navy runway

Equipment Operator 1st Class (SCW) David Martin supervises Equipment Operator 1st Class (SCW) Van Johnson as he excavates a crater September 25, 2007 in a simulated runway on Kadena Air Base as part of a joint-training exercise with the U.S. Air Force. 87 Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 personnel experienced the Rapid Runway Repair (RRR) training led by Kadena airmen to teach Seabees critical skills for their next deployment. NMCB 7 is currently deployed to the Far East to provide construction support to shore installations in support of the global war on terrorism. (U.S. Navy photo/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Lavender )

navy runway

Equipment Operator 2nd Class (AW) Gerald Flint and Equipment Operator Constructionman Jonathan Montoro cooperatively use front end loaders to scoop up the remaining pile of soil to fill a simulated crater September 25, 2007 in a simulated runway on Kadena Air Base as part of a joint-training exercise with the U.S. Air Force. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 personnel partnered with Kadena airmen from RED HORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable Hevy Operation Ready Squadron Engineers). NMCB 7 is currently deployed to the Far East to provide construction support to shore installations in support of the global war on terrorism. (U.S. Navy photo/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Lavender)

navy runway

Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 receive guidance from Air Force Master Sgt. Matthew Kimball as he explains certain pieces of equipment associated with the utilities training the Seabees experienced September 25, 2007. For most of the Seabees, this was the first time they had ever worked or trained with the U.S. Air Force, let alone another service . NMCB 7 is currently deployed to the Far East to provide construction support to shore installations in support of the global war on terrorism. (U.S. Navy photo/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Lavender)

Seabees train with RED HORSE

Published Oct. 1, 2007
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Lavender
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 Public Affairs

KADENA AB, Japan -- U.S. Navy Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 "crossed into the blue," working with U.S. Air Force personnel during a joint training exercise held Sept. 24 - 26 at Kadena Air Base, Japan.

More than 87 personnel from NMCB 7 participated in the Rapid Runway Repair and utilities training with Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operation Ready Squadron Engineers.

"Rapid Runway Repair is a very important aspect of our operations," said Air Force Master Sgt. Tommy Lucero, Kadena's RED HORSE air field damage repair superintendent of contingency training. "Any Airmen can tell you why the rapid repair of any runway can vastly affect how our base operates, especially in-theater. "We do this type of training ourselves to get our planes back into the fight after an air strike so we can establish air superiority."

RRR consists of various phases of training, including crater repair from ordnance detonation.

"If there is an attack on an airfield, we have four hours to roll out, check for chemical, biological and radiological attacks, fill the craters and cover them with matting so planes can utilize the runway," explained Equipment Operator 1st Class (SCW) Ben Neher, NMCB 7 RRR team assistant officer in charge. "Additionally, we also clear foreign object debris so it doesn't get sucked into an engine."

The three-day training evolution occurs only once or twice a year for the RED HORSE Airmen assigned to Kadena AB and the Airmen welcomed the chance to work with Seabees.

"Training the Seabees with our equipment and our sites is a win-win situation," explained Lucero. "For us, because when we have to fight, it creates a cohesive team with our sister services in-theater. For the Seabees, it's an even better opportunity because they don't have the opportunity to use this kind of equipment or site."

For the Seabees, working alongside the Air Force was a new opportunity to see how another service operates.

"This is definitely a new experience for some of us," said Neher. "We have many new guys in our battalion and only a handful has done this training before. It's good to be working with the Air Force because we can learn from them as they do from us. Their training is different, but it is educational."

The airmen quickly saw the "Can Do" spirit of the Seabees come forth, with each Seabee striving to do their best.

"This is a young team and we've seen from day one that they are constantly improving," said Lucero. "They quickly learn from their mistakes and apply the steps they learn in an expeditious manner. Overall, they're doing very well."

This is not Lucero's first time working or training side-by-side with Seabees.

"Every experience I've had working with the Seabees has been good," said Lucero. "Seabees are well disciplined and you can see that immediately. Their ranks are well organized and their upper chain of command, especially their chiefs, have a commanding presence which we need in every military unit. It's certainly a pleasure to work with them again."