NMCB-3 Kicks Off USMC G/ATOR Facility Project

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Lopez | 200911-N-TP832-1086 OKINAWA, Japan (Sept. 11, 2020) Equipment Operator 2nd Class Carlos Barretocolon, assigned to U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3, operates an excavator with a pneumatic hammer attachment for the construction of a Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar system housing project on board Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan. NMCB-3 is deployed across the Indo-Pacific region conducting high-quality construction to support U.S. and partner nations to strengthen partnerships, deter aggression, and enable expeditionary logistics and naval power projection. The battalion stands ready to complete assigned tasking, support Humanitarian Aid/Disaster Relief and Major Combat Operations throughout the area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Lopez/Released)  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

09.10.2020

Courtesy Story

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3

By Builder Constructionman Ariel Dirks
U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 Public Affairs

OKINAWA, Japan (NNS) - Seabees assigned to U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 kicked off a Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) system housing project on board Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan in support of the U.S. Marine Corps’ 9th Engineering Support Battalion and 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Sept. 10.

NMCB-3 will be the first battalion to work on the multi-year project. Upon completion, the construction will protect a capability that significantly increase the Marines’ lethality in deterring aggressors in the region and further increase the Seabees’ ability to operate with the U.S. Marine Corps.

The G/ATOR system is a three-dimensional, expeditionary, medium range multirole radar capable of detecting low observable targets such as rockets, artillery, cruise missiles, as well as manned and unmanned aircraft aerial systems. The facility will allow for the system to be kept indoors and out of the elements in order to be properly stored, secured, and maintained.

“Marines have long been the Seabees’ number one customer,” said Steelworker 2nd Class Austin Edwards, the project’s crew leader. “Therefore, we are honored to have this chance to further build interoperability between Seabees and the 12th Marine Regiment at Camp Hansen. This project has been long awaited for the base and we are now ready to hit the ground running.”

The project was subject to delays during the battalion’s deployment, which began in July. Nevertheless, the Seabees kicked off the project with engineering aides completing a building layout, which allowed the crew to break ground. The Seabees began excavation work that will last the remainder of the month and will lead into preparing the site’s soil for placing the facility’s foundation.

“The months filled with long days of project planning are coming to a close and as the project starts, we will definitely be challenged in new ways,” said Builder 3rd Class Brandon Davis, the project’s lead builder. “I am excited to get hands on at the job site and watch it all come together.”

Camp Hansen is part of Marine Corps Base Camp Butler and is the second-northernmost installation on Okinawa. Construction of the camp was completed in 1965 after more than two years of construction by NMCBs 3, 9, and 11.

NMCB-3 is deployed across the Indo-Pacific region conducting high-quality construction to support U.S. and partner nations to strengthen partnerships, deter aggression, and enable expeditionary logistics and naval power projection. The battalion stands ready to complete assigned tasking, support Humanitarian Aid/Disaster Relief and Major Combat Operations response throughout the area of responsibility.

• Date Taken: 09.10.2020
• Date Posted: 09.22.2020 00:52
• Story ID: 378324
• Location: OKINAWA, JP