Necc in the_news_05_april13

NAVY EXPEDITIONARY COMBAT COMMAND
IN THE NEWS

Navy Expeditionary Combat Command in the News is a service of the NECC Public Affairs
Office and is used to provide senior leadership and interested NECC personnel around the Fleet
with news about the Navy’s expeditionary forces. Please do not repost the Clips to any publicly
accessible website since we must maintain the integrity of copyrighted material.
Friday, April 5, 2013

Navy EOD, Divers Promote Science, Technology with Local Students
http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=72919
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Randy Savarese, Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Group Two Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit
(EODMU) 6 and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 participated in the Portsmouth
Public Schools' Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) day held at
Woodrow Wilson High School, March 23.

ECRC Sailor Receives Purple Heart
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James C. Brown, Expeditionary Combat Readiness
Center Public Affairs

SILVERDALE, Wash. (NNS) -- Commander, Navy Region Northwest (NRNW) awarded a
Purple Heart medal to a former Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center (ECRC) Sailor during a
ceremony in Silverdale, Wash., March 18.

Seabee invited to White House
By Daryl C. Smith, 1st Naval Construction Division

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. (NNS) -- After submitting his application for U.S. citizenship and
completing the required exam, Equipment Operator Constructionman Recruit (EOCR) Jiang Liu
had been waiting for months for the official notification that he was ready to take the oath of
allegiance and become a U.S. citizen.

Seabees Work to Improve Maritime Response With Partners in Guatemala
From 4th Fleet Public Affairs

KAIBIL, Guatemala (NNS) -- Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202 (CBMU 202)
deployed to Guatemala today in support of Southern Partnership Station 2013 (SPS), a 4th Fleet
mission to strengthen regional civil and maritime capabilities, supporting a Drug Enforcement
Agency (DEA) initiative to improve maritime response.

1

84th Engineer Battalion conducts Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise
http://www.army.mil/article/99544/84th_Engineer_Battalion_conducts_Emergency_Deployment
_Readiness_Exercise/
By 2nd Lt. Jennifer Fulco, 8th Theater Sustainment Command

CAMP COVINGTON, Guam (March 26, 2013) -- Staying on top of their training and being
always prepared, the Forward Support Company, 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer
Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, conducted a 48-hour Emergency Deployment
Readiness Exercise during their deployment at Camp Covington, Naval Base Guam.

Face of Defense: Seabee Enjoys Independence His Job Provides
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=119607
By Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Kegan E. Kay, Naval Air Facility Atsugi

NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan , March 22, 2013 – After graduating from high school
in his hometown of East Rockaway, N.J., Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class John Skoblicki worked in
construction. Now, he’s a builder in the Seabees.

US-Philippine engineers reach major milestone in footbridge construction
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/104591/us-philippine-engineers-reach-major-milestone-
footbridge-construction
By Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Fahey

SAN PASCUAL, Philippines - Philippine and U.S. Seabees reached a major milestone during
construction of the San Pascual footbridge, March 28.

Seabees Celebrate Three Years Free of ARI
By Engineering Aide Constructionman Kerby Cange

Bangor, WA (NNS) -- The Seabees of Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 303
Detachment Bangor, Wash., March 27 celebrated the anniversary of three consecutive years free
from alcohol-related incidents (ARI), which is in line with the April 1 kick-off of the Navy's
program "Keep What You've Earned."

Navy EOD, Divers Promote Science, Technology with Local Students
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Randy Savarese, Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Group Two Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit
(EODMU) 6 and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 participated in the Portsmouth
Public Schools' Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) day held at

2

Woodrow Wilson High School, March 23.

Explosive Ordnance Disposalman 3rd Class John Ludden from EODMU 6 and Navy Diver 1st
Class Frank Horn from MDSU 2 encouraged students and teachers to pursue an interest in the
science and technology fields and provided a hands-on experience of their equipment to
demonstrate real-world applications of STEM fields.

"It's important for the Navy to show everyone what we are all about. It helps make people aware
of us, and they learn a little about our community and what we do," said Horn. "I like getting the
chance to show our appreciation by taking the time to show them who we are."

