Approximately 500 Reserve Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 recently combined forces with nearly 600 active duty ‘Bees’ to participate in “Operation Bearing Duel,” a field exercise (FEX) conducted at Fort Hunter Liggett, California.

During this 18-day field exercise, through various exercise scenarios, the Seabees trained in the tactical movement and combat operations needed to operate in a hostile field environment while sustaining construction and security operations. They also engaged in a variety of other initiatives, including the building of a timber tower and security bunker at the Forward Operating Base (FOB), a water purification project, and the construction of a medium-girder bridge.

NMCBs are distinct from other units in that not only do they provide responsive military construction support to Navy and Marine Corps military operations and humanitarian efforts, but they also defend themselves at construction sites outside of their base camp and convoy through unsecured areas.

New Challenges. New Training.
“The challenges that our Seabees face on a day-to-day basis as they deploy around the globe are constantly changing. To keep pace and achieve success at every level, their training must be constantly updated and upgraded to
meet those challenges.”
Capt. Steven M. Wirsching, Commander, 31st Seabee Readiness Group (SRG)

The Expertise and Experience of Reserve Seabees Are Clearly Evident.
“The Reserve Seabees have not only their military experience, but also years of civilian experience as plumbers, carpenters, laborers, and contractors, which is so critical to getting the mission done, and getting it done right in the allotted time.”
Lt. j.g. Sydney Vest, NMCB 3 Air Detachment Officer in Charge (OIC)

As Realistic as Possible.
“For this exercise, the battalions are continuously mobile, moving out, deploying a number of detachments, bringing them back, and then relocating to another area again, making the scenarios as realistic as possible and putting the ‘mobile’ in Naval Mobile Construction Battalions.”
Senior Chief Builder (SCW) Charlotte E. Romine, NMCB 3 Battalion Operations Chief

Threat of Mortar Attacks, Sniper Fire, and Other Hostile Actions.
“This has been a very good FEX. There’s been so much more emphasis on real-life situations, which the troops need to be exposed to and engaged in to make them more effective in completing a successful mission.”
CDR (Select) Jessie Mills, NMCB 25 Executive Officer

Real-World Results.
“I have trained units here in California that have subsequently come under attack overseas. It’s very gratifying to know that because of the basic knowledge and combat skills training I gave them, they were able to survive that situation and all return home.”
(EO1) Kevin Livingston, NEC 9502 Instructor for 940.2 Basic Combat Skills, 31st Seabee Readiness Group Mobile Training Team

Click here to learn more about the Seabees in the Navy Reserve.

Former Search and Rescue Swimmer “saves”
recruits from failing.

Fix ’em. Fly in ’em. Then jump out of ’em.
This is how Navy Reserve Petty Officer, Jennifer Parent describes her time in the active duty Navy.

“My rating was Aviation Structural Mechanic, which means I could do all the repairs on the helicopters, but I was also a Search and Rescue Swimmer, so I was continually jumping out of them during training and as part of search and rescue operations.”

Jumping Into a New Role.
After serving five years, Jennifer left active duty and joined the Navy Reserve. As an instructor in the Non-Prior Service division of NR CVNE 1169, she now finds herself preparing Navy Reserve recruits with no prior military experience for Recruit Training (Boot Camp) at Great Lakes Chicago.

“I do everything from teaching my students about military bearing, protocol, customs and courtesies to getting them physically ready to pass all their PT (Physical Training) requirements,” Jennifer says. “I often get one-on-one with students and help them understand what it means to be a part of the United States Navy. Other things I try to instill are the importance of leadership and ‘Honor, Courage, and Commitment’ and how they can apply to your life every day.”

Without Her, They’d Be Sunk.

Jennifer takes a proactive role with positive results.
“One day, I noticed that many students would leave us, go to Recruit Training, and then fail because they couldn’t pass the Navy Swim Test. So being a former Navy Search and Rescue Swimmer, I took it upon myself to add swimming instruction to our training for anyone who wanted it. Because it wasn’t in the budget though, I had to do it during downtime and whenever I could fit it in.

