NMCB 3 Seabees work alongside MWSS 171 to create the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle training course onboard MCAS Iwakuni.

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class hunter higgins | 220324-N-KT522-1009 IWAKUNI, Japan (March 24, 2022) Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 personnel work concurrently to create the JLTV Operation Course, a challenging driving course to sharpen the skills of Marines. NMCB-3 is deployed across the Indo-Pacific region conducting high-quality construction for the 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 operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Engineering Aid 2nd Class Hunter Higgins)  

IWAKUNI, JAPAN

04.26.2022

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class hunter higgins 

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3

IWAKUNI, Japan – From March 20 to March 26, three U.S. Navy Seabees, from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3’s Detail Iwakuni, joined 50 Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 to build a training course for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) drivers.

This evolution served two purposes: to provide heavy equipment operators with more training, “stick” time and to build a challenging driving course for JLTV drivers to hone their skills. Using a variety of bulldozers and excavators, Seabees and Marines created ditches, fighting positions, and berms to test the JLTVs to their limits.

Arriving to the site on March 20, the first step was to prepare the equipment for earthmoving, starting with the Caterpillar D6T Dozer. Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Alexandria Trail, assigned to NMCB-3, sprang into action and led Marines to quickly assemble the dozer blade and allow for maximum “stick” time. Trail thrived in the field environment and readily shared her technical knowledge with the Marines. Her most enjoyable part of the exercise was the opportunity to operate some of the other pieces onsite: the Caterpillar D6K Dozer and the John Deere 210G Excavator. She said, “Most of the time I’m in the shop fixing the equipment. It was a nice change to be able to have fun moving dirt. I’m still proud of my full bucket of dirt!”

Another Seabee from NMCB-3, Equipment Operator Constructionman David Rheaume, said, “My favorite part of the exercise was being able to work side by side with Marines.” This was his first opportunity to work with Marines, and he was eager to learn how they conduct business. He added, “The most difficult part was building the chemistry, but that only took a few hours.” In the span of just a few days, Seabees and Marines came to understand how their branches operate and produced a realistic training course for JLTV drivers.

Joint engineering exercises such as this are crucial to building comradery and exchanging ideas between the branches. NMCB-3 is deployed across the Indo-Pacific region conducting high-quality construction for the 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 operations.

• Date Taken: 04.26.2022
• Date Posted: 04.29.2022 09:12
• Story ID: 419273
• Location: IWAKUNI, JP