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Commanding OfficerCDR Dean VanderLey, CEC

Executive OfficerLCDR Kent Hendricks, CEC

Command Master ChiefCMDCM(SCW) Charles Thomas

Public Affairs OfficerMC1(SW/AW) Russell Stewart

“Focus on FOUR” is U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FOUR’s official familygram, printed with appropriated funds in accordance with NPPRP-35. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy or the Commanding Officer of NMCB FOUR. Comments and correspondence are encouraged and may be addressed to:NMCB FOUR PAOUnit 25284FPO AP 96601-4941

Commanding Officer 3Executive Officer 4Command Master Chief 5Chaplain’s Corner 6Sailor in the Spotlight 7Alfa Company 8Charlie Company 12Headquarters Company 13Convoy Security Element 15Det. Khilaguy 16Det. Konduz 17Det. Marmal 18Det. Meymaneh 19Det. Sharana 21Det. Spann 23Det. Water Well 24

Front Cover:MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan (April 23, 2010) BU2(SCW) Brett Hartman guides a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter in for a landing at the helo landing zone of FOB Deh Dadi. (U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Russell Stewart)

Back Cover:MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan (May 31, 2010) CM1 David English and CM2 Jason Williams raise the first flag flown on FOB Deh Dadi in remembrance of Memorial Day. (U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Russell Stewart)

You may also visit us on the web at:www.facebook.com/nmcb4

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Greetings Friends and Families of FOUR,

We have now been deployed for over four months, and it is amazing to witness the work your Seabee loved ones have completed already. We have built a 200-acre Forward Operating Base out of nothing and expanded numerous other Forward Operating Bases across Afghanistan. The work is hard but very rewarding, and the Seabees are making history and building a great reputation all across Afghanistan.

Mainbody and most of our Details celebrated our Over-the-Hump parties over the last couple weeks. The FRG also had a very successful celebration of the half-way point of deployment. The Seabees had a great time and a chance to catch our breath and prepare for the home stretch.

We recently had to say goodbye to Command Master Chief Leedom who is transferring to Amphibious Construction Battalion One in San Diego. Master Chief Leedom has been a truly great Command Master Chief and played a huge role in our successes over the last 2 years. The best interests of the troops were always his primary concern, and he has been selfless in his devotion to our Seabees. For me personally, he was a tremendous advisor and confidante who helped guide me in the right direction when difficult situations came up. He was as good a Command Master Chief as a Seabee Battalion could ever hope to have, and we will miss him.

Finally, for those who have not already found it, NMCB FOUR is on Facebook. There are many pictures of your Seabees posted and I encourage everyone to log on and take a tour. The link is: “http://www.facebook.com/nmcb4”

I am very proud of all the great work NMCB FOUR is doing. It is always hard to describe in words, so the pictures on Facebook do a great job of telling our story.

Thanks for all of your support on the Homefront. We couldn’t do it without you.

God Bless,CDR Dean VanderLeyCommanding Officer, NMCB FOUR

U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Russ Stewart

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Friends and families of FOUR,

Greetings from northern Afghanistan! We have officially passed the the halfway point of deployment, holding over-the-hump parties at mainbody and all det sites. The homeport planning has begun in earnest as we continue to focus on completing our current mission at hand while also looking forward to days soon to come back in California.

The outpouring of support through gifts, letters, calls, emails and countless other avenues of showing support have truly touched our hearts. Thanks to all those who have been a part these encouraging actions. It is always a difficult time to be away from family, but it also reminds us of all the things back home we have to be thankful for. Thanks for your support. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Congratulations to our latest Seabee Combat Warfare qualified Seabees. These hard chargers have been working diligently to get these done prior to coming home. It’s not an easy thing to accomplish and they should be justifiably proud of their efforts. Bravo Zulu on this important career milestone to the following Seabees:

EO3 Fredrick Thompson IT2 Janjay Mendoza ET3 James JonesBU2 Robert Gurin UT2 Jordan Gulvas BU3 Enrique ArgoteBU3 Gafayat Akindele EO3 Aaron Gillfranklin LS3 Patrick JoyntSWCN Augusta Griffiths LS2 Jacob Isbell HM3 Timothy ParksSHSN Rashaad Younger EO3 Joseph Gibson UT2 Juan Selvera BU2 Donnette Morrison ISC Bryan Stanley ENS Kyle Strausbaugh ENS Kristina Allen LT Jeremy Patelzik LT Yogi PatelLSC Henry Pacete CS3 Daniel Lujan BU3 Alexander TaylorCE2 Darwin Garza UT3 Jacob Drevecky UTCA Eric AielloLSSN Timothy Wells SWCA Derek Shue

Thanks for all you do; your support, sacrifice, hard work, and perseverance is crucial to our continued success! Thanks for the support from everyone back home! God bless you.

