Courtesy Story, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
CHEATHAM ANNEX, Va. Seabees from Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202 demonstrated their Can Do capabilities during a combined Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) and Field Training Exercise aboard Cheatham Annex Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Virginia, March 11-21.
The exercise consisted of the construction of an EMF core module and also included projects focused on contingency construction and entry control point security.
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Seabees from Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202 erect Air-Beam tents designed to house the expeditionary medical facility during a field training exercise at Cheatham Annex Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, March 19, 2019. (Photo by EA2 Travis Kovalak)
The primary mission of an EMF is to provide standardized, modular medical support facilities on advanced bases in support of combat operations. The EMF is also capable of providing health service support for use in disaster relief or humanitarian care during peacetime operations.
Our crews started gearing up with focused training on command post operations, entry control point operations, contingency project planning, camp construction, and power distribution, said Ensign Andrew Brandmeier, Detail Officer-in-Charge for CBMU 202. We also trained on communications, weapons, and medical aid to fully prepare for mission success.
One of the added benefits of conducting the training at Cheatham Annex was the ability to train alongside Navy Expeditionary Medical Support Command (NEMSCOM), who is responsible for the design, procurement, and initial deployment of an EMF system. The NEMSCOM Expeditionary Medical Facility Assist Team and CBMU-202 collaborated to jointly validate the most current EMF equipment and technology that would be implemented in deployed operations.
One of the newest elements in EMF design is an AirBeam shelter, which supports command and control operations, base camp operations, aircraft and vehicle maintenance, medical/chemical/biological, and decontamination, and other industrial applications.
Having been familiar with Base-X tents within the Naval Construction Force for several years now, it was exciting to lead a crew responsible for erecting the newest tents in our inventory, said Builder 3rd Class Autumn Williams. The AirBeam tent rolls out and inflates, which is very time efficient in getting the EMF running as quickly as possible.
To ensure the training was as realistic as possible, a number of service members from various local commands acted as role players to simulate scenarios designed to test the security of the base throughout the exercise. Lt. Cmdr. Micah Kiletico, commanding officer, CBMU-202 could not have been more pleased with the outcome of this training.
My top priority in planning this field exercise was the maximum integration of all parties required to employ an EMF in a real world scenario, said Kiletico. It could not have been made possible without the mutual support and teamwork of multiple commands, subject matter experts, and most importantly, my crew of hard working Can-Do Seabees.
CBMU-202 provides contingency public works support for advanced bases and expeditionary medical facilities, expeditionary support for Naval Construction Force higher headquarters, line haul and equipment maintenance, general engineering, construction support, and humanitarian assistance and disaster recovery to Navy regional commanders.
The motivation and dedication that our Seabees put forth throughout these events led to a successful evolution, added Brandmeier. It proved our readiness in supporting EMF operations around the world.