NMCB 3 Seabees Receive Counter-IED Training in Preparation for Afghanistan Deployment

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) Jesse Sherwin, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 Public Affairs

April 15, 2010 - NAVAL BASE VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 attended Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) training at the Point Mugu IED Simulator Training Facility April 13.

The Seabees are part of NMCB 3's Convoy Security Element (CSE) team, and they were participating in the training in preparation for a fall deployment to Afghanistan.

"The students see how the actual devices [IEDs] are constructed, how they are utilized, how they are placed and learn to read indicators that there is an IED in the area," said Dennis Nelson, an instructor for the course.

The CIED Module I course is required training for all units deploying to the CENTCOM area of responsibility. Additional modules are provided to commands as the need arises to include training on how to plan a convoy in a hostile or IED environment.

Module one of the training consisted of a classroom and a hands on portion that required the Seabees to operate in a convoy as they faced simulated IED explosions and enemy gun fire.

"I have been stoked all week about this," said Builder Constructionman (SCW) Cameron Burrows, NMCB 3 Charlie Company. "I learned to be more observant, and how to react when we get attacked," he said.

During the convoy exercise the team was exposed to four simulated IED explosions and two simulated attacks from enemy combatants. The simulated explosions were created by a CO2 charge and talcum powder.

"This was a lot more educational than just being in a classroom," said Construction Electrician, Constuctionman Kaylie Carmon, NMCB 3 Bravo Company.

Carmon said this course is a great way to get the CSE team ready for the battalion's Field Training Exercise in August to prepare them for an Afghanistan deployment in November where the team will be faced with far more challenging scenarios than what was presented in the class.

NMCB 3 is one of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command's warfighting support elements, providing host nation construction operations and security in support of overseas contingency operations.