By Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Brittney Ebbert, NMCB 11 CSE
GULFPORT, Miss. -- Recently Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11, pushed out from Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport to conduct Convoy Security Element (CSE) training. The training, a prerequisite for the unit’s readiness and deployment, reinforced CSE’s combat mindset and tactical proficiency.
A team of 44 Seabees trained for 22 days at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, Miss. The training covered a wide range of scenarios and was designed to test the team’s response under various levels of stress. Tactical movements through urban environments, breaching of buildings, locating IED indicators name a few. The CSE team also had the opportunity to sharpen their skills in tactical marksmanship and sending reports.
"This is actually very strenuous training," said LCDR Sowell, Operations Officer of NMCB 11. "The most rigorous in their pipeline."
Care for VIPs is a real scenario encountered by the CSE team. This was covered in the training’s pipeline. Their safety is crucial and communication both internal and external becomes difficult at elevated levels of stress. Understanding that reality the instructors worked hard to replicate likely scenarios the team would experience during their operations.
"We have been given an incredible skillset, and have certainly come a long way. This training helped us evolve as a team," said LTJG Scaplehorn, OIC.
Litter teams were heavily involved in the training evolution. While “self-aid” and “buddy-aid,” are the initial response in a combat situation, the litter teams are the field ambulatory responders. "There was a ton of great training in regards to aid and litter teams," said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Grant.
Communication is very important to in the effective execution of any mission, CSE operations is no different. "I have realized the importance of communications throughout the team and especially during convoy operations, probably the best OJT I could have received coming into battalion," added ITSN Dumag.
Throughout the various stages of training that idea was constantly reinforced and eventually led to the team’s successful completion of the course.
NMCB-11 is a Seabee battalion specializing in contingency construction, disaster response, and humanitarian assistance. The battalion's homeport is in Gulfport, Miss.
The Naval Construction Force is a vital component of the U.S. Maritime Strategy. They offer deployable battalions capable of providing contingency construction, disaster preparation and recovery support, humanitarian assistance, and combat operations support.