NMCB 3 assumes charge of Pacific Region NCF operations

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class John Paul Curtis | Cmdr. Cameron Geertsema, commanding officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, right, salutes Cmdr. Gordon Meeks, commanding officer of NMCB-3, during a change of charge ceremony on Camp Shields. After an eight-month deployment, NMCB-5 turned over their missions in the U.S. Pacific Command to NMCB-3. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John P. Curtis/Released)  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

08.18.2013

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Fahey 

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3

OKINAWA, Japan - Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 assumed charge of all Pacific Region Naval Construction Force missions during a transfer of authority ceremony on Camp Shields, the Seabee camp in Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 18, officially relieving NMCB 5 of all duties and responsibilities.

According to NMCB 3 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Gordon Meek III, NMCB 5 ensured all operations in the Pacific were ready for a seamless turnover.

"Our mission in the Pacific is an important one," said Meek. "NMCB 3 is headquartered in Okinawa, but I have details across the Pacific performing critical construction projects important to ensuring peace and stability in the region. We are proud of the work we are performing, grateful to our host nations for having us as neighbors and grateful to NMCB 5 for setting us up for success. You truly are 'The Professionals.'"

One of the first battalions commissioned during World War II, NMCB 3's legacy stands strong in its ability to build and fight anywhere in the world as either a full battalion or as a group of autonomous detachments, simultaneously completing critical engineering and construction missions.

For this deployment, NMCB 3 has split into nine details to perform critical construction projects in remote island areas such as Timor-Leste, Tonga, Cambodia and the Philippines. The teams will also conduct operations in Atsugi, Yokosuka and Okinawa, Japan; Chinhae, South Korea and China Lake, Calif.

The Naval Construction Force is a vital component of the U.S. Maritime Strategy. They provide deployable battalions capable of providing disaster preparation and recovery support, humanitarian assistance and combat operations support.

NMCB 3 provides combatant commanders and Navy component commanders with combat-ready warfighters capable of general engineering, construction and limited combat engineering across the full range of military operations.

Both NMCB 3 and 5 are homeported in Port Hueneme, Calif.

• Date Taken: 08.18.2013
• Date Posted: 08.23.2013 12:14
• Story ID: 112487
• Location: OKINAWA, JP