In addition to the MK II Talon robot and the PackBot transportable robotic system, Navy EOD
technicians and Navy Divers also brought night vision goggles and Navy dive equipment
including the SEABOTIX underwater reconnaissance vehicle during this year's demonstration.

STEM education offers the students and teachers of Portsmouth Public Schools opportunities to
apply Virginia's Standards of Learning for Science and Mathematics using current technologies
often with an engineering focus.

"The STEM Pathways Program begins in grade 4 and continues through our high school
courses," said Laura Nelson, director of science education for Portsmouth Public Schools. "The
coursework was developed to reflect the workforce in these areas: allied health and
biotechnology, environmental science, and modeling and simulation with geographical
information systems and robotics."

While the demand for science and technology jobs is increasing, the supply of qualified
candidates is not. Programs like STEM day aim to stimulate interest in science and technology
jobs, which is vital to American competitiveness in an increasingly knowledge-based economy.

"I believe that Portsmouth Public Schools realizes this disparity and for the last 10 plus years has
worked to make our motto, 'Dreams plus Action = Reality', a true reality for our students," said
Nelson. "We are sending young men and women into the world who are able to critically think
and problem solve, are creative, know how to collaborate and can communicate to a variety of
stakeholders."

Navy Sailors provided Portsmouth Public Schools expertise in the STEM fields bringing
practical examples for many teachers. However, it's the children who benefited most who
observed STEM fields is not just theories and concepts but has practical uses.
"I am thankful to have the U.S. Navy involved," said Nelson. "It brings a sense of reality to the
STEM Pathways Program."

MDSU 2 is an expeditionary mobile diving unit homeported at Joint Expeditionary Base, Little
Creek-Ft. Story in Virginia Beach, Va. and has successfully conducted salvage operations to
support TWA Flight 800, Swiss Air Flight 111, the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia and
the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor.

3

EODMU 2 provides operational explosive ordnance disposal capability for the location,
identification, rendering safe, recovery, field evaluation and disposal of all explosive ordnance,
including chemical and nuclear weapons.

U.S. Navy EOD is the world's premier combat force for countering explosive hazards and
conducting expeditionary diving and salvage.

Return to Top Stories

ECRC Sailor Receives Purple Heart
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James C. Brown, Expeditionary Combat Readiness
Center Public Affairs

SILVERDALE, Wash. (NNS) -- Commander, Navy Region Northwest (NRNW) awarded a
Purple Heart medal to a former Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center (ECRC) Sailor during a
ceremony in Silverdale, Wash., March 18.

Rear Adm. Markham Rich, commander, NRNW presented the award to Lt. Cmdr. Robert Moran
for his heroic and meritorious achievements while serving as an Individual Augmentee in
Afghanistan during 2011.

While assigned to NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition
Command, Oct. 26, 2011, the twenty-three year Navy veteran was traveling through the Tangi
Valley, Wardak Province, Afghanistan in a convoy of three vehicles when the group was
engaged by the enemy. Multiple rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) struck the vehicles causing
the loss of the rear Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle. A subsequent improvised
explosive device (IED) blast disabled Moran's vehicle at which point the occupants engaged the
enemy.

With his M4 in hand, Moran exited his disabled vehicle, recognized armed insurgents and
provided suppressive fire while facing incoming enemy action. The group helped in getting the
injured service members in the rear MRAP to the safety of the sole operational vehicle with
Moran single handedly carrying one injured service member from danger. RPG fire and the IED
left Moran injured.

When asked about his experience, Moran, now serving as the commanding officer of Transient
Personnel Unit Puget Sound, was quick to note that his injuries were minor and that most
members of the convoy suffered much more significant injuries including shrapnel wounds and
broken limbs. Reflecting on the encounter and his time in theatre, Moran said he felt his service
in Afghanistan gave him, "the honor and privilege to serve with service members not only from
other U.S. service components, but also from numerous NATO nations."

Exemplifying the Navy's core values, Moran was recognized by the U.S. Army with the Army
Commendation Medal with Valor and the Army Combat Action Badge. Moran was also awarded

4

the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the NATO Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign
Medal.

