NMCB 7 Returns from Ten Month Deployment

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Yan Kennon, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 Public Affairs

GULFPORT, Miss. (NNS) -- More than 600 Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 returned to their homeport of Gulfport, Miss., Dec. 17, marking the completion of a successful 10-month deployment.

During the deployment, NMCB 7 provided contingency construction, humanitarian and civic assistance and exercise related construction projects throughout the European, African and Southern Command areas of responsibility.

NMCB 7 began its deployment in February and exercised command and control of their entire deployment from Naval Station Rota's Camp Mitchell. Once on deck, the battalion began deploying detachments, which completed construction and contingency projects in 33 separate locations in Africa, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, Central and South America.

More than 120 Seabees were continually assigned to Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, as an enduring detachment, with smaller detachments completing projects in Kenya, Comoros, Ethiopia, and the Djiboutian countryside. The battalion also embarked Seabees aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), debarking for projects in several countries on the Pacific shores.

Prior to the battalions scheduled deployment, NMCB 7 was called upon to assist with disaster relief efforts in Haiti, during Operation Unified Response, amidst the aftermath of a 7.0 earthquake which struck the area Jan. 12.

During Operation Unified Response, NMCB 7's Air Detachment made a huge impact supporting the Joint Task Force, while working with Underwater Construction Team 1, Amphibious Battalion 2, U.S. Marine Corps and various other joint forces.

"Though the situation was tragic, our Seabees reinforced the value of the naval construction force to the nation's national security strategy and our partner nations," said Cmdr. Jayson Mitchell, NMCB 7 commanding officer.

NMCB 7 turned over its operational responsibilities to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 during a December 14 ceremony at Naval Station Rota, Spain.

Throughout their 10 month deployment, NMCB 7 deployed Seabees on more than 15 detachments and details spanning locations such as Israel, Morocco, Liberia, Montenegro, Burkina Faso, Latvia, Senegal, Sao Tome and Romani.

NMCB 7 is one of the original ten 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.

Seabees Deploy Two Units to Haiti

By Daryl Smith, 1st Naval Construction Division Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Eighty Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 are deploying from Gulfport, Miss., and 14 Seabee divers from Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 1 will deploy from Virginia Beach, Va.

NMCB 7 Seabees will help remove debris, clear roads, and provide construction support. The battalion received the tasking Jan. 14 and immediately began preparations to get the 690 short tons of cargo ready to roll.

Personnel from Construction Battalion Center Gulfport and the 20th Seabee Readiness Group began pulling more than 40 pieces of civil engineer support equipment and other items from warehouses and preparing them to fly out with the detachment late Friday or early Saturday. The heavy equipment includes graders, front-end loaders, excavators and dump trucks.

UCT 1 Seabees will deploy Friday from Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek/Fort Story. Their mission will be to inspect waterfront facilities such as piers and docks as part of efforts to help get relief supplies into the earthquake-ravaged nation.

They will deploy along with other Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 and Naval Sea Systems Command, and engineers from Naval Facilities Engineering Command.

Seabees are well known for their humanitarian assistance and disaster recovery efforts around the world, having recently provided support for victims of hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters.

In 2005, Seabees deployed to Pakistan to help clear roads and remove debris to help relief workers get to isolated areas following a 7.6 magnitude earthquake. When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in August 2005, nearly 3,000 Seabees repaired more than 100 schools, removed 20,000 tons of debris, cleared 750 miles of roads, and delivered more than 100,000 gallons of fuel and water. Seabees also deployed to Indonesia, Thailand and Sri-Lanka to provide humanitarian support in the wake of the massive tsunami that devastated the area in December 2004.

NMCB 5 Completes Turnover in Afghanistan with NMCB 7

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SCW) Michael B. Lavender

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 arrived in Afghanistan and turned over the main deployment site for Seabees deployed to Afghanistan from NMCB 7.

The turnover lasted for 15 days, with the process concluding with the Transfer of Authority (TOA) ceremony held March 13.

NMCB 5 dispatched more than two thirds of its personnel to the main body site to ensure a steady and safe transition with NMCB 7. Included in the turnover process is the inventory of supply and many other controlled assets, such as crew served weapons.

NMCB 7 continued to play a major role in the procedure, providing information, guidance, lessons learned and experiences to NMCB 5's personnel to give them a thorough understanding of their area of operations.

"I'm proud of all the things NMCB 7 has accomplished this deployment," said Cmdr. John Adametz, commanding officer of NMCB 7. "First, they said we couldn't close out our sites in Iraq. Then they said we wouldn't get to Afghanistan, and even when we did, they said we wouldn't get our projects started. But we did. We succeeded magnificently in ways no battalion has ever done before. We're the premier Seabee battalion chosen to build and fight and this deployment is a fine example why we are."

Adametz went on to challenge NMCB 5's Seabees to continue the mission NMCB 7 began, citing that their professional nature and meticulous attention to detail is a mark of unit pride and accomplishment.

