The SeaBees in the Sand

AFGHANISTAN

10.28.2010

Story by Sgt. Michael Reinsch 

ISAF Joint Command

AFGHANISTAN - The 18th and 40th Naval Mobile Construction Battalions, also known as SeaBees, are working hard on construction projects across Afghanistan.

Each construction project is carefully and professionally designed, executed and finished by highly trained and developed teams. Each team consists of Sailors with different technical backgrounds geared to achieve the best product.

SeaBees take on projects to support many different needs of all military branches and nations across the country, and most of their efforts are currently focused on southern Afghanistan.

“What we’re doing for the people of Afghanistan is building combat operating posts, tents, galleys and showers to protect them, to push the Taliban away from them,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Burns, NMCB 40 builder. Burns went on to say what they build helps the Afghan National Army and therefore helps the people of Afghanistan.

More than 600 sailors are under the command of NMCB 18 and 40, and more than 400 of those are part of their labor force. Since the end of July more than 80 projects were finished or are working. The projected value of the projects is more than $27 million.

Bridge repair, road repair, water-well drilling, a culture center, and a hospital are just a few examples of the projects the SeaBees have completed or will complete in support of their mission here in Afghanistan.

“It’s to bring stability and structure, to give the Afghan people a foot-hold to move forward from,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Commander Jarrod Mohr, operations officer. “In that aspect, we defiantly have made a huge impact. What we are building is not only for coalition forces, they are for the ANA and the ANP.”

“What we do, no other branch of service does. We pour concrete, we build structures, we do steel work, we do plumbing, and we do electrical,” said U.S. Navy Master Chief Ralph Hancock, operations chief. “We can do utility systems for an entire city; we can do everything from rough structures to fine details.”

“We build, we fight” is the SeaBees slogan, and every day they perform construction and repair across the country keeping true to those words. As they work, they build toward stabilizing Afghanistan, and when they can’t do their work they fight to build.

• Date Taken: 10.28.2010
• Date Posted: 10.31.2010 09:23
• Story ID: 59170
• Location: AF