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Exercise Flintlock 10 a Success for NMCB 7

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100523-03
5/23/2010

By Builder 3rd Class William Svoboda, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (NNS) -- A detachment from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 returned to their deployment mainbody site of Rota, Spain on April 28 after completing assigned tasking in support of Exercise Flintlock 10 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

The Seabee's primary mission, during their two-and-a-half month detachment, was to support various operational units during Exercise Flintlock 10, which pairs various U.S. units with military units of Burkina Faso.

"We really enjoyed working with the Burkinabe people," said Ensign Brian Mack, the detachment's officer in charge. "Our goal was to provide quality construction support that will enhance our relations with the country of Burkina Faso."

"Our main project consisted of upgrading an existing Joint Command Center (JCC) that will be utilized during the upcoming exercise," said Mack. "One of our biggest challenges was coping with the extreme temperatures within the country." On average, during this time of year, high temperatures average around 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

Upon their arrival to Burkina Faso back in March, the NMCB 7 detachment was met with open arms by the staff at the Mecure Silmonde Hotel in Ouagadougou. Once the Seabees had settled into their rooms, they soon began their mission of renovating four buildings at Camp Baangre.

At their assigned job site, the Seabees were given a firsthand look at the journey that awaited them. The detachment's electricians definitely had their work cut out for them, upon observing the conditions of existing electrical infrastructure, while the detachment's builders (BU rating) were tasked with completing work to facilitate the success of Exercise Flintlock 10.

Detachment Burkina Faso worked hand-in-hand with the people's Army of Burkina Faso and both parties gain invaluable experiences, in the mist of a distinctive language barrier.

The construction electricians of detachment Burkina, led by Construction Electrician (SCW) 3rd Class Jason Dingle, successfully completed the installation of 127 interior and exterior fluorescent lights, 65 ceiling fans, 63 receptacles, 23 air conditioners, 5 electrical panels, ran 3,500 meters of electrical cable and 300 meters of fiber optic cable, connecting power to four buildings on site.

"My work here was special to my experience in the Navy, but not as special as the time I got to spend with the people of Burkina Faso", said Steelworker 3rd Class Derek Abad.

The detachment, assisted by members of the Burkina Army, successfully completed the construction of 156 linear feet of partition walls, poured 22 yards of concrete, repaired and replaced 100 ceiling tiles and painted 145,000 square feet of interior walls, as well as cosmetic features on exterior walls. The detachment also successfully installed 23 air conditioning units in two buildings at Camp Baangre.

"From this experience I expected to gain more hands-on knowledge about basic construction work on the job site, but I gained that and much more. I gained great friendships and unforgettable bonds with not only the Burkina Army, but with the local civilians as well", said Builder Constructionman Tristan Chattic.

Exercise Flintlock 10 is an exercise designed to develop military interoperability as a cornerstone for regional security and stability within the region. The three-week exercise began on May 2.

NMCB 7 and its detachments are currently deployed to various locations throughout Europe and Africa as part of the battalion's regularly scheduled 2010 deployment, with the main body of the battalion operating from Camp Mitchell at Naval Station Rota. In January, the battalion deployed an air detachment of 85 Seabees to assist in Operation Unified Response, in response to the 7.0 earthquake that struck the country of Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010.

NCMB 7 is homeported at the Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss., home of the Atlantic Fleet Seabees, and is currently the East Coast's Battle "E" Seabee battalion.