician Constructionman Jessica Tandberg, an Echo Company food service assistant. "However, getting to work with another battalion and seeing how they ran everything was interesting."

An important goal of the turnover between the battalions was preparing NMCB 7 for the upcoming 10-month deployment by creating contacts with various units on Naval Station Rota.

"My counterpart taught me the relationship between our battalion, the Camp Mitchell Czar, and the NAVFAC (Naval Facilities Engineering Command) office here in Rota," said Lt. Robert Warren, Delta Company's Officer and Camp Maintenance officer. "Understanding those relationships has made our transition much easier."