Seabees Conduct Mount-Out and Communications Exercises

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11
Courtesy Story

Date: 05.25.2018
Posted: 05.31.2018 06:11
News ID: 278943

The MOX assessed Det. Guam’s ability to mobilize and deploy the Air Detachment’s personnel and equipment within 48 hours. All hands participated in the coordination, movement, and loading of 27 pieces of Civil Engineer Support Equipment (CESE) such as backhoes, dump trucks, and vibratory rollers. The CESE was sent through different stations to be thoroughly inspected, repaired, washed, and measured in order to be transported by aircraft such as the C-5 or C-17. In addition to these items, eight pallets were constructed. These pallets consisted of items such as tents, weapons, and other collateral equipment. The process of preparing the CESE and pallets was tracked by the Mount-Out Control Center (MOCC). After a challenging 48 hours of nonstop preparation, the exercise concluded with a convoy to Andersen Airforce base to simulate a real world scenario.
The COMMEX assessed Det. Guam’s ability to conduct command and control operations through the use of their communications assets. Throughout the week, they tested different means of communicating with higher and adjacent units. One of these means included the use of the Ruggedized Deployable Satellite Communications Terminal (RDSAT). This was used to bring the Tactical Data Network (TDN) online. The TDN provides the capability to access broadband internet, email, phone calls, and video calls on both unclassified and classified networks in a field environment. High frequency (HF) radios and antennas were also used to communicate with NMCB 5 in Okinawa, Japan.
The MOX and COMMEX were combined in order to demonstrate NMCB 11’s ability to operate in a tactical environment. The functions of the MOCC required the capability to receive and disseminate information from all stations in real time. This provided the perfect platform to complement command and control operations with capable hardware. All stations during the MOX were given handheld radios and communicated with the MOCC accordingly. Not utilizing radios would have required the use of either foot messengers or cell phones, both inefficient methods for this evolution. The final convoy to Andersen Air Force base utilizing HF radios served as a proof of concept evolution that proved Seabees are indeed capable of command and control operations in a contingency environment.
NMCB-11 is a Seabee battalion specializing in contingency construction, disaster response, and humanitarian assistance. The battalion’s homeport is in Gulfport, Miss.