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Seabees Prepared for Upcoming Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100727-27
7/27/2010

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW) Terrina Weatherspoon, Naval Construction Battalion Center Public Affairs

GULFPORT, Miss. (NNS) -- Seabees assigned to 3rd Naval Construction Regiment (3NCR) at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Marietta, Ga., wrapped up two months of training July 26 at Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Miss., in preparation for a six-month deployment to Afghanistan.

Training for the regiment included M-4 rifle and M-9 pistol qualification; counter-improvised explosive device training; personal chemical, biological and radiological defense training, as well as other individualized and group training.

"There is never enough time to get all the training you'd like to have, but I feel really good about the training we've been able to get," said Command Master Chief Neal Beard, senior enlisted advisor for 3NCR. "Everything has been beneficial and we've been able to bolt on additional training which has been invaluable."

The training was designed to prepare the regiment mentally and physically for the deployment. After each full day of training or during weekends when no official training was scheduled, regiment members would attend Seabee Combat Warfare Skills training and 3M maintenance training.

"Despite the long hours and the tight schedule, everyone has been able to keep their enthusiasm up and are ready, not only to do what is required, but to do more," said Beard.

Beard said he believes the unit's morale is very high and the training has definitely made members more confident about moving forward.

"The aggressive training schedule allowed me to meet all my mobilization training requirements, but also enabled our regiment to grow together as a team and find out more about each other as we prepare to deploy," said Lt. Cmdr. Dave Platz, an area officer for the 3NCR Operations Department.

"Everybody has demonstrated an impressive effort," said Beard. "It can't help but make a command master chief feel great when his staff is filled with enthusiasm. There isn't any anxiety about the workload, everyone feels ready to go."

"It's hard to know how troops or an individual will perform in an adverse environment until they are put in that situation," said Lt. Col. Stace Hayward, the Marine Corps advisor for 3NCR. "However, I'm confident that the regiment can perform its mission and tasks in adverse conditions. They have the skills to be successful."