GULFPORT, Miss. – Naval Construction Battalion 14 completed fiscal year 2026 third-quarter annual training (AT-3) at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport and Camp Tiak in Wiggins, Mississippi, May 15, 2026. NCB-14 accomplished two objectives simultaneously during AT-3, utilizing the Department of War Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program while strengthening the local community by providing renovations at Camp Tiak Scouting reservation.
Since its inception in 1955, Camp Tiak, derived from a Choctaw word meaning “Tall Pines,” has grown into a premier Scouting destination, featuring 12 campsites, a 300-person dining hall, a health lodge, shooting sports range, and aquatics area.
“Camp Tiak has a long history and is really important to the community. Our mission is to prepare young people for life,” said Micah Huffman, Scout Executive CEO for the Pine Burr Area Council in South Mississippi. “If young people come here and participate in Scouting and our programs, they are going to return to the community as better citizens—citizens of character. They will live by the Scout Law by being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, and friendly, and they will positively impact the community.”
During the project, Seabees from NCB-14 renovated portions of the museum roof, repaired wooden siding on the dining hall, replaced a deteriorating ramp with a new staircase, and repaired sections of the aquatics swim docks.
“We have had a relationship with the Seabees for a long time,” Huffman said. “This project is important because it helps ensure Camp Tiak continues to thrive and grow while helping us move forward. We really appreciate the Seabees coming out, working hard, and we are glad it also provides valuable training opportunities for them. It has been both a great experience and a learning experience for everyone involved.”
The project not only strengthened the community, but also provided Seabees with valuable hands-on experience.
“I learned a lot during this operation just from getting out there and working every day,” said U.S. Navy Equipment Operator 3rd Class Matthew McLaurin, from Houston, Texas. “We worked on buildings, put up scaffolding, measured, drilled, and cut boards to the correct sizes. At first, some of it was new to me, but after doing it consistently and learning from more experienced Seabees, I became much more confident with the tools and the work. It really showed me how important teamwork and communication are on a job site, and I came away with far more experience than I had going in.”
In addition to providing high-quality construction support to the local community, Seabees spent two weeks at training sites aboard NCBC Gulfport sharpening critical expeditionary skills and enhancing technical proficiency. Training included welding, advanced wiring, heavy timber bunker construction, water treatment operations, vehicle licensing, masonry, roofing, and weapons familiarization.
“This is real-world training,” said Instructor Matthew Long, from the Seabee Training and Evaluation Unit. “We are teaching practical skills while building confidence and competence so Seabees can go out and perform these tasks on their own. Here, they are allowed to make mistakes in a controlled environment so we can correct and improve those skills. The more time they spend utilizing the schoolhouse and hands-on training, the stronger their skill sets become, allowing them to be effective assets to operational commanders in the field.”
NCB-14 provides advanced-base construction, battle damage repair, contingency engineering, humanitarian assistance, and disaster recovery support to fleet and unified commanders worldwide.