NMCB 7 then hauled down their battalion colors, officially concluding their deployment to Afghanistan. The two commanding officers of the battalions then transferred command of the new forward operating base in a brief exchange.

NMCB 5 Seabees struck their colors, hoisting them into the air, commencing the start of their deployment with the promise to continue the hard work and reputation that NMCB 7 forged this deployment.

"When we first got into this theater, everyone had praises about the work NMCB 7 had accomplished this deployment," said Cmdr. Scott Hurst, commanding officer of NMCB 5. "One warrant officer went so far as to say in simple words that, 'what they're doing over here makes me proud to be a Seabee.' Congratulations NMCB 7 on a fine deployment. To my Seabees, it looks like we've found some work to do. Let's get to it."

NMCB 5 responded with a 'hoorah,' and the two battalions posted, concluding the ceremony.

NMCB 5 will have detachments throughout U.S. Forces Central Command, including sites in Kuwait, Iraq and mainly throughout Afghanistan.

NMCB 5, based out of Port Hueneme, Calif. is deployed to Afghanistan to provide contingency engineering and construction support to alliance forces in support of NATO International Security Assistance Force.

NMCB 7 Redeploys to, Focuses on Afghanistan Operations

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SCW) Michael B. Lavender

Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 depart an Air Force C-17 aircraft following its arrival at a forward operating base in the HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan. NMCB-7 is deployed to Afghanistan to provide contingency construction support to Alliance forces supporting NATO International Security Assistance Forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Lavender/Released)

Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 have redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan.

The move repositioned the battalion to build bases for additional U.S. forces already flowing into southern Afghanistan to reinforce the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

"Our engineering services are needed here in Helmand Province, Afghanistan to construct a number of new forward operating bases (FOB) in support of the much publicized 20,000-plus troop surge into southern Afghanistan," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. James Brown, NMCB 7's operations officer. "We had a very important mission in Iraq supporting the First Marine Expeditionary Force, but there was a larger demand signal here in Afghanistan. Our unique capabilities to not only build, but to build in hostile areas, and defend ourselves and the new areas we create made Seabees the logical and necessary choice."

The movement included the embarkation of troops and equipment necessary to ensure mission success.

"The effort needed to airlift an entire Seabee Battalion's armored construction equipment in less than 40 days would be a tremendous accomplishment for any unit," said Brown.

"Recognizing the extreme importance of the mission and aggressive surge timeline, NMCB 7 successfully rose to an even higher challenge. For the first 30 days we were simultaneously embarking ourselves out of Iraq and into Afghanistan, constructing a new 430-acre FOB, and providing security for five-miles of site perimeter."

While deployed to Afghanistan, NMCB 7 will be part of ISAF, working with other U.S. Armed Forces and NATO allies, including British, Danish and Dutch forces.

"The first real evidence of the U.S.'s surge into Southern Afghanistan became apparent when the Seabees arrived," said British Royal Navy Lt. Cmdr. John Bawer, deputy chief of staff, Bastion for Supply, Logistics and Real Life Support.

"The U.S. Marines arrived first but the Seabees are what really captured our attention. We describe them as the 'enablers to the enablers.' In the [United Kingdom], we have nothing like them. The Seabees are a self contained unit who not just arrived, but asked not 'what the base could do for us' but rather 'what can we do for you?' Their efforts greatly impressed us as they were eager to help with an amazing attitude to back it."

While NMCB 7's main effort focused on quickly building the necessary force protection emplacements for the FOB the battalion will occupy, some Seabees focused on providing service to the U.K.-run base and other deployed units.

"The battalion of Seabees assisted with cooking meals and with dental work as well as some construction work," said Bawer. "They came in with great numbers, yet the impact to our base was minimal as they were so eager to help. We're very big about the Seabees, as they are personnel who can take charge of a project and ensure it is completed. The British can learn a lot from this cooperative effort and we have so far. It's been a great experience thus far. We in the [United Kingdom] like to align with U.S. forces when we go forward in countries and the Seabees of NMCB 7 are a great example of why we do."

Some of the projects being undertaken by NMCB 7 include perimeter berm construction, conducting security, construction of perimeter security towers, grading the entire site, building nearly 10 miles of interior roads, constructing fuel storage areas, constructing helicopter landing zones and other infrastructure for various coalition forces.

Additionally, NMCB 7 accepted the challenge and surpassed the expectations not posed to many Seabee battalions.

"Our most recent redeployment evolution proved that our deployment success was not just a luck or chance," said Brown. "In fact, it showed us that we were well-prepared by the 20th Seabee Readiness Group embark staff. NMCBs, by doctrine, can deploy an air detachment of 89 personnel within 48 hours of notification. When the battalion deploys an air detachment…the entire battalion contributes to the effort. In this case, we had less than a full battalion, worked in a semi-austere contingency environment, and moved a great deal more equipment. We also had to compete for air lift with other services that were also in the process of redeployment. We trained very hard in embarkation last homeport and it was a magnificent success!"

NMCB 7 will continue the remainder of its deployment in Afghanistan, providing contingency construction support to allied forces in support of NATO ISAF.