Seabee invited to White House
By Daryl C. Smith, 1st Naval Construction Division

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. (NNS) -- After submitting his application for U.S. citizenship and
completing the required exam, Equipment Operator Constructionman Recruit (EOCR) Jiang Liu
had been waiting for months for the official notification that he was ready to take the oath of
allegiance and become a U.S. citizen.

When the call finally came, it was coupled with a very special surprise -- an invitation to the
White House to receive the oath and meet the President.

A member of Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 202, based at Joint
Expeditionary Base Little Creek/Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Liu was one of 28 people from 26
countries invited to take part in the naturalization ceremony in the White House. He was one of
13 active duty service members participating.

"At first I was nervous. Then I was excited," he said.

Born in China, Liu immigrated to the U.S. six years ago with his parents, who now live in San
Francisco. When he called them to tell them of the White House invitation, he said they were
very happy and very proud.

His road to citizenship began when he enlisted in the Navy. He said that he was given the choice
of various specialties, but Equipment Operator was the most interesting choice, so he joined the
Navy. He completed "A" School at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and was assigned to CBMU 202.

Fellow Seabees there supported Liu's quest for U.S. citizenship by helping him study topics such
as language, U.S. history and government and prepare for his exam after working hours. His
biggest supporter was his immediate supervisor, Equipment Operator 2nd Class Benjamin
Morrow. He noted that Liu's paperwork had been delayed because the Office of Homeland
Security mistakenly sent it to Mississippi instead of Virginia, but if the delay had not happened,
he would not have had the opportunity to go to the White House.

Because the phone call came on a Thursday, and the ceremony was the following Monday
morning, CBMU 202 had to work fast to make arrangements for him to attend.

"This command made it a priority to get him up there," Morrow said.

Due to the short fuse, only one member of the unit could accompany him, and that was Morrow.
Morrow made it a point to show Liu as many landmarks as possible when they arrived.

5

"We went to museums, the Vietnam Memorial, Navy Memorial and Lincoln Memorial," Liu
said.

The next day, the 28 participants gathered in the White House's East Room, and the oath of
allegiance was administered by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. President Obama
shook each participant's hand and posed with them for photos.

During his remarks, President Obama said, "In each of you, we see the true spirit of America.
And we see a bit of ourselves, too, because most of our stories trace back to moments just like
this one ... to an ancestor who, ... like the men and women here today, raised their right hand and
recited that sacred oath."

Noting the military members present, he said, "...every member of the military with us has
shown incredible patriotism -- a willingness to risk their lives in defense of a nation that was not
yet their own. And that's a remarkable act, and it made each of them one of us. It made each of
them in some ways American, even before it was official, because that kind of service and
sacrifice has defined our nation for more than two centuries."


Seabees Work to Improve Maritime Response With Partners in Guatemala
From 4th Fleet Public Affairs

KAIBIL, Guatemala (NNS) -- Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202 (CBMU 202)
deployed to Guatemala today in support of Southern Partnership Station 2013 (SPS), a 4th Fleet
mission to strengthen regional civil and maritime capabilities, supporting a Drug Enforcement
Agency (DEA) initiative to improve maritime response.

Seabees laid 14-cubic yards of cement and upgraded the fast-response launch and maintenance
capabilities of Forces Especiales Naval (FEN) Base Kaibil.

According to DEA agent in charge of maritime interdiction in Guatemala, the upgrades are
essential and highlight the important skill set of U.S. Navy Seabees.

"We rely on the FEN to carry out our maritime drug interdictions," he said. "The previous (boat)
ramp was hindering their quick response abilities. The SeaBees bring resources and capabilities
unavailable (here). We need their expertise to ensure we can accomplish the mission."

The Seabees augmented the FEN's abilities by expanding their primary boat ramp.

"We're placing a reinforced concrete pad to simplify their launching procedures," said Steel
Worker 1st Class Martin DeHaven. "Right now, they're primarily using gravel, and it's
inefficient. What we're doing will allow them to improve their quick response times."

Another important aspect of quick-response missions is maintenance, and the SeaBees are taking

6

steps to improve that requirement as well.

"We're also placing a pad in preparation for a 110-square-foot storage edifice," added DeHaven.
"The building will give them a place to store their boat motors and equipment, ultimately
extending their motor life and reducing maintenance costs."