LCDR Kent HendricksNMCB FOUR EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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As you all know after a few years all Seabees must transfer to a new command. That time has come for NMCB FOUR’S Command Master Chief, CMDCM(SCW) Austin Leedom. CMDCM Leedom has served this Battalion for the last two years delivering nothing short of the best in leadership and professionalism. His mentorship touched every Seabee here in some form or another, whether it was the fatherly advice or the sage career guidance he has been known for. He was a major player in the development of some of the finest Seabees ever assigned to NMCB FOUR both officer and enlisted. We all wish him success as he moves to San Diego and takes the reins as the Command Master Chief of Amphibious Construction Battalion ONE. Master Chief, I thank you and the Chief’s Mess of NMCB FOUR

thank you for “living the CPO creed” each and every day! You trained this Chief’s Mess to be self reliant, independent thinkers that are leading from the front. The success of this deployment is a direct reflection of your unwavering desire to be the best and lead the best to accomplish more than they thought possible.

“Fair winds and following seas” I’m Command Master Chief Charles “Buck” Thomas. I am a 26-year veteran of

the Seabees and a product, of now, my fifth Battalion tour. You may have already met my wife Cyndee and three children, Josh 16, Ally 13, and Katey who is 11, at the many homeport functions. They too are very excited about being part of the NMCB FOUR family. In May of 2010 I accepted the honor of being the Command Master Chief of NMCB FOUR. I say honor because it is truly a privilege to return to NMCB FOUR for a second tour.

One thing about a sea story is you never know if it’s true. I heard many sea stories about NMCB FOUR and their exploits while in Afghanistan. I can now attest that all the stories were true! The planning and construction of the largest Seabee camp since WWII. A 300-acre facility called FOB Deh Dadi, built by the hands of your many Seabees from a goat pasture to a fully functioning camp.

A truly remarkable effort that made all of us proud!We are now over the hump and thinking of home. Not all focus is lost as we still

have a lot of work ahead of us. The days are growing hotter and we are looking for the day when we return to Port Hueneme to reunite with our families and enjoy the milder temperatures.

Seabees of NMCB FOUR, “Keep living the dream” and let’s continue knocking this deployment out of the park!

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Greetings Friends and Families of FOUR!

We have had a very busy month and have been very fortunate in our receiving many care packages.

One organization that sent hundreds of packages was the “www.forthetroops.org”. We have also received many wonderful surprises in these care packages. You can tell that with each box--care and well wishes were packed inside. Many swaps took place once the packages were opened. It was very neat to see and hear the “does anyone have this…or would anyone like this or I’ll give you this for that.” On occasion I even threw out the packages, which made them laugh, it gave them a fun moment without thinking about where they were, but it also reminded them of you, the families at home.

So thanks very much Simi Valley For the Troops, we are most grateful. Some of the other wonderful packages and items have come from you, the friends and families of FOUR. As seen by this fine Seabee, who is shopping for a much needed item.

The Bee Free store is functioning very well and we are grateful for the Family Readiness Group poster that hangs in the background too! From all the Seabees in these pictures, you can see that we take time to remember you while we work long

hours. Thanks for continuing to remember us all in your prayers and we look forward to hugging you when we get back.

Blessings to all!

U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Russ StewartU.S. Navy photo by MC1 Russ Stewart

U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Russ Stewart U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Russ Stewart

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A year and a half ago Builder Constructionman Apprentice Ryan Gillings was your average high school student at Oshkosh North High School in Wisconsin. In school he attended such classes as Auto shop, Drafting and Woodshop in addition to his regular classes. Little did he know that these classes would prepare him well for his future with the Navy Seabees.

“At first I didn’t want to join the Navy. I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps and be a Marine, but I checked out the Navy anyway. After I saw what they had to offer and given my background in high school I made the Navy my choice,” said Gillings. On July 7, 2009 Constructionman Gillings departed for boot camp and entered into the Navy. Like most new recruits there was a period of adjustment, but in no time he was in the swing of things and on his way to being a Navy Seabee.

After completing Boot Camp and Builder “A” School, Constructionman Gillings took leave to visit friends and family back home; he then reported to NMCB FOUR in Port Hueneme, CA. Once he was checked in and issued all his gear he was sent to Camp Mike Spann in Northern Afghanistan to catch up with the Battalion. Gillings said that when he arrived in Camp Spann he knew it was exactly where he belonged. “All my training had led me to this point, expanding a forward operating base for more American troops; to come here and participate in the troop surge.”

