Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 worked hand-in-hand with engineers from the Ukrainian naval infantry during exercise Sea Breeze 2017, July 13.

Sea Breeze is a U.S. and Ukraine co-hosted multinational maritime exercise held in the Black Sea designed to enhance interoperability of participating nations and strengthen maritime security in the region.

The Seabees and Ukrainian engineers built a heavy timber bunker, a tower, and a sentry post, and repaired airfield runways.

Builder 1st Class Matthew Speece, officer in charge of NMCB 1, said that while the Americans and Ukrainians might have different ways of doing things, being able to learn from one another makes for better products overall.

He also said, working together "creates a good bond between us," and that he expects that the newfound friendships will continue.

"We've made a lot of good friends among the crew," said Speece.

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