The work the Seabees are accomplishing benefits them just as much as the Guatemalan FEN.

"This provides us the avenues necessary to train our younger Seabees in a deployed
environment," said Chief Nick Whitbeck, CBMU 202 officer in charge. "Also, as a unit, we can
exercise and quality-check our deployment execution."

What the Seabees do while deployed in support of operations such as SPS allows them to build
relationships and expand global awareness.

"We (Seabees) are known worldwide as a self-sustainable engineering force," Whitbeck said.
"When we do missions with partner nations, it helps expand our global presence."

COMUSNAVSO/COMFOURTHFLT supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined
full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure
freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships
with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance
regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and
South American regions.


84th Engineer Battalion conducts Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise
http://www.army.mil/article/99544/84th_Engineer_Battalion_conducts_Emergency_Deployment
_Readiness_Exercise/
By 2nd Lt. Jennifer Fulco, 8th Theater Sustainment Command

CAMP COVINGTON, Guam (March 26, 2013) -- Staying on top of their training and being
always prepared, the Forward Support Company, 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer
Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, conducted a 48-hour Emergency Deployment
Readiness Exercise during their deployment at Camp Covington, Naval Base Guam.

The purpose of the training was to prepare the battalion for an emergency mount-out to aid in
disaster relief in the Pacific region. The Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise, or EDRE,
is a 48-hour drill that tests a unit's ability to prepare equipment and personnel required to respond
to an emergency disaster.

The Forward Support Co., or Alpha Company, as well as other companies within the battalion,
had to adjust and learn new systems. Ever since arriving to Guam in January, the battalion has
worked closely with the Navy Seabees from the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Five to
learn the unit's processes, which are drastically different then the Army's.

7

The EDRE exercise was designed for a Seabee Battalion which is configured differently than an
Army engineer battalion. Despite the services' differences, the two jointly accomplished the
mission.

The Seabees have taught and trained multiple Soldiers and sections, creating a remarkable joint
environment.

"Although the execution of the Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise was very different
from how the Navy conducts it, the end state remained the same," Lt. Brendan Bunn, the officer
in charge of the NMCB 5. "Both the Navy and the Army worked extremely hard and gained
training and knowledge from this experience."

Alpha Co. consists of logistical sections that focus on maintenance, transportation and
embarkations. Maintenance was required to perform technical inspections on each piece of
equipment. The transportation section was required to wash, stage, and load vehicles onto
trailers, and the last station, the embarkation team, was responsible for the weighing and marking
of vehicles. Tracking this information was crucial because the documentation was given to the
Air Force to ensure the right amount of equipment was being loaded onto aircraft.

At 3 A.M. on the day of the exercise, the battalion alerted its key leaders and began the process
as if it were a real situation. Alpha Co. alerted their sections and began the set-up process for
vehicles and equipment to pass through. Teamwork across the board was essential to the success
of this practice exercise as many moving pieces had to come together.

"This is a great learning experience," said Staff Sgt. Danielle Quimbley, platoon sergeant and
embark supervisor for the Distribution Platoon in Alpha Co. "Soldiers and leaders are able to
gauge their capabilities as well as their shortcomings. This exercise will provide positive
feedback that will allow the company to improve and make the process better in the future."

By the end of the exercise, Alpha Co. processed more than 45 pieces of equipment and palletized
more than 20 containers. The overall goal was met by working day and night and getting all the
equipment on the priority list through multiple processes.

"The company was able to get a better understanding and feel for what was needed to conduct an
emergency mount out," said 1st Sgt. Pete Leao of Alpha Company. "Our main objective is to
push out all the equipment safely and in a timely manner to be able support the operations aiding
the emergency situation. We will continue to prepare and always be ready for if and when an
emergency does occur in the Pacific."

8

The overall exercise met the intent of establishing what was required of the battalion in Guam. In
addition, every section of the battalion was able to see the areas needing improvement.
Conducting the exercise gave the 84th Engineer Battalion a great opportunity to train, improve
unit readiness, and understand the overall mission in the Pacific. Undoubtedly, the 84th Engineer
Battalion will be fully capable of performing its duties in the event of any emergency event.


