Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 completed their Navy Integrated Exercise (NIEX) on board Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, California, Aug. 31.

NIEX is an exercise in the command's advanced phase of readiness training in preparation for upcoming deployments, and it focuses on the command and control (C2) of the construction battalion, as well as supporting units in a challenging, operational environment. The exercise provides a setting for assigned Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) units to demonstrate and be assessed in the planning and execution of tasks in an adaptive force package (AFP) while in a contingency environment, similar to what can be expected in major combat operations.

“This last certifying event directly prepares us for deployment as we continue to rehearse and further develop our command and control capabilities,” said Lt. Cmdr. Christian Auger, NMCB-3’s operations officer. “This is another opportunity to do that, and be confident in our control over our distributed force while deployed across our various locations.”

The Expeditionary Warfighting Development Center (EXWDC), from Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia, ran and graded the exercise. EXWDC simulated a series of military engagements and missions for the Seabees to obtain a "ready for tasking in major combat operations" recommendation.

The two-week exercise simulated NMCB-3 and Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group’s 1st Navy Expeditionary Logistics Regiment (NELR) partnering with other U.S. forces to carry out Operation Amber Dagger. The operation was in support of the fictional host nation, “Amber,” which was facing aggression from a neighboring power and was in need of military support to defend its borders against the adversarial threat and restore stability to the region.

“The most challenging aspect of the exercise was understanding the capabilities and limitations of NECC’s adjacent forces,” said Auger. “As we continue to refine our concept of operations of the adaptive force package, it’s more and more important to be able to understand what exactly a specific unit is capable of to incorporate their skills in the most effective way to complete the mission.”

Over the course of the exercise, NMCB-3 faced scenarios with increasing tensions and threat levels towards the nation of “Amber,” making the situation ever-changing. During which, NMCB-3 exercised control over more than 1,000 personnel assigned to explosive ordnance disposal units, coastal riverine squadrons, underwater construction teams and Navy cargo handling battalions.

The purpose is to apply and exercise the battalion’s C2 and staff planning within the context of an AFP. NMCB-3 demonstrated this ability during reactions to scenarios that were injected and to orders that were issued, ultimately testing planning ability under pressure.

The exercise was held in a Naval Enterprise Tactical Command and Control (NETC2) tent configuration, which is a tactical command control system incorporating laptops, monitors and radio communications in a scalable design that improves C2 capabilities for forces operating in the expeditionary environment.

Seabees are the expeditionary engineering and construction experts of the naval service. They provide task-tailored, adaptable and combat-ready engineering and construction forces that deploy to support Navy objectives globally. Navy Expeditionary Combat Command’s (NECC) Naval Construction Force units adapt to mission requirements by being scalable and agile. They provide military support for consequence management and disaster preparation and recovery, including overseas humanitarian assistance and support of civilian agencies.

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