By CM3 Zachary Miller, NMCB 3 Public Affairs
EOCN Jordan Nedd (right) guides EOCN Chandler Penton, both assigned to NMCB 3, to clear debris and prepare the site for matting during a simulated airfield damage repair exercise, Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme, Calif., March 11. Photo by Lt. Don Pasteur
Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 s Airfield Damage Repair (ADR) team took part in a timed and graded training exercise at Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme, Calif., March 15. The exercise tested the battalion s readiness, skills and knowledge in locating, plotting, repairing and removing airfield damage and hazards safely and efficiently.
The ADR team was separated into smaller squads specialized to carry out specific tasks and were graded on their ability to accomplish each one. The teams went through different scenarios and executed a variety of tasks such as locating and plotting damage, filling craters, patching holes, clearing the runway of debris, and laying fiberglass or aluminum matting on the simulated airfield damage site.
According to Lt. Don Pasteur, officer in charge of NMCB 3 s ADR team, An airfield is potentially a target to enemy forces. A damaged runway can keep critical supplies and personnel from reaching their destinations, and aircraft from carrying out their missions which can decrease operational capabilities.
When an airfield is damaged to the point it impedes critical operations, the ADR team is tasked with hastily fixing the airfield to a usable condition until a permanent fix can be made under safer circumstances, Pasteur added. The training was very successful. We had a good plan and executed it well.
The Naval Construction Force (NCF) is a vital component of the U.S. Maritime Strategy. The NCF provides deployable battalions capable of providing disaster preparation and recovery support, humanitarian assistance and combat operations support.
Seabees assigned to NMCB 3 assemble matting to make a 9,216-square-foot helicopter pad during an airfield damage repair exercise, Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme, Calif., March 11. Photo by Lt. Don Pasteur