About three weeks later he was selected to go back to Spann to be a crewmember for the construction of a two-story Tactical Operations Center for the 1st Brigade 10th Mountain. He has been living the builder dream, doing everything, placing over 65 cubic meters of concrete, laying out and installing of over 5,000 square feet of walls and 180 trusses. Gillings also assisted with building a tent floor for the Croatian Army that are deployed here on a combined operation with the Minnesota National Guard.

As we hit the half way mark of the 2010 Afghanistan deployment, the leadership is starting to plan the homeport class schedules and daily plans. “Constructionman Gillings is off to a superb start in his Navy career. With a few classes this homeport, he will be able to build upon the technical knowledge he gained from this deployment, and be a tremendous asset to the Battalion as we plan for our next on deployment in 2011,” said Builder Chief Kevin Nolan the Det Spann Assistant Officer In Charge.

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rBUCA Ryan Gillings takes measurements to install ceiling sheeting for a Tactical Operation Center (TOC) in northern Afghanistan.

BUCA Ryan Gillings uses a magnesium float to finish a concrete pad.

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ALFA DAWGSBy CMCS Loegering

As I sit here in Afghanistan thinking about what I have done and seen over my 26-year career, I find myself standing back in awe with what I am seeing today. Watching all the Alfa Dawgs mature, gain professional knowledge, and work together to complete even the most difficult tasks on a daily basis is just amazing. This is the first time in my career that I have seen a project in this magnitude. The tasking that we have been given here in Afghanistan is a dream come true for us.

We have taken an open field and have turned it into a Forward Operating Base for all coalition forces. We actually put some of the things that we learned during our Field Training Exercise (FTX) into action. We had to put up a defensive wall, (in this case dirt berms) and HESCO barriers in order to protect us from direct fire, set security and continue with the construction inside the perimeter. When we first moved in it was just NMCB FOUR. Now we have a few other forces moving in and helping where they can. I remember when I came in. We did not have all this equipment to work with. We had less but were still expected to provide results.

Today’s Alfa Company is no different than when I came in. The reasons for joining the military might be a little different but the type of people that come in hasn’t changed over the years. Everyone wants to come in, do their job and hopefully do something that will be remembered. This 300-acre lot that we are currently working will more than likely be remembered for years to come. Not just with the coalition forces but also with the local population. This base will remind them that the world stood up to terrorism and this location was used to help in the efforts. Without the talents of both the older and younger generations working together, this would not have happened. When we first started there was just an open-grassy field and with the use of bull dozers, scrapers and excavators, this base has quickly turned into an area that people can live on. The Equipment Operator’s (EO) are quickly becoming seasoned professionals while the Construction Mechanic’s (CM) are keeping up stride-for-stride ensuring that the equipment stays up and operational everyday. All of these Seabees have learned something. If you were to compare the first day they hit the ground until now, you would see a huge difference. They have all taken this challenge by the horns and are proving themselves everyday of the week. Again, without teamwork within our company, we would not be successful at what we do. There is not one individual amongst us.

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CMCS Loegering giving his parting remarks to the Seabee’s of NMCB FOUR.

FOB Deh Dadi from the air.

(Alfa. continued on page 9)

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I asked CMCN Astin how things were going for her. She said that she is really enjoying what she is doing. She never imagined being in a place like this, doing this type of work. Plus, she can now hold a good conversation with her father, also a mechanic, about automotive repair. Even CM3 Null said he loves the Navy and the Seabees, especially now that he is on the water well team. He also stated that the most difficult part of the deployment is leaving family behind while we are deployed around the world. I must agree, that has always been and probably will remain the most difficult part of the deployment for our Seabees.

Our Seabees have not changed much over the years but our Civil Engineer Support Equipment (CESE) has. With today’s challenges and weapon’s, our CESE has been beefed up to handle even this rough environment. Yes, today’s CESE are saving our Seabee’s lives. We have come a long way over the years to make sure our Seabee’s have what they need to take care of business and come back home to their families safely. There is no better feeling than watching your Seabees come off the plane from a long deployment into the arms of their family and friends. That’s when you know you have done your part.

Finally, I want to thank everyone in Alfa Company and NMCB FOUR to allow me to end my career on a high note. This is truly the best group of people that I had the pleasure of working with. Remember, it doesn’t matter where you are or what you are doing, you will always be an Alfa Dawg. We run as a pack, like a family, and always take care of each other. We finish assigned tasks that are placed in front of us with amazing results as a team. I may not physically be with you in the future, but I will always be there in spirit. HOORAH ALFA DAWGS!!

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(Alfa from page 8)

EO3(SCW) Aaron Gillfranklin, CM3(SCW) Jeremy Null, EO1(SCW) Jose Faypon add a new section of drill steel at the new water well site.

EOCN Nicholas Byram knocks down an old berm using his Caterpillar D7G Bulldozer in the western expansion area of FOB Deh Dadi.

