• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Detachment Horn of Africa Seabees Complete School Project in Kenya

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101206-16
12/6/2010

From Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 Public Affairs

BURNT FOREST, Kenya (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7, along with Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), held a school project completion ceremony in Burnt Forest, Kenya Oct. 25.

The NMCB 7 detachment, led by Chief Steelworker Phillip Hayes, turned over a school office building, located in the Borror District of Kenya, after a 60-day construction renovation project was completed.

The ceremony, while not large, was a clear indication of the overwhelming gratitude the school leadership had for the Seabee's hard work and perseverance.

The completion of this project, in conjunction with help from the local Ministry of Education, enhanced the Burnt Forrest community's trust and confidence in the Kenyan Government, and its ability to provide essential services throughout the Great Rift Valley.

Upon the Seabees arrival, the project structure was nothing more than an unutilized, unfinished building which lacked doors, windows, and other essential materials of comfort. It was prevalent that the school's headmaster and head teacher were being deprived of valuable office space, and more importantly, the local children were being deprived of their only library.

Once onsite, Hayes and his crew began their project with the placement of concrete for the front and rear porches, then moved to the placement of the interior doorways and floors.

"Being in a remote location like the Borror District, mass production of concrete was a luxury that we did not have," said Hayes. "All of the concrete used was made and placed with nothing more than shovels and a wheelbarrow."

While a portion of the crew mixed and placed concrete, local tradesmen joined in to lend a helping hand. The rest of the crew took on the task of applying and finishing stucco to building exteriors, using local application methods.

"The cooperation between the Seabees and the local laborers was a big contributor to the success of the mission, as it not only improved the construction skills of our Seabees, but also helped to highlight the value placed in partnerships," said Hayes.

During the completion ceremony, the Seabees celebrated and enjoyed refreshments with the beneficiaries of their dedicated work, the children of the Borror District.

As the Seabees packed away their equipment, in preparation to depart their completed project, the children sang songs and thanked them for their work.

"Their songs will serve as a reminder to the detachment that, at the end of the day, at the end of all their hard work, the enduring partnerships that they have made will last forever," said Hayes.

NMCB 7 and its detachments are currently deployed to various locations throughout Europe, Africa and South America as part of the battalion's regularly scheduled 2010 deployment, with the main body of the battalion operating from Camp Mitchell aboard Naval Station Rota.

NMCB 7 is one of the original 10 Seabee battalions authorized by the Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Yards and Docks in 1942. The battalion 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.