NMCB 3 saves Seabee Museum $15K, heightens battalion readiness

Courtesy Photo | Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 pour concrete inside the Seabee Museum, Wednesday, Nov 20. Fourteen Seabees spent four days laying 20-cubic feet of concrete for the museum. (U.S. Navy photo by Utilitiesman Constructionman Vanessa Cisneros/RELEASED).  

VENTURA, CA, UNITED STATES

11.20.2014

Courtesy Story

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3

VENTURA, Calif. - Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 finished installing a new concrete pad Thursday, Nov. 20, for the Navy Seabee Museum, saving the nonprofit organization more than $15K in outside contracting.

The four-day project started Mon., Nov. 17, with the 14-Seabee crew tearing down the museum’s old interior mock runway to begin construction on the new 20-cubic yard concrete pad.

According to Tim Morales, the museum’s exhibit specialist, the mock runway posed a major safety concern.

“We bought a new scissor lift that will be used to help with maintenance,” said Morales. “The lift requires flooring that can withstand several thousand pounds of weight. The new pad is rated for more than 4,000.”

In addition to helping the museum overcome safety issues, the project provided valuable training that will increase deployment readiness.

“Pouring concrete is something Seabees do at nearly every project across every deployed region,” said Builder 1st Class James Griffith, the project’s quality control lead. “For the junior troops helping out, this type of exposure makes them a more capable construction worker.”

Construction projects completed during homeport allow NMCB 3 to learn, practice and perfect skills required for conducting the command’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission when operating forward.

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

• Date Taken: 11.20.2014
• Date Posted: 11.21.2014 13:56
• Story ID: 148500
• Location: VENTURA, CA, US