Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jarrod Schwartz | Commander Steven Fuentes relieved Captain Harvey H. Lusk, Jr. as the commanding...... read more read more
Commander Steven Fuentes relieved Captain Harvey H. Lusk, Jr. as the commanding officer of NMCB 27 during a ceremony on base March 8.
Capt. Lusk opened with, “First, may all the glory and honor be given to God the Almighty. Without him, none of this would be possible. I’ve been very blessed thus far in my Navy career and include this time with NMCB 27 as my favorite.”
Rear Admiral David H. Duttlinger, deputy commander, Naval Construction Forces, Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) was the guest speaker for the ceremony. He thanked Lusk for his contributions and welcomed Fuentes to a distinguished command, charging him with the leadership of a battalion with more than 500 personnel.
Duttlinger said, “Being present is such a vital part of leadership, Capt. Lusk prioritized direct interaction speaking with the troops individually or as a group and (that) was how he built resiliency and comradery. It’s how you tell the troops ‘you matter to me’. Along the way he did a very important thing—he listened.”
Outlining the challenges NMCB 27 overcame under his command, Lusk said, “During a time in the world’s history, we came out of a worldwide pandemic, still required to follow health protocols, but grit was in play.”
NMCB 27 was the first unit to shift from the existing process to mobilize reservists at then Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center (ECRC) Norfolk, Virginia to a unit-led mobilization process in homeport in Gulfport, Mississippi. Coordination was key with ECRC, Naval Construction Group TWO, and Seventh Naval Construction Regiment (7th NCR) to successfully gain approximately 280 Seabees from the Reserve component and process them into active-duty status, proving that a Reserve battalion could locally execute personnel, pay, legal and medical functions in homeport.
During this time, over 4,800 man-days of training were performed including mission critical training and certification for airfield damage repair teams to be fully operational. NMCB 27 successfully mobilized two units of Seabees in sequential order for deployment to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) areas of operations with detachments spread over several countries.
During deployment, both mobilization groups performed over 4,000 hours of camp maintenance and more than 9,000 man-days of construction supporting the CENTCOM and AFRICOM missions. The project values totaled approximately $1.7 million for berthing and laundry facilities, water purification renovation, bunker hardening, and infrastructure renovations.
Fuentes said, “I pledge to be the commanding officer you deserve. This is your battalion, I am at your service. Without the support of family, friends, none of this would be possible.”
He said today was less about him and more about those that came before him. “Capt. Lusk, I’m sure NMCB 27 was one of the most rewarding and challenging evolutions of your career. It is clear how your dedication and sacrifice shaped the battalion in a positive way,” said Fuentes.
Fuentes proudly assumes command of a battalion responsible for achieving a yearly average of 25% advancement exam pass rate, having advanced 161 Sailors, including twenty Chief Petty Officers, three Senior Chief Petty Officers, and four Master Chief Petty Officers. In addition, a total of nine Sailors were advanced through the Meritorious Advancement Program.
NMCB 27 is a subordinate command to Naval Construction Group Two within the Naval Construction Force who provide military construction and advanced general engineering support in response to global contingencies and to set theater posture.
| Date Taken: | 03.03.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 04.11.2024 12:25 |
| Story ID: | 468336 |
| Location: | GULFPORT , MS, US |
| Hometown: | MIDLAND, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 164 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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