NMCB 133 Pensacola Project Builds Managers

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120410-21
4/10/2012

By Utilitiesman 3rd Class Drew Verbis, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133's Air Detachment marked a signifigant milestone March 28, as they placed concrete for a pre-engineered canopy building used to store liquid oxygen at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola.

In addition to providing a new 20 by 60 foot structure, the 10-person crew working on the project since it began Feb. 21 continues to develop important technical construction skills with concrete formwork, concrete finishing, steel fabrication, carpentry and pre-engineered building fabrication.

"The project is going extremely well," said Lt. Cmdr. Allen Dean, NMCB 133's operations officer. "There is a good mix of horizontal and vertical skills being exercised out here, and this group has worked together very smoothly under some great project leadership. I think the most important objective of this project has less to do with building a high quality structure, but more to do with growing young Seabee project managers in a challenging training environment."

The crew is also sharing some training with the base.

"We're popular around here because many of our big Navy family have never seen Seabees," said Steelworker 2nd Class Karisha Del Rosario. "We get a lot of stares and questions about our Navy Working Uniform Type III, especially from the A-school students."

With the great mix of training conducted in the area, the project is already considered a success by some.

"It's a win-win situation," said Builder 3rd Class David Goebel, the project's supervisor. "We're able to learn important skills and practice small unit leadership; NAS Pensacola builds a good relationship with the local commands, and the community benefits from our mission."