Face of Defense: Marine, Seabee Reunite After Decade

By Marine Corps Cpl. Timothy Lenzo

Regional Command Southwest

FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan, Oct. 1, 2012 – The sound of power tools and commands come from the battalion aid station here, startling a few Marines walking by. Two corpsmen stand out from the crowd of sailors inside the building as they work on a remodeling project.

More than a decade after their paths first crossed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the former Marine and Seabee are united as corpsmen with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. The two service members started their military careers in different fields. One trained to be a Marine, the other a Navy Seabee, but now they work together here.

“When I joined the Navy, I had a degree in construction, so that’s what the Navy wanted me to do,” said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class David Cergol. “At the time, the Seabees were undermanned, so it was more important for me to help them.”

Cergol, from Pittsburg, started working construction when he was 14. After 10 years in the civilian world, he decided he wanted a change, but found himself again working construction for the Navy.

“The Seabees are a great group of people, but I ultimately joined because I wanted to be on the front lines and be with the Marines,” he said.

Unlike Cergol, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jordan Fitzgerald started his military career with the Marines. He served with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The corpsmen’s paths first crossed during the initial push into Iraq. Fitzgerald served in the infantry and fought on the front lines. Meanwhile Cergol, working as a builder with the Seabees, followed behind the infantry, helping with security.

“We were both able to talk about the towns we went through, and the forward operating bases being set up,” Cergol said. “He was more the tip of the spear, and I was more behind, doing logistics.”

After their first enlistment, the two service members decided to sever ties with their old units. Fitzgerald, from Yucca Valley, Calif., considered joining the Navy SEALs before deciding on a different future.

“Being a grunt, I had a pretty good idea of what corpsmen did,” he said. “I knew corpsmen went with Marines, and I’m not the guy who likes ship life. Also I enjoy helping people, and knew I’d be helping Marines.”

While Fitzgerald looked at other jobs first, Cergol knew from the start he wanted to be a corpsman. He helped as a Seabee because that’s where the Navy needed him, but he jumped at the chance to start his career in the medical field.

“I enjoy the medical side,” he said. “I wanted to be with the Marines, and I wanted to make more of a difference and ultimately save lives.”

The two use their prior jobs as tools for their current jobs. Cergol became certified to operate the heavy equipment around the forward operating base. He regularly helps by driving forklifts and constructing new fixtures. “I’m able to draw on my experience with the Seabees to strengthen security and improve overall living conditions,” he said. “When I was in Iraq, one of the bases we stayed at had little to no security. We were able to get together and build up the walls and better secure our buildings.”

During that deployment, a suicide bomber attacked the base. “The additional walls definitely paid off,” Cergol said. “The walls ended up protecting us.”

Cergol and Fitzgerald recently took on a construction job inside the battalion aid station here.

“Being a prior Seabee makes him more versatile,” Fitzgerald said of Cergol. “Right now we are remodeling the BAS to better suit our needs, and his experience as a builder definitely helps.”

Cergol said his experience as a Seabee helps him in tangible ways, while Fitzgerald’s experience as a Marine is more abstract. “He’s very disciplined,” he said. “You can tell he used to be a Marine. He still has that rigid discipline about him.”

Fitzgerald’s past also gives him an immediate connection with the Marines he cares for. “I think it gives me instant credibility,” he said. “After all, I’ve done more deployments than the majority of them.”

He also has learned a great deal of leadership from the Marines, he added, and this skill helps him teach the corpsmen under him.

“I think the Marine Corps teaches small-unit leadership better than the other branches,” he said. “The Marine Corps taught me how to manage situations really well.”

Though their focus is the health of the Marines and sailors, service members might see Cergol operating a forklift or Fitzgerald correcting his corpsmen on the proper wear of the uniform. The two moved on from the early part of their military careers, but have found they use their original military skills every day.

Two U.S. Navy Sailors to represent American Talent in British Talent Contest in Afghanistan

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jonathan Carmichael, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 Public Affairs

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (NNS) -- Two Sailors assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 will compete with service members from the U.K. and U.S. in a talent contest, Aug. 31, 2012 being held on the British Camp, Bastion.

Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Laquita S. Brooks, and Construction Mechanic Constructionman Kevin E. Quarles were among six Americans awarded automatic entry in the British talent competition following a talent contest on Camp Leatherneck, Aug. 4.