Face of Defense: Seabee Enjoys Independence His Job Provides
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=119607
By Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Kegan E. Kay, Naval Air Facility Atsugi

NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan , March 22, 2013 – After graduating from high school
in his hometown of East Rockaway, N.J., Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class John Skoblicki worked in
construction. Now, he’s a builder in the Seabees.

“I joined because of a lot of reasons,” Skoblicki said. “The biggest thing I wanted was a stable
job.”
A builder is one of seven construction specialty rates that make up the Seabees. Skoblicki said
his experience so far differs from those of sailors who have been in the Navy longer than his two
years of service, as they tend to work on larger projects. His work here consists primarily of
carpentry, sanding, painting, staining and small building projects, he said.

“What a [builder] does in the Seabees is rough carpentry -- throwing up buildings and doing
concrete pads,” he explained. “My favorite part of my job is probably that I’m in my own little
world back there. I have a lot of independence. I can kind of do what I want to do, and I guess
that is what motivates me.”
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Sherwood, the public works officer here, said Skoblicki is a solid
performer.

“He assists tenant base commands with various technical knowledge and hands-on guidance in
multiple aspects of carpentry,” he said, adding that Skoblicki is customer-focused and heads the
base’s self-help program, in which base personnel improve their work spaces.

Skoblicki’s recent self-help projects have included the design and assembly of two computer
desks, traditional Japanese Tori gates, picture frames, shadow boxes and 12 ornamental Tori
gates for the 2013 Seabee Ball, Sherwood said.
“[He] is a motivated Seabee who gives his best in all endeavors,” he added. “[He is] perpetually
optimistic and energetic, and cheerfully attacks and completes all tasks.”

Skoblicki recently was named Sailor of the Week, an honor that includes being guest host of the
base’s weekly show, "Captain’s Call," and showing Navy Capt. Steven Wieman, the naval air
facility’s commanding officer, and Command Master Chief Petty Officer Carlton Duncan around
his work center on the program.

9

It’s not the final product that he enjoys the most about his work, Skoblicki said, but rather, it’s
the process of creating the product.

“For me, it is relaxing,” he said. “If you know going into it that you are going to mess it up a
little bit, and that your end product is probably going be at least a little bit different from what
you originally planned one way or another, it is no big deal. Patience is probably the biggest
thing, the most important thing, when you are doing finish work like that.”

For Skoblicki, wood working has become a hobby, and he stays late at work teaching himself
how to create different products with the machines and tools.

“Everything is a learning experience, whether you learn the right way or the wrong way,” he
said. “You learn what to do or what not to do. Just observe and try to pick up on the right things
and try to learn from the wrong things, others’ mistakes and your own mistakes.”

Skoblicki’s work here has extended past the base’s borders. He and other Seabees assisted in
rebuilding houses destroyed by the March 2011 tsunami in the Fukushima prefecture, and he
served a five-week stint in Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean.

“The ocean every day, the weather, fishing -- I like being outside, so Diego Garcia was
awesome,” he said.

Skoblicki said he hopes that his next duty assignment will be to a construction battalion in
California or a command in Europe. “I want to travel,” he added. “I never traveled before the
Navy.”


US-Philippine engineers reach major milestone in footbridge construction
http://www.dvidshub.net/news/104591/us-philippine-engineers-reach-major-milestone-
footbridge-construction
By Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Fahey

SAN PASCUAL, Philippines - Philippine and U.S. Seabees reached a major milestone during
construction of the San Pascual footbridge, March 28.

Using steal reinforced concrete, the Seabee team laid the primary support blocks for the main
suspension cables - completing the footbridge’s anchoring system.

“Now that we have the anchor set, we need to let the concrete dry for the next seven days or so,”
said San Pascual Construction Supervisor Chief Builder Courtland Sawyer attached to Naval
Mobile Construction Battalion 5. “This is a big step because it means we have a solid foundation.
Now, we can work on the tiers leading up to the main support cable. After that, we’ll start the
suspension work.”