The “Ever-Expanding” Alfa yard at FOB Deh Dadi.

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NMCB FOUR Goes Over The Humpby CMCN Timothy Ryan

Four months after the Advance Party left the safety and comfort of American soil, FOUR’s main body group celebrates their deployment’s half-way point at FOB Deh Dadi.

On May 7th, FOUR took the day off to play horseshoes and football and enjoy some picnic food. This year’s “Over the Hump” Party was put together by the First Class Petty Officers Association (FCPOA). FCPOA President, Construction Mechanic 1st Class (SCW/EXW/SW/AW/SCI) Jeremy Cabanilla, known to his junior troops as “The Thrilla”, commented on the successful event, “The thing that stands out [in my mind is] the fact that people always talk about how miserable deployment can be sometimes, all the hard work, all the blood they poured into this Command and they don’t feel appreciated. Yet they’re still willing to come to the “Over the Hump” Party and play for a change. The First Classes want them to know that this day was for them. Historically, OTH is saying the hard part is over. It’s time to start counting down. The gym starts getting crowded because [the troops] want to start looking good and getting in shape for when they go home.”

There was also a scavenger hunt in addition to the sports and food. Many of the Bees in FOUR offered their thoughts on the event as a whole. “It was an opportunity for the guys to take their minds off the current mission and just enjoy themselves,” said Construction Mechanic 2nd Class (SCW) Jared Stewart. “It was great to blow off some steam on the volleyball court with the guys,” said Construction Mechanic

3rd Class (SCW) Frank Skupny. “It was a nice relief to have a full day off. I played horseshoes for the first time,” said Construction Mechanic Constructionman Dylan “Sushi” Cockrell.

Burgers and steaks kept hungry Seabees full and there were plenty of beverages to wash it all down, including Becks Non-Alcoholic brew, which drew the only criticism of the day. “The near beer wasn’t as good as I hoped. I would have rather had a Corona,” said Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Brian Warlick.

The mainbody Bees had not taken a full day off since early March and many of the troops expressed relief for the break that came. “I was so excited about the “Over the Hump” Party that it made me want to jump for joy” said Construction Mechanic 2nd Class (SCW) Aaron Backlin.

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EA3 Holman Li and YNSN Santiago Robles read a clue for the scavenger hunt

CMCN Kyle Roman enjoys some good food

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(OTH. continued on page 11)

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HM3 Timothy Parks and his iron wits playing horseshoes.

ENS Kyle Strausbaugh delivers a wicked serve.

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When asked if morale had changed after the OTH, “The Thrilla” said, “[From what I see in] Alfa Company, yes. The guys wanna put out more because they know they ‘re leavin’ and they don’t wanna do a half-hearted turnover for the next Battalion. They know it’s downhill from here”.

With full stomachs and batteries recharged, FOUR plunges into the second half of their high desert deployment. Looking forward to reunions with their loved ones, FOUR looks to have even more success in the second half of deployment than they did in the first.

(OTH. from page 10)

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BU1 Patrick Posey and BU1 Bruce Spradlin grilling.

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EO3 Jimmy Snaric punting a football

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A crowd admires a pick-up football game.

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MWR Computer CenterBy UT2 Juan Selvera

Charlie Company Seabees worked diligently to complete the MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) center at FOB Deh Dadi. They had little time to spare, since the notice to provide power, lights and connect all cabling came earlier than expected. The job was not impossible it just required the complete dedication of Camp Maintenance to fulfill the task. The job was completed by the next morning just in time for the contracted personnel to arrive and install all the computers and phones. The MWR has been an outstanding morale booster for all of our young warriors. While some members of this Battalion have only been on-board for a month, most have been in Afghanistan for several months and have lived without recreation activities and limited internet and phone capabilities.

The MWR Computer Center opened for business MAY 1st. With the new addition to the camp, members are able to reach out to their families and loved ones informing them that they are doing well. Army and Air Force personnel are also welcomed to enjoy the facilities. Some members of NMCB FOUR were very excited about the opening, BUCN Labrier “I am happy that we are able to use these computers now because I am able to do web chatting and visit my favorite web sites like Facebook and Yahoo! Mail.” Along with computers and phones, members can play ping pong, lounge on leather couches, use card tables, televisions, and gaming consoles.

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CE1 Rodney Stephenson preparing the internet kiosks.

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SWCN Drew Pollard and BU3 Maira Zaragoza building the internet kiosks.

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The completed MWR computer and phone facility.

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By LS3 Darleen Kemble

Outstanding! Exceptional! Incomparable! What sounds like an ad for opening night of a major motion picture is actually a list of key words used when discussing the efficiency of NMCB FOUR’s Material Liaison Office (MLO). Under the direct supervision of ENS Kristina Allen and BUC John Steen, the MLO crew has been working far beyond their normal boundaries of the possession, inventory, and issuance of all materials used for homeport training and Field Training Exercise projects.

