Mark has been messaging me a lot on Myspace this week. He just finished a mission and is about to go out for another. He's been getting lots of hands on experience doing electrician stuff. He'll be away from a computer for a while, so he took the opportunity to catch up with a bunch of his friends online and to sit and write some letters to our family (I emailed him everyone's addresses).
I looked up his batallon on the internet and found a link with the above photo. My brother is front and center (holding coffee... so Mark). Here's the short article that went with the photo.
Al Asad, Iraq -- Construction materials, referred to as Class IV material in the military, are in high demand in Iraq and play a critical role in executing surge operations. Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) Twenty Eight are stepping up to provide those materials through their work in the 30th Naval Construction Regiment (NCR) Class IV Yards in Al Asad and Fallujah. The 30th NCR operates a total of four yards in the Al Anbar province of Iraq.
Class IV material consists of lumber, concrete, electrical, plumbing and hardware supplies and is used to build combat outposts (COPs), build and maintain Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), repair supply routes and provide force protection to service members. "One of our most important challenges in theater is effectively managing and supplying Class IV material to the Warfighter," said Captain Kate Gregory, Commodore of the 30th NCR. "Our role in supporting the Warfighter, and more specifically surge operations, is highly dependant on our ability to provide Class IV material to our Seabees and Marines doing the work on the front lines."
The Marines whom they support agree. "The Class IV yard crew provide constant service and play an essential part in our route repair missions. Their team ensures we have all the materials that we need when we need them, no questions asked," says Gunnery Sergeant Benjamin Lacour, Operations Chief, 8th Engineering Support Battalion (ESB), Al Asad detachment. The Seabees have a long history of working and fighting alongside the Marines, and the Seabees of NMCB-28 are proud to carry on that legacy.
"The Class IV Yard continues to provide RCT-2 with the materials necessary to conduct operations," said Second Lieutenant Gilbert Nelson, Logistics Operations Officer for Regimental Combat Team (RCT) 2. "The materials we receive form the Class IV Yard are often used to enhance force protection and quality of life at the forward operating bases."
The Seabees of NMCB-28 take pride in the job they do, knowing their work in receiving, storing and issuing material allows their fellow Seabees and Marines to accomplish the mission and often times improve the quality of life. "I'm very proud of the work our Seabees are doing here. They work very hard to insure each project has all its material while driving accountability for our more than 15 acres of inventory here at Al Asad," said Lieutenant Junior Grade Matt Daniels, Officer in Charge of the Al Asad Class IV Yard.
NMCB-28 has twelve Seabees working in the Al Asad yard and ten in Fallujah. They come from a variety of ratings including Builder (BU), Construction Electrician (CE), Equipment Operator (EO), Machinist Mate (MM), Culinary Specialist (CS), Gunner's Mate (GM), and Storekeeper (SK). While not all of the Seabees working in the yard have typical Seabee ratings, their civilian work experience makes them a match for this mission. Having diverse skill sets also enables them to perform quality inspections for most types of material. "We do have quality issues with materials from our suppliers in this part of the world, so it is important that we monitor what we receive," said Storekeeper Senior Chief Catherine Darko, the Class IV Yard Boss.
As summer approaches and the temperatures rise, so does the work tempo for Seabees running the Class IV Yards as they continue supporting coalition forces with surge operations. "People underestimate the importance of the mission we have here in the Class IV Yard. Without this material our Warfighter's couldn't execute their missions," says Equipment Operator Third Class Kenneth Short of the Al Asad Yard.
Seabees from NMCB-28 working in the Class IV yards do indeed have a lot to be proud of. Builder Second Class Krystal Kalanz at the Fallujah Class IV yard typifies the Seabee spirit. "We do enjoy working here; there is always some thing that needs to be done to help our fellow troops. All of us here take pride in knowing that the materials provided by us significantly help the troops in the field with the surge," says Kalanz. With only two months into their deployment, these Seabees will undoubtedly continue making significant contributions to Coalition Forces in support of Operation Iraq Freedom.
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Also found this article. It's amazing so much info is available to anyone online.
Spotlight on Our Operations
I mentioned our efforts to improve the quality of life for Marines. As a general rule the Marines are mission-oriented towards providing security and conducting offensive operations in an expeditionary manner, and for them the construction of FOBs and COPs is only a means to an end. They sacrifice quality of life for mission accomplishment and speed of execution. Thus, the role we as Seabees play is to follow behind the Marines, and upgrade the quality of life and address any potential life safety issues.
In addition to the two major operations completed for direct support to Operation Haris Ba'sil and Faard Al Qanoon, we are wrapping up a month-long campaign to make quality of life improvements with safety and electrical upgrades at COP Rawah. This team of eight, led by Builder Chief Robert Meeler, has been actively executing the work scope - and then some. Not only did they execute the required electrical upgrades, and conducted numerous plumbing projects and were tasked with construction a foundation for new and improved pre-packaged food facility.
The Commanding Officer of Task Force Highlander, LtCol Kelly Alexander, lauded the Seabees' efforts, by noting "their 'can-do' attitude and hard work ethic rivals that of my own Marines. I consider them part of the Highland clan now..." In particular he singled out the work of BU1 Marcel Mann and awarded him a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM). LtCol Alexander pointed out that it was Mann, and not one of his own Marines, who was the first to be awarded a Task Force Highland NAM in-country. Captain Katherine Gregory of the 30th Naval Construction Regiment echoed LtCol Alexander's comments, noting that she"could not be more proud" of the team's achievements at Rawah.
The kind of support that Chief Meeler and his crew are providing at Rawah is typical of the work that our outstanding Seabees are performing in other outlying areas, such as Korean Village and Al Qaim and the numerous battle positions there.
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