Nmcb 4 News

More than 500 people assembled in Crystal City, Va. March 9 for the annual celebration of the anniversaries of the Seabees, Civil Engineer Corps (CEC), and Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC). NAVFAC Commander and Chief of Civil Engineers Rear Adm. Kate Gregory hosted the special occasion to honor these organizations' past, present and future. This year's ball marks the 71st anniversary of the Seabees, the 146th anniversary of the Civil Engineer Corps, and the 171st anniversary of NAVFAC, which was established in 1842 as the Bureau of Navy Yards and Docks.

Units of the U.S. Navy Northern Command continues to work closely with civil authorites in Sandy clear up operations. Continue to clear debris from NJ Barrier Islands. Continue to provide afloat staging base and support to USCG District 1. Continue to rebuild Coast Guard Station Sandy Hook. Continue dewatering [or pumping out] of Rockaway Beach, NY, and Brooklyn public housing. Continued support by NMCB-11 and CRS-4 at Hoboken Ferry Terminal Port Authority. NECC’s Fleet Survey Team will go ashore in order to complete tasking in Jamaica Bay.

While on deployment, Swift visited the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Peru, Panama and Haiti, working with local communities, governments and militaries to build partnerships throughout Central and South America, and the Caribbean. All branches of the U.S. military service are represented on board Swift. Specialists from the Seabees, the Marines Corps, medical and veterinary fields, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Expeditionary Security Team (EST), and Maritime Civil Affairs Team (MCAT) were aboard Swift for this mission.

Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 arrived to oil terminals located off the coast of Aug. 23 to work on living conditions and improve platform access. Few Seabees have had the opportunity of working on oil terminals, which are huge suppliers of the exported oil. Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) and Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT) are located in the northern . "It's kind of cool knowing that we are working on something that is so important to the world's economy," said Utilitiesman 2nd Class (SCW) Jason Grubbs. and coalition maritime forces provide assistance to the Iraqi Navy defending 's major oil platforms. These terminals are significant sources of Iraqi government revenue and contribute approximately 80 percent of 's gross domestic product.

U.S. and Philippine Marines guide their assault boat to sea after departing from the stern ramp of dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during an amphibious assault exercise near Pilas Island, Philippines. The Philippine Marine Corps is training with the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force's Special Operations Training Group (SOTG) during the 1st phase of the 13th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the U.S. and six Southeast Asia nations designed to build relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jessica M.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph R. The Navy bid farewell to the amphibious assault ship USS Saipan (LHA 2), April 20 in a decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk. During its 29 year career, the ship’s primary mission was to transport Marine Corps forces. However, Saipan was also involved in providing evacuation and disaster relief when needed. “We are here today to honor the history and legacy of this fine ship, but more importantly the people who served on it,” said Saipan Commanding Officer Capt. Richard Fitzpatrick. “The decommissioning signals the end of an era. Saipan was commissioned Oct. 15, 1977, and made the first Mediterranean deployment by an amphibious assault ship in 1980.

Dusty and hot: that's April in Kuwait. These are perfect conditions for a day on the firing range, where the training department of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 spends plenty of time. The department is responsible for training every Seabee who comes through Kuwait. On this particular day, NMCB 28 received Enhanced Marksmanship Training, a course of fire which includes training in combat movement, search and assess procedures, magazine change drills and weapon malfunction exercises. Over the course of two days, nearly 150 members of NMCB 28 fired approximately 20,000 rounds of ammunition from distances ranging from three to 25 meters.

About 500 Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 28 deployed March 1 for a mission to Iraq in support of the global war on terrorism. According to the battalion commander, Cmdr. Craig Scharton, the battalion will build and maintain roads, drill water wells, complete vertical construction projects, and assist convoy security operations while in Iraq. “We’ve gone through almost two months of training here in Port Hueneme, and we’ll go through additional training in Kuwait,” Scharton said. These additional skills include combat lifesaving and logistics to help in distributing the materials shipped to the area. “I have…

The Indonesia phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) began at Surabaya Naval Base July 11, with leaders from the Indonesian and United States navies agreeing on the continuing need for mutual cooperation and interoperability. More than 2,000 participants from both countries will train together during the next week in a variety of scenarios, including visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) demonstrations, amphibious operations, diving and salvage, and small craft force protection tactics. “The closer cooperation and friendship between our two navies and the stronger friendly relations between our two nations, as well, will give a great benefit and contribution to the international effort to increase the prosperity of people in a peaceful world,” said Rear Adm.

The Mississippi state legislature has honored Mississippi Gulf Coast-based Navy commands for their service to their communities in the Hurricane Katrina evacuation and relief effort. State Sen. Scottie Cuevas of Pass Christian, Miss., presented the concurrent resolution April 25 to Rear Adm. Timothy McGee, commander of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. McGee’s command is based at Stennis Space Center on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The resolution was enacted in the recently adjourned legislative session. “It was very difficult work that nobody [hopes to have] to do,” McGee said of the recovery work that the members of his command did immediately after the storm. Also honored were Cmdr.

Sixty-one Sailors from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 are supporting the Navy’s ongoing $19 million construction project at Navy Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF), San Clemente Island. The “Fearless” Beavers of NMCB 74 are constructing a 21-mile-long tank trail from a beach landing site to the island’s Shore Bombardment Access area. The trail will allow Marines to train with amphibious assault vehicles for shore landing operations. The project, which started in June 2004, is scheduled to be completed by 2010 and calls for many activities including equipment maintenance, operation of rock crushing equipment and blasting evolutions. “The training that takes place here is vital to Pacific Fleet’s readiness.