Seabees make their return to Camp Fuji, Japan

FUJI, JAPAN

06.22.2015

Courtesy Story

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5

By: Construction Electrician Second Class (SCW) Caitlin N. Scott, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 Public Affairs

FUJI, Japan - After almost 10 years, the Seabees are back to construct projects at Combined Arms Training Center (CATC), Camp Fuji, Japan.

U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5, which is currently deployed across the U.S. Pacific Command area of operations and headquartered in Okinawa, sent a detachment of Seabees to CATC Camp Fuji to re-establish “Det. Fuji” as a detachment site for both current and future operations.

The Seabees arrived at CATC Camp Fuji May 29 and instantly began work.

Immediate re-establishment activities included moving into offices, shops, berthing, and work spaces. Then inventorying tools and equipment, and meeting key points of contact within the camp staff.

Det. Fuji’s main project is an ammunition supply point (ASP) vehicle staging area that has been in the planning stages for over ten years.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to be the crew-leader for this project knowing that I am leading the crew for the first project in a long time,” said Equipment Operator 3rd Class Michael King. “It is exciting to do a lot of earthwork. As operators, we hardly do earthwork on this scale nowadays.”

The project began June 4 and is projected to be completed in late November.

“The ASP vehicle staging area is a key part in enhancing the training for the Marine Corps, Navy, Army and Air Force,” said Col. James “Jim” Fullwood, the CATC commanding officer. “The ASP stores and issues all of the ammunition that will be used during different training operations; the vehicle staging area will create a more efficient means of issuing out ammunition and staging it for multiple units at a time.”

Armed with many different talents and skills, the focus of the Seabees of Det. Fuji will be on the vehicle staging area, but with their skills and the Seabees’ infamous “can do” attitude, they are also completing a number of small yet essential projects around the camp.

With many other projects in the works, follow-on Seabee detachments will have plenty of work to stay busy.

NMCB 5 is homeported in Port Hueneme, California, and is currently deployed to Okinawa, Japan, supporting Navy and joint forces throughout the U.S. Pacific Command with construction projects and humanitarian missions in more than 14 different geographical locations.

• Date Taken: 06.22.2015
• Date Posted: 07.06.2015 01:56
• Story ID: 169113
• Location: FUJI, JP