NMCB 3 Continues To Live Up To "Better Than Best" Motto During FTX

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. (NNS) -- The Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 completed their annual Field Training Exercise (FTX), Operation Bearing Duel, at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. May 1.

The exercise prepared Seabees to deploy to a combat zone by placing the battalion in a fictitious, war-torn country in order to provide engineering support to a notional Marine Expeditionary Force conducting stabilization and security operations.

"All of homeport seems to center around FTX," said Ensign John Daly. "The new troops ask what to expect and senior troops did their best to get prepared."

Every year the FTX aims to prepare troops for the hazards they may face on current battlefields such as those in Iraq or Afghanistan. During FTX, NMCB 3 encountered a wide variety of asymmetrical tactics, including improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers, and even using civilians as human shields for reconnaissance and attacks.

"It is not only a test of endurance, pride, and a rite of passage for the new troops," said Daly, "but the battalion's performance during FTX helps set the tone for the deployment and shows the battalion's ability to plan and execute the mission."

Operation Bearing Duel was orchestrated by the 31st Seabee Readiness Group (SRG), which helps train battalions on contingency construction as well as tactical skills including weapons, convoys, patrols, and defensive strategies. More than 100 Seabees in the 31st SRG worked to inspect and evaluate the battalion during FTX.

"When the battalion goes to the field to complete a Bearing Duel mission, it's not as simple as just jumping in the truck and driving to Fort Hunter Liggett with hammers and nails," said Lt. Eric Hass. "They have to plan, coordinate, and execute their missions to ensure everyone comes back safely."

Seabees are trained to do it right the first time and follow proper procedures.

"Convoy Security Elements (CSE) must follow procedures in order to maintain 100% accountability of all resources - human, vehicle, weapons, communications, etc," said Hass. "Additionally, it is important for convoys to ensure other units know where the convoy assets are so they do not engage in fratricide. They must have the right tools and equipment for the job to ensure troop do not get exposed to dangerous situations any longer than needed or face mission failure."

Approximately 90 Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 and tactics experts from the 31st SRG played the role of enemy forces to test the battalion's tactics and played roles in graded scenarios.

FTX is the battalion's final test during homeport and is seen as a measure of the battalion's construction skills, tactical skills, and overall "Can Do" attitude.

One of the primary areas in which the 31st SRG evaluates a battalion during FTX is the battalion's ability to execute construction missions. The battalion must plan and complete multiple projects with available resources and in allotted time frames while also contending with the actions of local civilians and the enemy. This year, NMCB 3 was tasked with building Southwest Asia huts, a timber tower, repairing damaged roadways, drilling a water well and repairing several damaged runways.

Troops also spent long hours on watch along the battalion's defensive perimeter in "full battle rattle" – medium tactical vest and Kevlar helmet – in fighting positions to provide protection against enemy attack during the exercise. Troops wore this gear during the majority of the exercise.

"Being in the pits was difficult sometimes," said Builder 3rd Class Vanessa Opina. "Watches lasted up to 16 hours. Sometimes when we stood watch we worked with different people. Occasionally it was someone I didn't typically work with, so you had to get know them and watch each others' backs. Working different shifts, you experienced different temperatures as well. At night temperatures would go down to around 32 degrees while during the afternoon up to almost 100 degrees. During the nights, Chaplain Tiff and RP [Religious Program Specialist] James would bring us coffee, which was extremely helpful."

NMCB 3 is one of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command's war fighting support elements providing host nation construction operations and security in support of the war on terrorism. The unit is currently conducting training to enhance its combat construction capabilities and is homeported in Port Hueneme, Calif.

For more news from 30th Naval Construction Regiment, visit www.navy.mil/local/30NCR/.