Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 executed training on operating an evacuation control center (ECC) at Camp Mitchell onboard Naval Station Rota, Spain, March 9, 2019.

The training was conducted to prepare Seabees to operate an ECC and assist with the timely and organized departure of U.S. citizens when Americans and diplomats are living, working, or traveling in a foreign country in unstable regions of the world.

"We always want to be ready if a situation happens that needs evacuation from a country," said Chief Builder Brian Cornwell, NMCB 133's assistant officer in charge for ECC. "The battalion might be deployed to manage an evacuation procedure while sustaining accountability and security in a well-timed fashion."

The ECC quickly and efficiently processes individuals for accountability while keeping them safe from all threats.

"The process for going through the ECC starts with the non-combatants being walked through each station," said Lt. Adewale Adeogun, ECC officer in charge for NMCB 133. "The stations are comprised of a security search and registration into the Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) tracking system that places the evacuating individuals on a roster for the next available seat for departure."

The security search is to ensure the safety of everyone that is being transported out of the country while the NEO tracking system provides a barcoded wristband to those that have been screened in order to provide an accurate tracking of everyone transported to a safe location.

 "Once boots are on the ground during an evacuation procedure, we need to be ready to face whatever comes. It is important that we train the way we fight."

NMCB-133 is forward deployed to execute construction, humanitarian and foreign assistance, and theater security cooperation in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. 

For more information about NMCB-133, visit www.public.navy.mil/seabee/nmcb133