10

According to the Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force operations chief, laying the
footbridge’s anchor marks roughly 30 percent completion of the footbridge.
“The anchor system is a critical piece of the footbridge,” said JCMOTF Operations Chief Master
Chief Constructionman Alonso Cadena. “It endures the stress from the suspension cables. Once
it’s done correctly and good-to-go, then we can proceed to finish the job off with a strong sense
of confidence.”

To honor their achievement, the Philippine-U.S. Seabees held a traditional, celebratory “lechon”
or pig roast. The event offered the team a chance to reflect on best practices, shared ideas and get
to know each other in a more relaxed setting.

According to Sawyer, relaxing with the Philippine Seabees and enjoying their company during a
culturally significant event, opened the team up and created a stronger friendship.

“I’m glad we got to spend some time together off the clock,” said Sawyer. “On the site, we kid
around and joke with each other, but we are also one hundred percent focused. It’s all work. We
needed this time to really bond, talk and gain a better understanding of each other. I’m excited to
start the phase of construction.”

The footbridge was one of eight engineering civic action projects being performed by
Combined/Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force units in support of exercise Balikatan
2013.

Balikatan is an annual Philippine-U.S. bilateral exercise. Humanitarian assistance and training
activities enable the Philippine and American service members to build lasting relationships,
train together and provide assistance in communities where the need is the greatest.


Seabees Celebrate Three Years Free of ARI
By Engineering Aide Constructionman Kerby Cange

Bangor, WA (NNS) -- The Seabees of Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) 303
Detachment Bangor, Wash., March 27 celebrated the anniversary of three consecutive years free
from alcohol-related incidents (ARI), which is inline with the April 1 kick-off of the Navy's
program "Keep What You've Earned."

"Keep What You've Earned," a new campaign in honor of National Alcohol Awareness Month,
is designed to encourage responsible drinking among Sailors by focusing on the
accomplishments in their Navy careers.

Three years ago, the 'Bees from CBMU 303, Det Bangor received the news that one of their own
was a victim of alcohol abuse. The information served as an eye-opener for them, said Senior
Chief Builder John Scroggs, CBMU 303 Det Bangor officer in charge. The reaction to the news

11

was swift: training on responsible use occurred, the level of trust and mutual care was raised, and
the bonds of Shipmates were strengthened. The Seabees made a commitment to each other, and
decided to apply their iconic motto "CAN DO" to all aspects of their lives.
That was the last time an ARI occurred, added Scroggs.

Scroggs acknowledged that such success could not have been achieved without an extremely
good group of people.

"I am not the one who has kept the streak going, they are the ones that keep it going" he said.

Several important factors contributed to this achievement. The unit's training department did an
intensified training sessions and developed efficient ways to get the message across.

Engineering Aide 1st Class Michael Milton, who served as both the Drug and Alcohol Program
Advisor, and the Training Officer at the time, said it was all about intrusive leadership.

"We encouraged everyone to be involved and be responsible, starting at the fire team level," said
Milton. "The leadership team played a crucial role in this accomplishment by being available to
the junior troops, mentoring, and being supportive."

Chief Builder Kimberly Gibson, assistant officer in charge said she often get asked what the
magic is in Bangor and she tells them they aren't doing anything different than the rest of the
Navy.

"We have phone cards and taxi cards, and we talk about having a plan just like everyone else,"
said Gibson. "Our success comes from the strength of character of the men and women who
serve here, and the trust that the First Class Petty Officers have earned from their Sailors. It's one
thing to say 'call me if you need help' and quite another to develop the relationship that fosters
the trust and confidence that makes a person dial the phone."

At the heart of this streak are the Sailors. The Seabees concentrate on taking care of each other,
and monitoring one another, said Yeoman 1st Class Timothy Karr.

"We end every liberty brief with our AOIC's expectations of: be safe, be smart, and take care of
each other," said Karr. "It's as simple as that. Every person here knows that somebody will come
help them if they ask for it."

"It's just awesome to be part of this," said Builder 3rd Class Andru Dunford, who reported to
Bangor in January. "It makes me proud to be part of this unit, and want to work to keep the
streak going," he said.


12

Necc in the_news_05_april13

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (9)

Similar to Necc in the_news_05_april13

Similar to Necc in the_news_05_april13 (20)

More from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command

More from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (20)

Necc in the_news_05_april13