NMCB 3 strengthens spirit through competition

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Fahey | Builder 3rd Class Kenneth Schulz assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 assembles an M-4 automatic rifle during a battalion-wide military skills competition at Camp Shields. The competition capped off a week-long block of military instruction designed to ensure NMCB 3 remains at its highest readiness levels. NMCB 3's main body is deployed to Okinawa with nine details performing critical construction projects in remote island areas such as Timor-Leste, Tonga, Cambodia and the Philippines. The teams are also conducting operations in Atsugi and Yokosuka, Japan; Chinhae, Republic of Korea; and China Lake and San Clemente Island, Calif. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chris Fahey/RELEASED).  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

01.03.2014

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Fahey 

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3

OKINAWA, Japan - The combative Seabee spirit rears itself during times of crisis or need and between those times, there’s only one way to keep their warrior instincts sharp and ready for the fight – healthy competition.

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 split into squads Friday, Jan. 3, to square off in a military skills competition, testing each team’s ability to conduct a convoy, patrol, layout a forward operating base, provide medical care while taking fire and correctly reassemble different weapons systems.

Each squad was graded on their ability to not only perform each task as a team, but also their motivation level and attitude.

“Overall, we wanted to challenge each person on their ability to operate the materials and equipment in our table of allowances – all the things we deploy with to do our job,” said Engineering Aide 1st Class Willie Blanding, NMCB 3’s training supervisor. “Those tools are great in a trained person’s hand, but the right attitude has to go along with it. With the right motivation and energy, troops become warriors.”

During the week prior, the squads conducted round-robin training on each station of the competition, to help refresh some of the seasoned Seabees and provide the first taste of training to those who just checked aboard.

According to Builder 2nd Class Bo Watkins, squad leader for the winning team, the secret to his team’s success was simple.
“We just had fun!” said Watkins. “These skills can be really essential depending on where you are sent, so we just had a great time with it and are surprised to have won.”

NMCB 3 is a vital component of the U.S. Maritime Strategy, providing details deployed to Okinawa, Atsugi and Yokosuka, Japan; Chinhae, Republic of Korea; China Lake and San Clemente Island, Calif; Timor-Leste, Tonga, Cambodia and the Republic of the Philippines.

Each operate independently and are capable of providing disaster preparation and recovery support, humanitarian assistance, and combat operations support, while the U.S. rebalances forces in the Pacific.

• Date Taken: 01.03.2014
• Date Posted: 01.03.2014 04:43
• Story ID: 118784
• Location: OKINAWA, JP