Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 Sailors completed the Airfield Damage Repair portion of their Field Training Exercise (FTX) April 21.

The event tested the battalion's ability to repair runways and other airfield facilities following a simulated attack by an enemy force. A 12-hour stand-alone project during previous FTXs, this ADR exercise spanned three days and involved a majority of the battalion.

The Seabees combed an expeditionary runway to assess the damage from a simulated rocket attack, and working together with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3, identified and allowed EOD to properly dispose of unexploded ordnance while Sailors assigned to Naval Construction Group 1 evaluated their proficiency.

"Working with EOD brought a lot more realism to the training and just added authenticity to the situation," said Equipment Operator 3rd Class Patrick Heng.

After assessing damage and EODMU 3 Sailors removed unexploded ordnance, NMCB 5's ADR team worked within a timeline of eight hours to fill and compact various craters created by the simulated attack, install bolted fiberglass panels, and place concrete patches.

"This is probably the first battalion that has done as much training has they have done this homeport prior to coming out here so [NMCB 5] was very well prepared coming out here," said Builder 1st Class Richard Turgeon, NCG 1 lead ADR instructor. "Each day they knocked about an hour off their time. Even the last day when we threw a night scenario with more damage they still repaired it just over five hours."

During the repair exercise, the ADR team also built a concrete vertical takeoff or landing (VTOL) pad and a 10,000-gallon fuel storage bladder for refueling aircraft.

"ADR is a valuable tool in our arsenal that will prepare us to react to ongoing events in the world, and deal with challenges that the enemy may throw at us." said Heng.

The exercise marked a renewed focus on ADR for the Seabees, although it is not new. Seabees have constructed and repaired airfields throughout their history, beginning in World War II. Implementing ADR in the FTX ensures the skills needed to repair damaged airfields remains a core competency of deployed Seabee units.

"The ADR mission is a battalion level responsibility, and NMCB 5 was successful in bringing the entire NMCB's resources to bear to accomplish that mission," said Lt. Eric Truemper, NCG 1 training exercise officer.

The FTX prepares and tests the battalion's ability to enter hostile locations, build assigned construction projects and defend against enemy attacks using realistic scenarios in a controlled environment. The exercise is the last qualification for NMCB 5 prior to receiving certification to deploy.

NCG 1 prepares Pacific Fleet Naval Construction Force units to conduct deliberate construction in support of Combatant Commanders, Numbered Fleet Commanders, Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, and other warfighter requirements.

For more news from Naval Construction Group 1, visit http://www.navy.mil/.