More than 200 reservists from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 22 began their mobilization process aboard Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport, Oct. 19.

A team of 40 personnel from the Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center (ECRC), headquartered in Norfolk,Va., flew to Gulfport to assist.

ECRC's mission is to provide processing, equipping, training, certification and proactive family support to active duty for special work (ADSW) Sailors, individual augmentees (IA) and provisional units such as NMCB 22, throughout all deployment phases in support of combatant command (COCOM) requirements, contingency operations, or national crises.

According to ECRC Commanding Officer Capt. Joseph Rehak, this is normally done in Norfolk.

"We're here in Gulfport to exercise ECRC's strategic mission for a large-scale reserve mobilization," the captain said. "NMCB 22 gave us the opportunity to move the strategic responsibility out of Norfolk, which allows us to shape the mobilization towards the specific mission."

According to Rehak, sending 40 personnel from ECRC to Gulfport, in lieu of sending more 200 Seabees to Norfolk then on to Gulfport, not only saves the Navy money, but also allows the battalion to mobilize as a unit.

Rehak said he feels that this test of mobilizing a large reserve unit was successful because everyone was engaged in the process.

"This has been a team effort," he added. "Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Naval Construction Group TWO, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133, Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, and tenant commands on base such as Personnel Support Detachment and the Naval Branch Health Clinic, Gulfport made this effort a success."

According to NMCB 22 Executive Officer Lt. Cmdr. Ed Simmons, battalion members felt this was a better process as well.

"From what we've heard from the troops who have mobilized before, this is a much easier process," Simmons said. "From my past experience, this is light years ahead. We were able to establish relationships with NMCB 133 earlier [and] go through training, personal gear issue and medical here, instead of Norfolk."

NMCB 22 Command Master Chief Jimmy Cochran shared the sentiments of his shipmates.

"It's easier for everyone involved since they only have to unpack once," the master chief said. "It's nice coming here because, on top of everything else, it's where we've mobilized in the past, and the troops have an extra week to establish relationships and learn the lay of the land."

NMCB 22 will supplement NMCB 133 during their upcoming deployment to the AFRICOM and CENTCOM areas of operation.

For more news from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command , visit http://www.navy.mil/.