NMCB 5 Seabees Celebrated for Completion of Cambodia Construction Projects

Courtesy Photo | 150717-N-ZZ999-225 BATTAMBANG PROVINCE, Cambodia (July 17, 2015) Builder 2nd Class Fabian Flores, a Seabee assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5, cuts the ribbon commissioning a new bathroom facility completed by Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 in Battambang Province. NMCB 5’s Civic Construction Action Detail (CCAD) Cambodia and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces engineers recently completed construction at the health center. The CCAD's mission is to execute engineering civic assistance projects, conduct skills exchanges with the host nation, and perform community relations events to help enhance shared capabilities and maintain relationships. (U.S. Navy photo by Construction Electrician 2nd Class Gregory Campbell/Released)  

CAMBODIA

07.17.2015

Courtesy Story

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5

By Construction Electrician 2nd Class Gregory D. Campbell, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, CCAD Cambodia Public Affairs

BATTAMBANG PROVINCE, Cambodia – Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5’s Civic Construction Action Detail (CCAD) Cambodia attended two ribbon cutting ceremonies on July 17 to commemorate the completion of two construction projects.

The new facilities were constructed at local health centers by the Seabees and members of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) over the last two months. Members of the local community along with local dignitaries and Lt. Gen. Pen Ra from the RCAF were present for the ribbon cuttings to commemorate both facilities.

During the ceremonies several speeches were given to recognize the Seabees and their RCAF partners for their hard work and dedication. Also, Pen Ra presented each Seabee and RCAF member with a scarf as a token of thanks and appreciation for their hard work on both projects.

These two projects mark the fourth and fifth projects completed by the detail during its deployment to Cambodia which began in February.

“It’s a great sense of accomplishment to be finished,” said Builder 3rd Class Eric Fredericks. “Having watched these buildings from the ground up has been awesome and having helped the local people at the same time has made a big impact on me.”

The new facilities built by the Seabees and RCAF included three bathroom stalls and an additional room for use at the health centers discretion. Each building includes a rainwater catchment system and one was tied into an existing well for water supply during the dry season. The buildings have immediately improved health and sanitation conditions at both health centers and were greatly appreciated by the staffs and local community.

Having completed all tasked projects the Seabees will finish out their deployment conducting repair work at existing Seabee projects dating back to 2008.

Chief Builder Logan Ash, assistant officer in charge, reflected back on the last five months saying,

“It has been a privilege to oversee projects with such direct positive impact to communities, while at the same time watching my Seabees and their RCAF counterparts work side by side and exchange so much knowledge in the process.”

The CCAD's mission is to execute engineering civic assistance projects, conduct skills exchanges with the host nation, and perform community relations events to help enhance shared capabilities and maintain relationships.

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 13 different geographical locations.

• Date Taken: 07.17.2015
• Date Posted: 08.03.2015 04:13
• Story ID: 171904
• Location: KH