Story by CEC Lace Johnson, Naval Construction Training Center Gulfport
GULFPORT, Miss. Seabees attending Construction Electrician (CE) Core C School Pipeline training at Naval Construction Training Center (NCTC) Gulfport advanced their skills with wooden power pole utility work during a three-week training segment that concluded June 5.
The Power Distribution Systems and Line Vehicles (PDS/LV) course within the pipeline familiarized the twelve active-duty students with pole climbing competency and confidence to prepare them for climbing qualifications. The students gained confidence with using safety gear, climbing gaffs, and climbing belts as well as experience with climbing to heights of nine, 18, 27, and 36 feet while also circling the utility pole 360 degrees in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
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Seabees attending Construction Electrician Core C School Pipeline training at Naval Construction Training Center Gulfport advance their skills with wooden power pole utility work during a three-week Power Distribution Systems and Line Vehicles course, May 20. (Photo by CEC Lace Johnson)
Once students are proficient, they must obtain their climbing requalification before they can move on to the pole top rescue qualification. Seabees who do this kind of work must be able to work at heights and for long periods.
During the PDS/LV phase of training, students face both a physical and mental challenge, said Construction Electrician 1st Class Justin Urban, NCTC Gulfport CE instructor. It is high risk and imperative that the instructors are extremely knowledgeable and that the students attending are ready to train.
PDS/LV training also includes operating bucket and auger trucks, overhead and underground power distribution installations, and street lighting.
The other courses within the C school curriculum includes training in electrical theory, motors and controls, advance base power plant maintenance, and interior wiring.
Class 19020 graduates July 25 and will return to their duty stations with electrical skillsets that prepare them for deployments, disaster relief, and projects with specific construction requirements.
NCTC Gulfport is one of five learning sites under the Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering domain. NCTC Gulfport is an Inter-service Training Review Organization partner and hosts Builder A School for Navy, Air Force, and Army accession students and stand-alone training for the steelworker rating s A school. The command provides advanced courses for all Seabee ratings and various other courses supporting special construction skill requirements.
For more information about NCTC Gulfport, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/csfe/gulfport/ or follow NCTC Gulfport on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nctcgp/