When the original MLO team arrived at FOB Deh Dadi, they were amazed at the size of the empty yard given to them to manage. They have since transformed into a well-rounded, self-sufficient force that is currently operating on about 1/3 of the engineering camp’s perimeter with very little room to spare. Although the primary tasking of creating an MLO Yard from the ground up while continuing to maintain operations was successful, this was simply a stepping stone in what

has transpired into one of the most impressive operations this deployment has seen .

Working in support of eight forward operating bases with 32 projects, to include tactical operation centers, fuel points, and concrete pads, BU3 Ian Wilkinson and BU3 Nicholas Leetch are constantly coordinating with the Army’s Movement Control Team to track the movement of the $120 thousand worth of materials that are in transit on a daily basis.

Accounting for the movement and staging of about $16-$18 million worth of materials (eight times the amount of that accounted for in homeport), Yard Boss CE2 Patrick Cleary proudly gives all the credit to his crew. “All of our personnel are pretty self-sufficient,” he explains, “They’re like a machine, all I do is keep them well-oiled so they can keep moving.”

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SWCN Andree Urroz removes HESCO barriers from a shipping container in the MLO Yard in his 10K Tele-handler Forklift.

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CMCN Sloan Stoltz drives a John Deere Skid Loader out of a cargo container under the guidance of BU3 Ian Wilkenson at FOB Deh Dadi.

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BU3 Max Connely operates a Rugged Terrain Container Handler to move a cargo container in the MLO yard at FOB Deh Dadi.(MLO. continued on page 14)

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And keep moving they do, so much so that Lead Petty Officer BU1 Adam Beardsley recently formed a night crew in order to maintain 24 hour operations to keep up with the demanding responsibilities of the crew.

The evening shift’s primary duties are to handle the uploading and preparation of military and local trucks for the following day’s convoys, as well as creating and maintaining yard organization. The basic daily routine consists of convoying to Camp Spann, escorting three trucks at a time through the Entry Control Point to the MLO Yard, downloading, verifying, and offloading materials, and escorting the trucks off camp. Averaging about nine trucks per day, that is only a quick glimpse at the crew’s tasks.

One of the major obstacles for the crew has been adapting to the differences between typical MLO tasks and NMCB FOUR’s MLO tasks. One of the most notable differences is that NMCB FOUR’s crew is running their own security team, as well as convoy and escort services, which are normally handled by the Battalion’s Convoy Security Element (CSE). “Normally, MLO will remain on base and send out expeditors if necessary,” explains Wilkinson, “but we cannot rely on CSE to make these runs because their tasks are just as demanding as ours.” Standard regulations require MLO to have a minimum of six personnel on their escort team, causing them to adjust their extensive schedule to accommodate the training and licensing processes for drivers Wilkinson and SWCN Andree Urroz, Assistant Drivers CM3 Sloan Stoltz and UT3 Eric Woolford, and Gunners Beardsley and BU3 Max Connelly. HM3 Timothy Parks, ITSN Juan Trujillo, and YNSN Derrick Long, who typically serve the administrative tasks of the Battalion, have also displayed their dedication to the Command’s mission by acting as yard workers and quickly adapting to the high-tempo operations and demanding work load.

“I truly appreciate everything these guys do; they are phenomenal,” boasts Chief Steen of his crew, “Whether they are permanent MLO staffing or on two-month assignment, we have so many personnel working outside of their rates; we find their strong point and we utilize it. They’re all amazing.” While continuing with their daily routine, MLO is currently awaiting a large influx of electrical material that they will have to sort, ration, and distribute to each project site. Once this critical task is complete, they will then turn their focus on a smooth turn-over with NMCB FORTY.

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BU3 Ian Wilkenson uses a SkyTrak 11k Boom Forklift to remove cargo from a container at FOB Deh Dadi.

U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Russ StewartThe massive MLO yard.

(MLO. from page 13)

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Convoy Security Element

By BU3Sherry Clark

The Convoy Security Element team made a quick stop to pass out some toys last week during one of their routine convoys. All the donations were given to CSE by LT Catherine Pace, the NMCB FOUR Chaplain. “All the toys and gifts were sent from the good people back home, and various churches. It’s my pleasure to pass it on to the local people who might need them,” commented Pace.

BUC(SCW/SW) Allen Johnson, the convoy commander, placed his MRAP truck in the back of the convoy on the way to Marmal, and when passing through the village Deh Dadi, stopped and passed out toys, gloves, beach balls, socks, and stuffed animals to the local people.

