TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 saved the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center’s (MCAGCC) Exercise Logistics Coordination Center (ELCC) $1.4 million in government funds, while also increasing the battalion’s construction capabilities.
From July 13 – Aug. 24, 43 NMCB 3 Seabees split into two groups to construct three concrete block retaining walls that will prevent washout damage during flash floods common to the region, and a new 17-ton steel command and control training center for the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command.
The overall cost of the project totaled $110K – a fraction of the outside contracting fees estimated at roughly $1.5 million.
“I was pretty amazed at how high the morale was,” said Builder 1st Class Greg Hueramo, the team’s safety supervisor. “We had a lot of junior troops with no concrete experience, and I could see that ‘Can Do’ attitude coming out; getting the job done safely no matter what the conditions. We had zero heat-related mishaps or heat-related medical emergencies. Our troops got used to working at 115 degree heat, staying safe in that environment and getting the job done.”
The Naval Construction Force is a vital component of the U.S. Maritime Strategy. The force provides deployable battalions capable of providing disaster preparation and recovery support, humanitarian assistance and combat operations support.
NMCB 3 provides combatant commanders and Navy component commanders with combat-ready warfighters capable of general engineering, construction and limited combat engineering across the full range of military operations.