NMCB 3 Begins Site Improvement for FOB Delaram 2

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

02.26.2011

Story by Chief Petty Officer Jesse Sherwin III 

U.S. Navy           

By Seaman Stacy Williams

NIMRUZ PROVINCE, Afghanistan- Twenty-six Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Three 3 redeployed from Camp Leatherneck to Forward Operating Base Delaram II in February to provide Marine Corps units with construction and engineering support.

NMCB 3 has been in Afghanistan since November, but NMCB 18 was manning the detachment at Delaram II until February. With NMCB 18 leaving the theater, and the overall number of Battalions in Afghanistan reducing from four to two, NMCB 3 has been re-aligning itself to maintain the same level of support for the coalition forces throughout Afghanistan. Although NMCB 3 has only been at Delaram II for a few weeks, they have already made significant improvements to the compound.

Almost immediately, the construction mechanics and equipment operators rearranged the equipment yard, created an equipment dispatch office, and set up the mechanic shop.

“I noticed that we could be much more efficient with just a few organizational changes,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Nicholas Vicars, construction mechanic and the detachment’s lead mechanic. “Also, with the upcoming rain, adding gravel and doing some site work will pay dividends for all the vehicles that travel through our compound.”

At the same time, the camp maintenance team, consisting of utilitiesmen and construction electricians worked on quality of life improvements for the camp. They created an office space for meetings and training by removing walls from individual offices, creating a collective working area. The team also built a gym and an morale, welfare and recreation area for the detachment to spend their off-duty hours.

While some of the team made improvements to the Seabee Camp, the rest of the detachment immediately began construction on a Southwest American hut for Regimental Combat Team 8. This building will be a 32 foot by 120 foot office for RCT-8’s Safety, Civil Affairs, Public Affairs, Combat Camera, Scan Eagle, Embedded Training Team and Female Engagement Team.

After a few days of heavy winds and rain, the Seabees were finally able to pour concrete and make further strides on their progress. For many of the junior personnel, this was their first chance to work on a large concrete placement.

“I’m happy with the work ethic that this crew has displayed,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Stephen Boyce, a builder and project supervisor. “With their eagerness to learn and work, you can’t even tell they haven’t done this before.”

Although just starting, the team is confident that this large building will be a challenging but successful project.

“This is my second SWA hut for an RCT this deployment,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Aloysius Figirmow, a builder and the detachment’s project crew leader. “I am excited about all the progress we have made thus far and how smoothly it has all gone. I have an amazing crew of thirteen seabees who are motivated to help the Marines in their mission, which makes my job easy.”

The Detachment is scheduled to complete this SWA hut and build two additional SWA huts to provide for Medical, Dental and Operations spaces. All of this is scheduled to be done before the end of NMCB 3’s deployment this summer.

“This may be just the beginning for this detachment, but the impact they are making to support the mission is already great in size,” said Chief Petty Officer Mark Pembleton, a steelworker and the detachment assistant officer in charge.

NMCB 3 is an expeditionary element of US Naval Forces providing construction, engineering and security services in support of national strategy, naval power projection, humanitarian assistance and contingency operations.

For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, visit www.navy.mil/local/nmcb3/.

• Date Taken: 02.26.2011
• Date Posted: 03.03.2011 09:53
• Story ID: 66398
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF