Seventh Naval Construction Regiment (7th NCR) completed its four-week rotation as the Command and Control (C2) element of Exercise Resolute Castle 19, on June 8th, 2019.

Seventh NCR assisted in C2 of 29 missions assigned to Resolute Castle 19. Along with the 22nd Naval Construction Regiment and U.S. Army Reserve staff, 7th NCR actively managed 18 projects, completing 4 of those projects during the Regiment’s few weeks in Europe.

The Seabee work ethic impressed the U.S. Army 1ID, First Infantry Division, Col Michaelis; he called the Seabees “Legendary.” Major Robert Mikyska, the officer in charge of the 372nd Army Reserve Engineer Brigade, echoed these sentiments,—the C2 element that the Seabees relieved at the end of May so the brigade could brief their redeployment plans to higher headquarters in Germany.

“You live up to the legend,” Mikyska said. The Navy returned C2 over to the 372nd June 8th. The Army brigade will continue the mission until September of this year. Captain Milton Washington, Commodore of 7 NCR, spoke about the necessity of the mission.

“Resolute Castle 19 is a prime example of and an opportunity to accomplish many of the strategic objectives, including partnering with internal services and external countries,” he said.

Resolute Castle 19 is an exercise that supports Operation Atlantic Resolve. Its mission is to reinforce regional partnerships and promote interoperability with host nation forces. 
Since 2014, The U.S. Department of Defense has been sending military personnel to Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The United States is demonstrating to NATO allies and the world its continued commitment to peace, security and stability in Europe.

Exercise Resolute Castle 19 accomplishes this goal by providing improvements to existing infrastructure, such as Polish and Romanian military bases and weapon ranges. 
From April to September, approximately 2,700 service members from 15 different U.S. states, including Navy and Navy Reserve members, Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve units, and forces from Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom will participate.

In all of that construction buzz, the success of the mission is defined by the ability to work together as one professional force.

Seventh NCR was able to command construction projects across allied forces successfully.

“All departments were gainfully employed and gained valuable hands-on experience to include operations, supply, training, embark and communications,” Washington said.

“The Regiment created tracking systems that augmented supply chains,” he added. “Through improved communication lines and quality assessment programs, the regiment was able to coordinate deadlines with host nations and subordinate units,” Washington explained.

Seabees make up a vital part of that engineering and construction force. The experience 7th NCR brought to Resolute Castle 19 was valuable.

“The real-time oversight of construction evolutions allowed 7th NCR to make improvements and demonstrated that the 7th NCR can be counted on when needed,” Washington said. “We thoroughly enjoyed working with the U.S. Army units, the Royal Engineers from England, the Polish Engineers, and the Romanians,” he added.
Exercise Resolute Castle is ongoing with rotations and projects planned for 2020 in Eastern European countries at the invitation of those host nations.

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