Story by BU3 Class Alexa Trafton, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1
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Ensign Michael Georges, from Chatham, New Jersey, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1, updates a supply status board during Command Post Exercise (CPX) 1 on board Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Mississippi on November 8, 2017. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexa Trafton)
Seabees completed a three-day Command Post Exercise (CPX) focusing on command and control, for real-world scenarios in a field environment on board Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Mississippi on November 8, 2017.
Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 participated in different scenarios to demonstrate the command s effective and accurate communication between a Combat Operation Center (COC), Entry Control Point and Command Posts.
Watch standers learned the importance of communications and timely decision making processes within a high-tempo field environment. Ensign Michael Georges, a supply watch stander, practiced maintaining accountability of the command s supplies to include fuel, water, food and ammunition.
I ve learned that communication in this type of environment is extremely important, said Georges, from Chatham, New Jersey. Learning the right questions to ask, in order to pass the correct information is vital in these situations, where you re accountable for your supplies. Each day, the correct numbers are important for sustainment of the battalion.
Warfighting decisions are made in the COC based on information received from all of the outlying Detachment sites, the Entry Control Point, and Command Posts. By honing communication skills, the Seabees ensure the clear and concise flow of critical information between command elements, allowing the chain of command to analyze the information and react to situations effectively.
It is different, said Yeoman 1st Class Brandy Pflepsen, from Belle Chasse, Louisiana. This is my first operational tour, and it s teaching me quite a bit. We have so many things to look at and be accountable for. We need the correct information being passed in order to be successful in such a high-tempo field operation, where things can change for us at any minute.
CPX is part of the training cycle leading to the battalion's final graded Field Training Exercise (FTX), which certifies the battalion for deployment.
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From the left, Yeoman 1st Class Brandy Pflepsen, from Belle Chasse, Louisiana, and Yeoman 1st Class Timothy Messler, from Clermont, Florida, brief the status of the administration board during the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 Command Post Exercise on board Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, Mississippi on November 8, 2017. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alexa Trafton)