The Camp Leatherneck talent contest showcased talents of American service members from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force as well as civilians employed on the base.

Quarles placed 2nd in the Camp Leatherneck talent contest with "Empty Chair," a song he wrote and performed on acoustic guitar.

"It was an awesome opportunity. I loved it," exclaimed the Watertown, Tenn. native. Quarles' performance drew cheers from the crowd and praise from the judges for its originality and passion.

Brooks, originally from Jacksonville, N.C., placed third on Camp Leatherneck with a performance of her self-penned poem, "Self Will." Judges gave positive remarks for a strong performance, originality, and her ability to keep the interest of nearly 400 audience members.

"It was as if the audience became a blur, and I could only hear myself," said Brooks who developed a technique of self isolation to combat her nervousness on stage. "I tell myself, whenever I'm performing, 'it's just you. Relax and do your thing.'"

Of the 16 contestants who participated in the Camp Leatherneck talent show, the top six, as scored by a panel of judges, were invited to compete in the upcoming British talent competition.

Brooks and Quarles are each preparing original material for next week's performance.

Quarles, 22, has been writing songs for years. He said that he is likely to polish up one of his existing songs and focus on giving the best performance that he can for the crowd and judges on Camp Bastion.

Writing poetry is something that 29-year old Brooks began doing in middle school. "The idea is there," said Brooks of the new poem she will perform in the upcoming talent show. Though it is not yet written, Brooks is confident that inspiration will come to her when the time is right.

Homeported in Gulfport, Miss., NMCB-11 is deployed to Afghanistan to conduct general mobility, survivability engineering operations, defensive operations, Afghan National Army partnering and detachment of units in combined/joint operations area - Afghanistan in order to enable the neutralization of the insurgency and support improved governance and stability operations.

Admiral Handley Visits Seabees in Helmand, Farah Provinces

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jonathan Carmichael

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (NNS) -- Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 experienced a rare opportunity when they received a visit from Commander of 1st Naval Construction Division (NCD), May 15 in both Helmand and Farah Provinces of Afghanistan.

Rear Adm. Mark A. Handley was accompanied by Command Master Chief John F. Mulholland, 1-NCD, Capt. Kathryn A. Donovan, Commodore of 22nd Naval Construction Regiment (NCR), and Command Master Chief Mark E. Kraninger, 22-NCR.

After several meetings at the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) headquarters on Camp Leatherneck, Handley was welcomed to Camp Krutke, by Cmdr. Lore Aguayo, Commanding Officer of NMCB-11.

Handley attended a ceremony in which he reenlisted Equipment Operator 2nd Class Charles E. Reid, originally from Lilburn, Ga.

Following the reenlistment the admiral frocked Intelligence Specialist Layne W. Duras, from Hillsboro, Ore., to Petty Officer Third Class. "I had never met him before, and my first thought was 'that guy is pretty tall,'" said Duras who admits he was nervous when he found out that he was going to be advanced by an Admiral. " ... but once I got up there and Admiral Handley started talking to me, everything went smoothly."

Handley then presented multiple awards and Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist (SCWS) enlisted warfare qualifications.

"It was pretty exciting," said Builder Constructionman Anna L. Parcher, "not many people get pinned by an Admiral." Parcher, who is originally from Jamestown, Pa., is one of the few who Handley awarded their SCWS to during the ceremony.

Later in the day Handley, Donovan, Mulholland, and Kraninger traveled to the Bakwa District of Farah Province accompanied by Aguayo, Command Master Chief Christopher Levesque and additional NMCB-11 staff.

Arriving in Forward Operating Base (FOB) Lavaredo, Handley and company were greeted by Lt. Seth D. Cochran, the Detachment Officer in Charge and other members of the Det. who guided the Admiral to meet Italian Army Col. Luciano Carlozzo, Commander of Task Force Southeast.

The two shook hands and exchanged dialogue in both English and Italian.

Following a meeting in the combat operations center, Handley was lead by Carlozzo on a tour of FOB Lavaredo. The Admiral met and conversed with Seabees as well as Italian troops along the way.

Handley addressed all the NMCB-11 Seabees of the Det. in the dining facility in the early evening. He spoke to the Seabees on multiple topics including the operational tempo that Seabees have experienced in recent years.

