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Concept to Completion: PHIBCBs Build Camp Patriot

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030425-18
Release Date: 4/26/2003 4:16:00 PM

By Journalist 1st Class Joseph Krypel, Camp Patriot Public Affairs

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait (NNS) -- "If you build it, they will come." That is the message that was given to the amphibious Seabees (PHIBCB) of the west coast months before Operation Iraqi Freedom ever began.

"They" are nearly 3,000 joint-service, permanent residents and a rotating stampede of U.S. Marines that have kept the Seabee built Camp Patriot population fluctuating since December 2002.

Naval Central Command (NAVCENT), forward stationed in Bahrain, tasked Capt. Donald P. Cook and Naval Beach Group 1, homeported in Coronado, Calif., to architect a base camp - and when it came to architecture of a camp, Cook turned to the experts.

The U.S. Navy Seabees of Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 1, also homeported in Coronado, Calif., were the one's that had to build it - and build, and build and build they did.

"We spent months preparing for this," explained Atlanta native, Lt. Cmdr. George N. Suther, operations officer for ACB-1. "Our Seabees are accustomed to building and maintaining a beach camp that houses approximately 1,200 - we had to excel beyond that, and come up with a plan that would accommodate 4,500."

Suther, along with his Charlie Company Commander, Lt. Jay Bieszke, developed a site plan that allowed for the phased erection of the camp. Suther and Bieszke explained that concentration was placed on developing a limited amount of real estate, while continuing to focus on force protection and centralized amenities.

"We had a perceived shortfall," explained Suther, "and that was that our battalion wasn't designed to handle such a large tasking." Perceived was all it turned out to be. According to Suther, the leadership at the unit level really banded together, and that made the difference. "We came together, we spent long hours together, and we put together our plan. When the order came down, we were 100 percent ready, and it's apparent.

"Our battalion is proud of the fact that we are a self-sufficient organization and did not have to rely on a lot of outside contracts, however, where it made good business sense, we contracted to eliminate the stress of our comparatively smaller work force," said Suther.

"It was like starting a fire," continued Suther. "First came tents, then the working spaces, then the strong-backing of tents, and finally - air conditioning."

According to Suther, the plan went better than expected. "The men and women here really put some sweat into this place, and it was growing fast - we were actually struggling to find the real estate to put things."

The PBIBCB team understood that what they were building was in direct support of the warfighters, and they never complained about long hours. "No one could be more proud of the effort demonstrated here," praised Suther. "This was a labor of love, and it's evident by the craftsmanship you see - everyone here, even our fleet Bees of Bravo Company, put in the sweat to strongback tents and build protective bunkers."

Camp Patriot is built on 200-acres of shared space with the Kuwaiti Naval forces. With areas pre-designated for ammunition, parking, and harbor assets - people were placed where they safely could be.