Johnson started to pass out gifts to the locals, but the masses came from everywhere surrounding him from all directions. “I looked over and couldn’t even see Chief, he was surrounded by dozens of kids,” said BU1( SCW) Adalberto Corona, who was maintaining security and slowing traffic to protect the crowd of kids.

It was little difficult to hand out toys to so many people on the ground, so Chief Johnson got back in the truck and opened the little safety hatch and began tossing toys from the top of the truck. Elders and parents came over got some toys for their kids and speaking in English, thanked the Seabees for their gifts.

Across the street a couple of Afghan women watched as the kids received gifts. BU1 Corona had some nice gloves and cautiously headed over to offer them. It’s not customary for Afghan women to interact with men especially American men. The women began to walk away as Corona came toward them. “I stopped walking to them because I could tell they were uncomfortable with my approach. So I stopped and held out my hands and offered the gloves. They came over and took them but grabbed them and quickly walked away.”

As the truck pulled away the people smiled and waved, and kids ran along the side giving thumbs up and waving holding their new toys close in hand. “It made me feel good, helping out the people,” said Corona, “I hope we get a chance to do it again”. CSE Team ANACONDA continues to run missions around the area of Mazar-e-Sharif, and is persistent in their efforts to win the hearts and minds of the people.

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The Joy of A Good MealBy: CE2 (SCW) Neal Walker

On a cool summer night, a mix of German Pioneers and Seabees joined together in the dining tent to enjoy a dinner hosted by the Germans. Around the tent, loud laughter, sea stories and language lessons being taught could be heard. Soon after, their leading enlisted Pioneer Master Sergeant Ruger stood and gave a brief speech on why hosting the Americans for a dinner was important to them. “I hope tonight we can all enjoy this food, build friendships, and a working relationship to help one another. So that we may achieve our goals quickly and become successful towards our shared mission”. He also joked that he hoped his English was good enough for the Americans to understand what he was saying.

As time passed and joint operations continued. Little did the two groups know that a giant storm was headed their way. The clouds came in, bringing thunder, lightning and a torrential downpour of hail; causing heavy flooding to both American

and German areas of the new compound. The next morning the two units walked around to assess the damage. The trenches that had been dug for drainage had collapsed, causing backups in water runoff. DET Khilaguy came to the aid and immediately helped coordinate methods on how to properly construct culverts and ditches to prevent the erosion from happening again. Utilizing the Seabee expertise and German ingenuity, the problem was resolved.

With all the work that has been ongoing, the two groups were able to perform exactly what the German Master Sergeant had hoped for. Friendships did in fact result, working together, helping complete each other’s tasking days ahead of schedule. It truly is amazing what can be achieved through the power of a good dinner. CM2 Steven Hornback works on top

of the HESCO’s in preparation for the concrete cap.

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EO2 Arcello Venzon continues to operate the Grader over the muddy conditions.

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“Over the Hump”by CE2 Trayvosier Roddy

NMCB FOUR’s Det Konduz held an

“Over the hump” party on May 8, 2010,

commemorating passing the mid-way

mark through deployment. A much

deserved day off for the hardworking

Seabees of NMCB FOUR, Steelworker

Second Class (SCW) Joshua Nenortas

said “Its days like this that brings us

together a unit.”

The day “kicked off” with a morning

game of flag football. Given the limited

available space on the Forward Operating Base (FOB), with cooperation of the Army

and Seabee ingenuity, the game was held in a vehicle parking area on gravel. The

details two squads were matched up against each other in an extremely competitive

game where the first squad narrowly pulled out a 11 to 9 victory over the second

squad. Builder Third Class Amber Mann was voted the game’s MVP. “Who says a

girl can’t play football,” said BU3 Mann.

The remainder of the day was spent relaxing, playing cards, watching movies, and

celebrating a much deserved day off. It was a fun-filled day on FOB Konduz, full of

excitement, competition and laughter.

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CM2(SCW) Sean Kelly and SW2(SCW) Josh Nenortas prepare to perform maintenance on construction equipment.

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Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FOUR play a game of flag football during an “over the hump” party celebrating the half-way through deployment mark.

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By BU3(SCW) Nathan Britton

The Seabees of NMCB FOUR, DET Marmal, Afghanistan, had the privilege to tour the German Air Force’s Tornado Squadron on April 27, 2010. Guiding the Seabees through the maintenance hangar of the Tornado’s is First Lieutenant (1st LT) Braur of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). The Tornado is a multi-role jet fighter designed in the 1960’s for low altitude, high speed combat. Capable of in-flight refuel, usually by American fuel planes, however, when the need arises the Tornado’s have the capability of refueling each other.

1st LT Braur went on to explain the operational mission of the Tornado’s part of International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF): the purpose of the use of flares and how, when and why they use them. 1st LT Braur took everyone up to the cockpit, and described the ejection procedures of the pilot, navigator and weapons officer. Upon each ejection, the ejected pilot loses 3cm of their height, after which medical will stretch the pilot back 2cm, but they will forever lose that other centimeter.

