An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Seabees Help Build ?Search City? Dog Training Facility

May 13, 2015 | By Seabee Magazine
By 1st NCR Public Affairs
9289
SANTA PAULA, Calif. (May 4th, 2015)- (From left) Builder 2nd Class Ryan Austin, Builder 2nd Class Cameron Blevins, Lt. Kyrolos Elgiheny, Equipment Operator 1st Class Michael McConnell, Builder 3rd Class D’Angelo Bryant, Equipment Operator 1st Class Kelley Curvin, Builder 2nd Class Al Perry, Construction Mechanic 1st Class David Eckhardt, Builder 1st Class James Stilwell, Steel Worker 2nd Class Elisa Biladeau, Equipment Operator 3rd Class Clifford Brooke, and Builder 3rd Class Sean McGough stand in front of a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement during the first day of construction of the National Training Center at the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Justin Perry/Released)
9289
SANTA PAULA, Calif. (May 4th, 2015)- (From left) Builder 2nd Class Ryan Austin, Builder 2nd Class Cameron Blevins, Lt. Kyrolos Elgiheny, Equipment Operator 1st Class Michael McConnell, Builder 3rd Class D’Angelo Bryant, Equipment Operator 1st Class Kelley Curvin, Builder 2nd Class Al Perry, Construction Mechanic 1st Class David Eckhardt, Builder 1st Class James Stilwell, Steel Worker 2nd Class Elisa Biladeau, Equipment Operator 3rd Class Clifford Brooke, and Builder 3rd Class Sean McGough stand in front of a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement during the first day of construction of the National Training Center at the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Justin Perry/Released)
Photo By: Lt. Justin Perry
VIRIN: 150513-N-ZZ182-9289
Seabees from various commands stand in front of a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement during the first day of construction of the National Training Center at the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, Santa Paula, Calif., May 4. (From left) BU2 Ryan Austin, BU2 Cameron Blevins, Lt. Kyrolos Elgiheny, EO1 Michael McConnell, BU3 D Angelo Bryant, EO1 Kelley Curvin, BU2 Al Perry, CM1 David Eckhardt, BU1 James Stilwell, SW2 Elisa Biladeau, EO3 Clifford Brooke and BU3 Sean McGough.Photo by Lt. Justin Perry Seabees from a variety of commands got a jump on building the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation s (SDF s) National Training Center (NTC), Santa Paula, Calif., May 4. Supported by Naval Construction Group (NCG) 1, 1st Naval Construction Regiment (NCR) and Naval Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCBs) 4, 18 and 22, active duty and reserve Seabees are working together to help build Search City. This is a first-of-its-kind facility at the NTC designed to replicate a disaster-stricken city neighborhood where search dogs and their handlers train on locating victims. The construction project falls under the banner of the Department of Defense s Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program, which enables the military and its service members to train for real-world missions while aiding the public and leaving a lasting impression on the community. "This IRT program signifies how a partnership between the government and private sector can be a win-win for both entities, said Lt. Justin Perry, the project s manager from NMCB 22. We are here to leave lasting impressions by building, and the great thing about this training is that it fosters a skill set and teamwork it teaches troops construction skills so that they always have something to fall back on. Search City is a continuation project from last year s IRT program. Along with the simulated disaster zone, some of the additional work to be completed on this year s mission includes the following: construction of a convenience store, observation decks/viewing areas and trails; 10,000 cubic yards of earth work; and building curbs for drainage. Completion of the work is scheduled for late August. The military coming to the National Training Center to help build the props needed to train search teams and, at the same time, getting the training (the Seabees) need to respond to disasters is the perfect partnership," said Debra Tosch, executive director at SDF. SDF was founded in 1996 with the mission of strengthening disaster response in America by recruiting rescued dogs, and then partnering them with firefighters and other first responders to find victims buried alive in wreckage and debris. The foundation has been on more than 100 deployments around the world and has assisted with many high-profile search operations, including rescue efforts following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the aftermath of Japan s deadly tsunami in 2011, and, most recently, the devastating earthquake in Nepal.
9290
SANTA PAULA, Calif. (May 5, 2015) Seabees use heavy equipment at the future site of a convenience store during the early construction phase of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation’s National Training Center. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Justin Perry/Released)
9290
SANTA PAULA, Calif. (May 5, 2015) Seabees use heavy equipment at the future site of a convenience store during the early construction phase of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation’s National Training Center. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Justin Perry/Released)
Photo By: Lt. Justin Perry
VIRIN: 150513-N-ZZ182-9290
Seabees use heavy equipment at the future site of a convenience store during the early construction phase of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation s National Training Center, Santa Paula, Calif., May 5.Photo by Lt. Justin Perry

Feb. 20, 2024

This Week in Seabee History: February 19-25

Consolidated by U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, Naval History and Heritage CommandFebruary 191943: 120th

Feb. 20, 2024

This Week in Seabee History: February 12-18

Consolidated by U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, Naval History and Heritage CommandFebruary 121951: Naval

Feb. 8, 2024

This Week in Seabee History: February 5-11

Consolidated by U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, Naval History and Heritage CommandFebruary 61943: 85th

Feb. 8, 2024

This Week in Seabee History: January 29 - February 4

Consolidated by U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, Naval History and Heritage CommandJanuary 291944: 146th

Feb. 8, 2024

his Week in Seabee History: January 22-28

Consolidated by U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, Naval History and Heritage CommandJanuary 221943: 76th

Feb. 8, 2024

his Week in Seabee History: January 15-21

January 151943: 4th Naval Construction Regiment (NCR) commissioned.1944: 21st and 22nd NCRs

Feb. 8, 2024

This Week in Seabee History: January 8-14

Consolidated by U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, Naval History and Heritage CommandJanuary 81943: 64th Naval

Feb. 8, 2024

This Week in Seabee History January 1-7

Consolidated by U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, Naval History and Heritage CommandJanuary 11946: The

Feb. 8, 2024

This Week in Seabee History December 25-31

Consolidated by U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, Naval History and Heritage CommandDecember 25December

Dec. 21, 2023

This Week in Seabee History-December 18 - 24

Consolidated by U.S. Navy Seabee Museum, Naval History and Heritage CommandDecember 181942: 49th