On behalf of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Rear Adm. Chris Mossey, Commander and Chief of Civil Engineers, recognized Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 with the 2011 Rear Admiral Eugene J. Peltier Award and NMCB 26 with the Rear Admiral John R. Perry Award. Units selected for these prestigious awards are recognized leaders in the naval construction force in safety, overall performance, readiness, construction accomplishments, equipment management, logistics programs, retention and training.
Seabees assigned to NMCB 40 work with Afghani contractors to place concrete for helicopter landing pads at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Khilaguy, Afghanistan. Photo by MCC Michael B. Watkins
NMCB 40 is the recipient of the Peltier Award for the most outstanding active component dur ing the previous fiscal year. Deploying personnel across 12 details, two operational commands and three countries, the battalion completed 136 projects and more than 60,000 man-days of construction tasking, security operations and readiness training in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. NMCB 40 flawlessly executed every mission with safety, quality and accountability despite the logistical and equipment challenges associated with an austere operating environ ment. Outstanding preparation and leadership was apparent in the battalion s exemplary perfor mance, establishing and expanding numerous forward operating bases throughout north, south, southwest and eastern Afghanistan in support of U.S. Forces Afghanistan. NMCB 40 s emphasis on personnel programs and small unit leadership throughout its homeport demonstrated the bat talion s continuing pursuit of excellence.
The Peltier Award is named for Rear Adm. Eugene J. Peltier, former Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and Chief of Civil Engineers.
EO2 Steve Johnson, NMCB 26, clears out bricks from a collapsed wall at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Camp Nathan Smith, Kandahar City, Afghanistan. Photo by MC1(SCW) Kenny Ragland
The recipient of the Perry Award for the most outstanding reserve component during the previ ous fiscal year is
NMCB 26. These men and women demonstrated superior leadership and technical skill while mobilized in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, providing contingency construction and combat service support throughout Afghanistan. NMCB 26 completed more than 19,000 man-days of construction support across 64 locations, and brilliantly maintained twice the normal compliment of civil engineer equipment. These accomplishments were in spite of a change in mission from a southern command detachment to a full battalion CENTCOM de ployment. NMCB 26 s efforts demonstrated unparalleled competence throughout the execution of more than 80 projects valued in excess of $34 million.
The Perry Award is named for the legendary and distinguished Civil Engineer Corps/ Seabee leader, Rear Adm. John R. Perry.