Among the Seabees attending the tour were Construction Electrician Constructionman Kreshaune Cervantes and Equipment Operator Constructionman Melissa Cotham. Cotham said “I loved the tour, my only regret is that I wasn’t able to go for a ride!” Cervantes described the experience to learn about the jets and interact with the Germans as exciting and enlightening. “We see the Tornado’s fly every day, it was a rare experience to see them up close,” said Cervantes.

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1ST Lieutenant Braur of the German Air Force gives a tour of the German Tornado Squadron stationed on Camp Marmal to a group of Seabees of Det Marmal, NMCB 4.

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Seabees of NMCB 4, DET Marmal, listen in as 1st Lieutenant Braur of the German Air Force explains the operational capabilities and restrictions of the German Tornado.

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EOCN Melissa Cotham looks on as 1ST Lieutenant Braur of the German Air Force explains the eject function of the German Tornado.

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The Flood in FOB Meymaneh

By CE3(SCW) Rostislav Fridhaim

On April 19th 2010, a flood occurred at FOB Meymanah, Camp “Griffin”. The levy which held back the irrigation water in the farming field adjacent to the base’s perimeter broke and flooded the northeast section of the base. The HESCO barrier, a perimeter wall at the time, threatened to collapse in the flooded section, and the dirt road that runs along the HESCO barrier, had turned into a river.

The NMCB FOUR Seabees crew that is currently manning the FOB, equipped with shovels, a grader and a front-end loader, rushed to the scene in an attempt to contain the flood, and to divert the current of water away from the perimeter wall. All hands worked together as a team, united by the unexpected peril, to combat against the raging waters and save their perimeter wall. In the process, the grader became trapped in the mud and immobilized. It was later recovered with the skillful use of a front-end loader.

After approximately an hour of work, the flow of water was successfully diverted and the flood had ceased. All the water which had run into camp, approximately 7,000 gallons, accumulated in and around the drainage well. Utilizing pales and trash cans it took a team of Seabees four days to remove all remnants of the flood. Once again the NMCB FOUR Seabees of DET Meymaneh have successfully accomplished the mission with their eternal “Can Do” spirit.

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Flooded areas of the camp.

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Attempting to free a sunken grader.

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EO2 Chance Keiter working atop of the dirt pile clearing ground for new perimeter wall

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Improving the Quality of LifeBy CE3(SCW) Rostislav Fridhaim

The Seabees of NMCB FOUR DET Meymaneh, in addition to their main mission of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) expansion, are also developing a series of side projects aimed at improving the overall morale of the DET’s troops.

Projects include a small break area known as “Seabee Alley”, conveniently located between the two berthing tents where the troops gather after work to spend time together and to discuss the events of another successful work day; an internet connection that runs to both berthing tents, and soon to come AFN TV via satellite. In addition, individual troops have built various furniture pieces such as chairs, a card table and various types of organizers and rodent proof containers to enhance their quality of life.

The execution of those improvements is conducted under the guidance and supervision of BU1(SCW/SW) Selvera. In addition, BU1 Selvera is training different troops in the Builder’s rate thus developing their professional growth.

Here in this small FOB, little concessions which improve morale and the quality of life for the troops seem to be crucial for a positive working atmosphere. Nevertheless, with or without those concessions, the Seabee’s “Can Do” spirit is the main component in the successful accomplishments of the missions and tasks.

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Det Meymaneh and visitors enjoying the “Over the Hump” BBQ.

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SW2 Matthew Long giving the performance of his life with EA3 Thomas Clark as his faithful audience.

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EO2 Chance Keiter faking out EO3 Justin Meadors during a friendly game of touch football.

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With a smile on his face, CMCN Steven McAlister receives a care package sent out to all the troops.

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Seabees in East Aghanistan Celebrate Over the Hump

Deployment MarkBy BUCN Jenell Chase

On Forward Operating Base Sharana, Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) FOUR - Detail RC-East, have passed the half-way point for the deployment. To celebrate, the First Class Petty Officer Association hosted an “Over the Hump” party during a much needed day off.

“Coming to Afghanistan, after having our hearts set on deploying to PACOM, can really cut into the morale of the troops. Though the troops have bounced back and put their hearts into each project, they really earned a day off to relax and enjoy themselves,” said SW1(SCW) Richard Armstrong.

“Detail RC-East really deserved to have a good time. Our motivation for coordinating the celebration came from the hard work each Seabee had put into every project,” said BU1(SCW) Jason Busby.

The Over the Hump party consisted of various activities and events, such as the sledge-hammer toss, the HMMWV push, tug-of-war, volleyball, flag football, ultimate frisbee, and horseshoe tournaments.