“For the first session I had three students, then it just really caught on. The next time, there were around ten people saying, ‘Hey, when are we going to get in the pool?’ Since I started doing it, we have seen the failure rate for the Swim Test go down considerably — so much so that we have now incorporated swimming instruction as part of our regular training.

“That’s what I really like about the Reserve and our unit in particular. We are always having meetings aimed at trying to improve things. It’s good to know that if you have an idea or a way to make things better, you get the opportunity to express it and put it into action.”

To learn more about Recruit Training for personnel with no prior military experience, click here.

Cool AT – Field Exercise in Iceland.

Southern Gentleman to Northern Viking.
He lives and works in Florida. Drills in Virginia. And for his last Annual Training (AT), he traveled down to Hawaii. Who is he?

He is Steven Grover…Intelligence Officer. Navy Reservist. “Terrorist-Cell Commander.”

“Hawaii was great,” says Steven. “But if you ask me what my most memorable AT was, I’d have to say Iceland. As part of the field exercise (FEX) Northern Viking, I got to pose (in war-game scenarios) as the Commander of Terrorist Forces in order to test the security at the U.S. Naval Air Station (NAS) in Keflavik.”

SEALs and Special Forces.
“As the OPFORCE (Opposing Force) Commander, I was in charge of two Navy SEAL units, two Army Special Forces units, and even two German Special Forces units. They were all part of the Iceland Defense Force, and this exercise helped them learn how to operate in Iceland and ultimately how to better defend the base.

“My Reserve unit’s involvement could actually be traced back a year. For the entire year leading up to it, we wrote the exercise and planned all the various attacks and scenarios on our drill weekends. Then we all went to Iceland and assumed the various roles for which we had planned. It was very gratifying to be on both ends of the planning and execution.”

High School and Helicopters.
“One interesting aspect of the exercise was that we were bivouacked at a local Icelandic high school, which also served as our ‘terrorist headquarters.’ School was out so we had the run of the whole place. For the entire time, we slept there, took our meals there, and did all our planning and logistics there.

“The exercise itself was fascinating. We were flying helicopters all over the place. We would do planning on the fly, and, basically, whatever we could to test the security at the base. Sometimes, we’d win. Sometimes, we’d lose. If we got caught, that meant we lost.

“The whole exercise culminated with my capture as the terrorist commander. The defending forces had obtained intelligence that I would be traveling, so they set up an ambush and captured me in the middle of a lava field. This was a big win for them. They then took me back to the base and interrogated me, and then we all went out for dinner and drinks.”

Click here to learn more about Intelligence Officers in the Navy Reserve.

Medical Reservists “secure” more training.

Medical Exercise Adds Dimension of Security.
More than 60 Reservists assigned to Operational Health Support Unit (OHSU) took part in a two-day field exercise aimed at improving their battlefield medical skills and enhancing their self-defense skills.

Navy Reserve medical units regularly take part in field exercises, which train them and test their battlefield medical skills in areas such as first aid, transportation, and triage. This exercise also includes extensive training in security, including close-quarter combat and familiarization, and live firing of rifles and pistols – something most medics rarely get a chance to participate in.

Great for Morale.
Many of the Reservists took advantage of the opportunity and qualified for their rifle and pistol medals. Although some found it intimidating, all agreed it was a great experience.

“It’s really good to get away from the Reserve Center for a weekend and get out and do something like this. We tend to spend a lot of our drill weekends doing routine health care and records maintenance. This was great for morale.”

Cmdr. Lauren Evans, Officer in Charge of Grand Rapids Det.

First-Class Training and Cooperation.
Undertaken at the Michigan Army National Guard’s Fort Custer Training Center in Battle Creek, Michigan, the training exercise also included active duty medical personnel from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

“It was a fantastic weekend. I’m very pleased with the participation and quality of training we accomplished. It was first-class training in a great facility and another sterling example of active/reserve joint military cooperation.”

Lt. Bill Parthun, Officer in Charge of Battle Creek’s NR OHSU Det.

Click below to learn more about medical opportunities in the Navy Reserve.

Medical Enlisted
Medical Officer