Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    NMCB 4 Seabees Acquire Skills Through New Training Program

    YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, JAPAN

    09.09.2016

    Courtesy Story

    Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4

    By Construction Electrician 3rd Class Christopher Evenson,
    Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 Det. Yokosuka

    Two Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 are participating in the Quality Assurance Control and Skills Transfer (QACST) program, a new training initiative provided through Naval Facilities Far East Public Works Department in Yokosuka, Japan.

    Builder 1st Class Christopher Jones and Equipment Operator 1st Class Samuel Jones are working alongside civilians and Navy engineers to learn valuable skills and new methods of administration for quality control, safety, and construction management at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) installations.

    The two Seabees started extensive training to become familiarized with the EM-385, the standardized contractor safety requirement publication, and were immersed in classes ranging from federal acquisitions to crane safety.

    “The diversity and amount of training we have received here has been amazing,” said Christopher Jones. “I am looking forward to passing on the information that I have received to others when I get back to homeport.”

    With their classes complete, they were assigned to active projects on Naval Base Yokosuka for hands-on training. Christopher Jones and Samuel Jones worked with engineers assigned to the Public Works Department Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Division (FEAD) to study their approach to quality assurance and safety on project sites.

    “Being exposed to how FEAD operates with their larger scale projects has been crucial,” said Samuel Jones. “Having the opportunity to work alongside and interact with the team from FEAD has opened my eyes to what the Naval Construction Force (NCF) could achieve in the future.”

    Public Works Department Yokosuka FEAD Director, Lt. Cmdr. Paul Weyant stated that being exposed to the management of large scale, multi-million dollar projects involving foreign contractors, strict timelines and varied business practices has given the Seabees the type of knowledge, experience, flexibility and creativity that the NCF seeks to instill in its emerging leaders.

    “Having NMCB 4 here working with FEAD is a great way for the NCF to expand their skill sets,” said Weyant. “It is a great way to have them working to their fullest potential and to broaden the horizon of the Seabees.”

    Future construction battalions will continue to utilize the QACST program, strengthening the NCF in its role as a vital asset in the Pacific region.

    NMCB 4 is the forward deployed Pacific NMCB ready to support Major Combat Operations and Humanitarian Assistance/ Disaster Relief operations and to provide general engineering and civil support to Navy, Marine Corps and joint operational forces. Homeported out of Port Hueneme, Calif., NMCB 4 has detail sites deployed throughout the United States and Pacific area of operations, including Cambodia, Diego Garcia, Guam, Japan, Philippines, Republic of Korea and Timor Leste.

    For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, visit www.public.navy.mil/necc/1ncd/Pages/NMCB4 or follow NMCB 4 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NMCB4

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.09.2016
    Date Posted: 09.15.2016 03:08
    Story ID: 209653
    Location: YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, JP

    Web Views: 169
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN