Photo By Sgt. Blair Neelands | Before starting on the second floor, Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Long, a Seabee...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE GRIFFIN, Afghanistan – Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, stationed out of Point Hueneme, Calf., are working hard under the scorching Afghan sun expanding Forward Operating Base Griffin near city of Meimaneh in northern Afghanistan.
More than 500 Seabees from NMCB4 arrived in Afghanistan last January, and are currently spread across International Security Assistance Force’s Regional Command – North working on various construction projects.
When these sailors arrived at FOB Griffin, it housed roughly 90 troops. Now, after their many renovations and additions, the base is home to more than 500 service members from the United States, Sweden and Norway.
“When we first got here it was a really small FOB,” said Steel Worker 2nd Class Matthew Long, from Whitefish, Mont. “We have expanded it and made it three times the size.”
Currently, the priority for the Seabees on FOB Griffin is building the tactical operations center for 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery from the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team.
“It’s going to provide office spaces for their command center where they can do their tactical operations,” said Builder 3rd Class Derrick Cripe, from Lemoore, Calif.
For many of the twenty-two Seabees on FOB Griffin, who like Long, primarily work with steel, working with wood is a learning experience.
“Most of the stuff we do as Seabees is on the job training,” Long explained. “We have three people who are specialists in what they do here, and they teach us how to do it as we go along.”
In the last six months, the Seabees have built up protective barriers for base security, installed drainage systems, and enhanced the overall living conditions for the multinational force on the FOB.
“We are out here to better this camp and to add things that make it more livable,” said Builder Construction Apprentice Nathan Schott, from Stanford, Mont. “We have done things like expand the washroom from three to eight washers and dryers.”
During their off time, Cripe says they even enjoy working on small side projects like chairs.
“It all just boosts morale,” he said. “Morale is high at the end of every day.”
With roughly two months until they return home, the Seabees are looking forward to seeing their family and friends, but they remain focused on the task at hand – improving the overall conditions on FOB Griffin.
| Date Taken: | 07.03.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.03.2010 13:11 |
| Story ID: | 52339 |
| Location: | MEIMANEH, AF |
| Web Views: | 1,097 |
| Downloads: | 298 |
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