"Looking at 10-years of combat, from the beginning of OIF-1 'til today, this last couple of years has been the strongest and hardest pull that we've had as Seabees," said Handley. "We've actually had more Seabees deployed in these last two years than we have since Vietnam. So that's pretty significant."

The future of the Seabees, deployments, homeports, and training were all major topics that Handley touched on.

"One of the things I set out for our Seabee division was to look at our technical training, and really improve on higher-end skills. So you're going to see a couple of shifts. Where you used to go to 'F' school or SCBTs, you're going to see that done more on OJT. Then what we're going to do is free up time and get more C-1 advanced schools," stated Handley.

There were three main points of focus that the Admiral highlighted regarding the future of the Naval Construction Force.

"First and foremost, when we have fewer Seabees, like each and every one of you, we've got to make sure that we're getting the highest and best use out of you for support to those combatant commanders like the MEF, like the Italians that you're supporting here, like IJC," said Handley.

"The second one that we're going to focus on," continued Handley, "is maintaining our core capability. ... we've got to make sure we maintain that foundation ... ,"

"The last one, and probably the most important one from my perspective," asserted Handley, "is to make sure we take care of our people. ... we want to make sure that we take care of our people when they're in the Navy and as they transition out of the Navy."

Handley then turned the floor over to Mulholland who presented the Seabees with an upbeat motivational pep talk much like one might expect to hear in a locker room at halftime. Mulholland covered a few topics including peer intervention. "That's Sailors helping Sailors. We're in this together. Peer intervention is probably the most important thing that I can talk about in the Navy."

Mulholland concluded his remarks with "Keep doing good things for the entire Naval Construction Force. Hoorah!" To which the Seabees responded with a resounding "hoorah!"

A 1-NCD coin was presented to each of two selected Seabees for their exemplary performance before the Det. exited the dining facility.

Handley and staff concluded the visit by joining the Seabees for dinner before departing the FOB.

NMCB-11's mission in Farah Province is to expand FOB Lavaredo and construct helicopter landing zones to facilitate timely medical evacuations within the region.

Homeported in Gulfport, Miss., NMCB-11 is deployed to Afghanistan to conduct general, mobility, survivability engineering operations, defensive operations, Afghan National Army partnering and detachment of units in combined/joint operations area - Afghanistan in order to enable the neutralization of the insurgency and support improved governance and stability operations.

SECNAV Pins Sailors' with Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist Qualification

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jonathan Carmichael, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 Public Affairs

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan (NNS) -- Two Sailors assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11, were each awarded their Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist (SCWS) qualification by Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus in a ceremony held on Camp Leatherneck, April 24.

Yeoman 2nd Class Deron M. Bennett, from Lakewood, N.J., and Engineering Aide Constructionman Shenelle C. Stewart, from Kingston, Jamaica, both assigned to NMCB-11, were each awarded their SCWS qualification by Mabus in a ceremony held on Camp Leatherneck, April 24.

Following the SCWS insignia pinning, Mabus awarded each of the two Sailors a Secretary of the Navy coin. He spoke about his admiration for the work that Seabees do and accepted questions before departing.

"I want to thank you all for what you do. You are the reason why the Navy and Marine Corps team is the finest expeditionary force the world has ever known," Mabus said.

"It was a great honor to have the Secretary of the Navy put time aside out of his busy schedule to pin my Seabee Combat Warfare qualification," said Bennett. "I worked really hard on it, and it made it extra special to have him pin it."

There are multiple criteria for earning the SCWS qualification including coursework, a field exercise, a written exam, and two oral board in which candidates must demonstrate their knowledge of Seabee combat warfare. Sailors who earn this qualification are said to have demonstrated competency and proficiency in the art of Seabee combat warfare and are authorized to wear the SCWS insignia.

"The toughest part, for me, was learning how to do things that are usually done by higher pay grades," said Stewart. "It was hard, but once you finish it there is a real sense of accomplishment, and you feel like you're really part of the Seabees."

Bennett suggested that those who enroll in the Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist program seek help from those who know it well. "Find a mentor; someone who can break it down at your level, and work with them on it every day until you get your SCWS pin."

Homeported in Gulfport, Miss., NMCB-11 is deployed to Afghanistan to conduct general, mobility, survivability engineering operations, defensive operations, Afghan National Army partnering and detachment of units in combined/joint operations area - Afghanistan in order to enable the neutralization of the insurgency and support improved governance and stability operations.