NMCB 3 saves 29 Palms $1.4 Million, increases battalion construction capabilities

Courtesy Photo | Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 place the final touches on a concrete-block retaining wall’s footer at the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, July 23. Forty-three Seabees saved the Marine Corps base $1.4 million in estimated contracting fees by building three concrete-block retaining walls and a 17-ton steel command and control training center. The Naval Construction Force is a vital component of the U.S. maritime strategy. The force provides deployable battalions capable of providing disaster preparation and recovery support, humanitarian assistance and combat operations support. (U.S. Navy photo by Builder 3rd Class Micaela Tennant/RELEASED)  

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

08.26.2014

Courtesy Story

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 saved the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center’s (MCAGCC) Exercise Logistics Coordination Center (ELCC) $1.4 million in government funds, while also increasing the battalion’s construction capabilities.

From July 13 – Aug. 24, 43 NMCB 3 Seabees split into two groups to construct three concrete block retaining walls that will prevent washout damage during flash floods common to the region, and a new 17-ton steel command and control training center for the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command.

The overall cost of the project totaled $110K – a fraction of the outside contracting fees estimated at roughly $1.5 million.

“I was pretty amazed at how high the morale was,” said Builder 1st Class Greg Hueramo, the team’s safety supervisor. “We had a lot of junior troops with no concrete experience, and I could see that ‘Can Do’ attitude coming out; getting the job done safely no matter what the conditions. We had zero heat-related mishaps or heat-related medical emergencies. Our troops got used to working at 115 degree heat, staying safe in that environment and getting the job done.”

The Naval Construction Force is a vital component of the U.S. Maritime Strategy. The force provides deployable battalions capable of providing disaster preparation and recovery support, humanitarian assistance and combat operations support.

NMCB 3 provides combatant commanders and Navy component commanders with combat-ready warfighters capable of general engineering, construction and limited combat engineering across the full range of military operations.

• Date Taken: 08.26.2014
• Date Posted: 09.19.2014 15:21
• Story ID: 142750
• Location: CALIFORNIA, US