NMCB 3 restores vintage meeting hall, supports Seal Beach sub vets

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Fahey | Utilitiesman 2nd Class Joshua Nikkel (left), from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3, uses a jigsaw to trim vinyl floor boards while renovating a nearly 3,000-square-foot building at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif., Sept. 20. NMCB 3 sent seven Seabees to complete the $42,000 project to revitalize the building that has been used as a meeting hall for several local groups, including retired submarine veterans, since the early 1960s. 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 Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chris Fahey/RELEASED)  

SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

09.24.2014

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Fahey 

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3

SEAL BEACH, Calif. - Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 completed $44,000 worth of renovations to a 1960s era meeting hall for Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, California, Tuesday, Sept. 23.

The seven Seabees assigned to the project spent 65 days installing new flooring, ceiling, carpet, fixtures, plumbing and painted the entire interior of the 2,880 square-foot building.

In addition to saving planners and leadership at Seal Beach thousands in outside contracting cost, the project allowed new Seabees fresh to the Navy a chance to receive on-site training.

“I’ve seen a lot of real growth,” said Construction Electrician 1st Class Samantha Craig, the project’s officer in charge. “We’ve had headaches associated with a typical project that could have been real problems had we not slowed down, used those moments to learn and teach each other the skills we know.”

Used as a brig decades ago, the renovated building now serves as a meeting hall for various groups including submarine veterans from the Seal Beach area.

According to Herb Bolton, a former Navy engineman and current liaison for Submarine Veterans Inc., seeing Seabees perform the renovations provided a sense of comfort.

“I feel more secure with the work when I see Seabees doing it,” said Bolton. “They put more heart into the project, have been very cordial and everyone is doing a great, great job.”

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.

• Date Taken: 09.24.2014
• Date Posted: 09.24.2014 19:54
• Story ID: 143183
• Location: SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA, US