The day began with the sledge-hammer toss where each Seabee was given the chance to see how far they could toss a seven pound sledge hammer.

“I wasn’t the strongest out there, but I watched the others and tried a different strategy. I just focused on throwing as straight and as far as I could. It felt good to come out on top and win an extra day to sleep in,” said ET3 Mikel Carpenter.

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LCDR Rafael Miranda addressing the troops.

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Game on!

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BUC Nicholas Christilaw and LT Jeremy Nevin

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ET3 Mikel Carpenter

(OTH. continued on page 22)

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In the afternoon, Detail RC-East had a cookout, giving everyone a break from the monotonous food of the base galley. The barbecue was set up and managed by YN1(SCW) Robert Nogales who was helped by BU1(SCW) Eric Laposi and SW1(SCW) Samuel Ruby, grilling hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken, and fish, all served with macaroni salad, chips and sodas.

1st Platoon, 2nd Squad, aka team SLATM (Senior Leadership Against The Man), won the Tug-of-War Championship. Team SLATM pulled together by calling cadences and powered through all opponents.

“We started off as just a DET, but once we got into our groove on the project site, we realized we were Team SLATM. We can still work hard as a crew and pull anything off, especially if it’s Tug-of-War!” said Ruby.

“Making it half-way through my first deployment is an exciting realization, and a huge milestone in my career. The over the hump party was a great ‘first’ for me. As a Seabee, deployment is what we are all about; once we are done I will have my own stories and tricks of the trade to share with our future Seabees,” said CECN Brett Collins.

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SW1 Samuel Ruby and BU1 Eric Laposi.

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SWCR Caleb Lundy in the “HumVee” pull.

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Tug-0-War

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SW3 Troy Franklin and BU3 Ilia Nikiforov.

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CECN Brett Collins.

(OTH. from page 21)

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Det Spann

Helping a DreamBy SW2 Richard Saltenberger

Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FOUR take time to support the library on camp in northern Afghanistan. The Florence B. Choe Memorial Library, located on Camp Mike Spann, was named after Lieutenant Florence B. Choe, USN, who was fatally wounded by enemy fire on 27 March 2009 on Camp Shaheen.

The library was recently moved to a larger facility and the majority of the books were still in boxes since there were not enough shelves at the new location for the quantity of books. With a few sheets of plywood, some tools and a rainy day, members of Detail Spann set off to construct book shelves and magazine racks. In a day’s work BU3 Thorson and his crew were able to get a large quantity of books off the floor and out of boxes and on to shelves, so that all service members will be able to use them. “With the right tools and mindset there is always time to give back and remember the people who have sacrificed all,” said Builder Chief (SCW) Kevin Nolan.

To help remember Lieutenant Choe there is a dedication plaque in the library that reads:

“During her tour at Camp Mike Spann, Mazar-e- Sharif, Afghanistan, LT Choe dedicated herself to making a difference in the lives of the Afghan people, she mentored Afghan doctors, nurses and administrative staff of the ANA regional hospital on Camp Shaheen, additionally, she launched various Camp Spann MWR events,

initiated the creation of the first ever ARSIC North MWR coin, and instituted the United Through Reading and the Navy Professional Reading Programs. LT Choe made a big difference in the lives and morale of the US and Coalition Forces, and the Afghanistan people.”

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SWCN James McMahan and UTCN Robert Stadtler show off a book shelf they constructed for the Lieutenant Florence B. Choe Library in Northern Afghanistan.

BU3 Joshua Hanover, BUCN Kevin Geiger and SWCN James McMahan install new book shelves they constructed for the Lieutenant Florence B. Choe Library in Northern Afghanistan.

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The rig was drilling and all operations were normal...

Mud was being tested…

And they had not a care in the world

But then something broke

Something really small as it turned out But that small piece goes in this big piece, and with-out the top head you can’t drill! Luckily, a replace-ment was found and the team got back to drilling

But then these bearings went bad and there wasn’t such an easy fix After hearing that replacement parts would be

2 months coming in, morale took a down turn

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But that small piece goes in this big piece, and with-out the top head you can’t drill! Luckily, a replace-ment was found and the team got back to drilling

All the team members got back to work

And soon the drilling rig was ready to get going again

The team quickly made repairs and got the new top head installed.

But then word was received that it wouldn’t be 2 months after all, and that a new top head was already in country. The mood went quickly went from frustrated

to incredulous but happy!

Making things even more amazing, they got the new top head on a flight to the

team the same day it was found!

And the quest for water goes on…

fof_may_2010

Documents

commanding officer of

great command master

command master chief

great work nmcb

navy photo congratulations

following seabees

great time

seabee battalion