By MC1 Chris Fahey, NMCB 3
Seabees from NMCB 3 construct scaffolding structures at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu, Calif., Oct. 8. Photo by MC1 Chris Fahey
A crew of seven Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 surged past the halfway mark, Oct. 9, during construction of a new 2,160-square-foot management facility at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), Calif., Pt. Mugu s small-arms range.
The $487k project started at the end of July with Seabees tearing down the old structure to begin construction on the new facility that will allow range managers and visiting commands a quality place to provide instruction and evaluate troops.
In addition to providing NBVC with a new facility, the project allows NMCB 3 s construction veterans the opportunity to provide training to junior Seabees fresh from their primary construction schools still craving new skills.
My guys are always hungry for work and come to the project each day ready to hit it, said Project Supervisor Builder 1st Class Brandon Hoekstra, NMCB 3. We hit roadblocks at every project and the training we are able to provide as a result is solid.
Construction projects completed during homeport allow NMCB 3 to learn, practice and perfect skills required for conducting the command s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission when operating forward.
My Seabees are building skillsets that will set them up for a real positive deployment, said Hoekstra.
The Naval Construction Force (NCF) is a vital component of the U.S. Maritime Strategy. NCF provides deployable battalions capable of providing disaster preparation and recovery support, humanitarian assistance and combat operations support.