Young Navy Seabee's Get Vital On The Job Training From Mentors And On Old Dozer

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jorge Saucedo | Jonathan Hattula, equipment operator constructionman, trains on the Caterpillar Bulldover D8. He is part of the construction project for raising the Burm surrounding Life Support Area, Kuwait.  

LIFE SUPPORT AREA, KUWAIT

05.16.2009

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jorge Saucedo 

Media Transition Team - Kuwait

LIFE SUPPORT AREA, Kuwait -- There are many different fields in the Navy but there is one group that sticks out like no other the Seabee's. Navy's Construction Battalions typically build military facilities and often never set foot on a ship. Their official motto is "We Build, We Fight."

Established in 1941 to build island bases in the Pacific theater, the Seabee's have been building bases, airfields, port facilities and buildings for military bases needy communities ever since. One major contribution the Seabee's have been doing is building forward operating bases in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Equipment operators need to be certified on the machines before they can use them without supervision. Constructing proper FOB perimeter defense in the Middle East is key Sand berms needed to be raised. At LSA a little less than two miles of the berms were need to be worked on and the Seabees saw this as a good opportunity for junior enlisted members to receive their heavy equipment certifications.

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 had four junior enlisted constructionmen straight out of boot camp and "A" school who needed their certifications.

"This was great for the young operators because we normally don't do this," said Master Chief Charles Boris, equipment officer, 22nd Naval Construction Regiment Forward. "This gets them ready to work on FOBs in Afghanistan and Iraq."

The equipment operators were getting certified on Caterpillar D8 Bull Dozers. The Seabee's had three bull dozers, one which was originally built in 1974 and has been rebuilt several times. To start the projects the Seabees had some minor malfunctions with one and were cut down to using just two.

This was a joint project between young and old Seabees which symbolizes the history, mentoring and themes of one of the proudest professions in the Navy. While on the job site Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Castaldi, construction mechanic, looked over the machines to make sure they worked properly. If the equipment couldn't be repaired on site it was transported back to the base.

"It is a good experience for the young ones who just got out of boot camp," said Petty Officer 1st Class Tracy Jones, equipment operator of Demopolis, Ala., and project supervisor. "It is better to get this training out of the way in a safe environment rather than in Theater."

There are many ways to get on the job training in the military to get more comfortable with your job. The Seabee's take advantage of a simple assignment to help knock out that problem.

• Date Taken: 05.16.2009
• Date Posted: 05.16.2009 03:35
• Story ID: 33693
• Location: LIFE SUPPORT AREA, KW