Photo By Sgt. Danielle Rodrigues | Petty Officer 2nd Class Benjamin Nablo, a steelworker assigned to Naval Mobile...... read more read more
By: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan G. Wilber
SIGONELLA, Sicily - Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74, Detail Sigonella, recently completed site preparations at Naval Air Station Sigonella, for a 550-man tent camp in support of NATO Operation Unified Protector.
Operation Unified Protector, which commenced March 23, 2011, brought more than 25 ships and submarines and more than 50 fighter jets and surveillance planes to the area.
The increase in personnel attached to NAS Sigonella taxed the berthing to 170-percent capacity. As the U.S. Navy’s technical experts in horizontal construction and camp maintenance, the Seabees were requested to prepare a four-acre site for a camp to alleviate the burden.
Using graders, backhoes and medium tactical vehicle replacement dumps, six inches of topsoil was taken away and 3,400 cubic meters of select fill was spread and compacted in 15 days.
On June 20th, after 72 hours of joint efforts by U.S. Navy Seabees and Air Force personnel, 50 basic expeditionary airfield resources tents, and 15 shower and latrine tents were erected and ready for use.
“The Seabees at Naval Air Station Sigonella are priceless. Having the ‘Can Do’ spirit of a Navy Seabee Detachment has immediately saved Commander, Navy Region Europe $555 thousand through work that would have been paid out in contracts. In only a matter of two weeks they have been able to assist with camp construction and more than $700 thousand worth of projects that are in the planning stages,” said Lt. John Flynn, NAS Sigonella public works planning officer. “Without the Seabee detachment that money would be spent paying contractors to do the same work. A Seabee detachment in Sigonella should be a requirement in the future.”
A camp such as the one at NAS Sigonella, named “Murphy’s Ridge” after Medal of Honor recipient, Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy, requires nearly constant upkeep. Lt. Bradley Roberts, Detail Sigonella officer-in-charge, said his crew has been running 24-hour operations to maintain generators, shower and latrine reservoirs, and answering trouble calls.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Andrew Detwiler, utilitiesman, said the detail is more than happy to lend their expertise in support of the operation.
“I feel it is great to be able to help the NAS Sigonella command to relieve the berthing strain that Operation Unified Protector has brought to this base, and ultimately help the war fighter down range,” said Detwiler.
Detail Sigonella will continue to berth and work from the camp until relieved later this year.
| Date Taken: | 06.28.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.18.2011 05:42 |
| Story ID: | 73888 |
| Location: | SIGONELLA, IT |
| Web Views: | 258 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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