Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74, Operation Iraqi ...

AFTER ACTION REPORT

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM II February ? August 2004

NMCB 74

NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION SEVENTY-FOUR

Table of Contents Sections

I. Executive Summary II. Introduction III. Embarkation IV. Training V. Operations

A. Chronology B. Projects C. CESE VI. Safety VII. Supply/Logistics VIII. Communications IX. Medical X. Appendices A. Lessons Learned B. SERT After Action Reports C. Media Coverage D. Commendatory Comments

Page Number 1 2 4 5

7 27 74 77 78 79 82

85 93 117 123

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Detachment SOUTHWEST ASIA (DET SWA) consisted of several different elements (Advance Party, Offload Preparation Party, Main Body 1, Main Body 2) that arrived in Kuwait at different points between 6 February and 11 March 2004. Prior to mass personnel and equipment movements, DET SWA sent advanced camp reconnaissance elements to Camp Fallujah (previously known as MEK) and Camp Ar Ramadi (previously known as Junction City). Upon arrival in theater, DET SWA (320 Seabees) was redesignated as TASK FORCE ECHO (TF-E). TF-E maintained "main body" operations at Camp Fallujah and sent details to Camps Ar Ramadi and Al Asad in the central-western part of the Al Anbar province.

Project work began late in March (see chart below) and continued until two days prior to NMCB 74's departure from Iraq. In addition to earning 19,982 mandays of work in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II, NMCB 74 observed firsthand the importance of maintaining considerable Tactical Movement, Engineer Reconnaissance, and jobsite security capabilities.

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

PROJECT

123412341234123412341234

Det Ar Ramadi Miscellaneous

Det Al Asad Miscellaneous

Barracks/Office Rehab

Operation VIGILANT RESOLVE

Al Asad Vehicle Trench

Building 21

Cloverleaf Clean-Up

Bravo Surgical

Building 29 Doors

FLT Compound

Fallujah Brigade Camp

Iraqi Border Patrol Camp

ICAP

Community Outreach Center

Traffic Circle Upgrade

Cloverleaf Bypass

JCC Upgrades

East Helicopter LZ

Qanishyah Bridge Repair

COC Projectors in Bldg 21

2/1 Towers

Camp Mahmudiyah Mess Facility

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INTRODUCTION

The FEARLESS Seabees of NMCB SEVENTY FOUR entered Iraq expecting to renovate schools, repair hospitals, and build playgrounds. As the Battalion established its base of operations however, it became more and more apparent that the resistance and hostility from anti-Iraqi forces would change the focus of the Battalion's mission as indicated in the COMMANDER'S INTENT:

1. Be Bold. Through innovative, active, and aggressive project planning and management, we will conduct sustained Civil Military Operations (CM)) to increase regional stability in support of IMEF objectives, by providing comprehensive engineer solutions and by executing highly effective construction with troops and local contractors.

2. Coordinate CMO work in full alignment with IMEF/1MARDIV objectives. Secure required resources for these CMO projects Expedite planning and execution of projects within first 90 days to support 1MARDIV's "first fifteen" plays.

3. Remain vigilant on all force protection and security aspects inherent to our mission. Maintain a strong combat posture in all convoy operations and at all remote project sites.

4. Establish an effective construction safety program that eliminates major mishaps and keeps our force fully capable.

5. Raise quality of construction standards to increase pride and appreciation within Iraqi communities.

6. Maintain high availability and strict accountability for weapons, communications assets, CESE, and the entire TOA.

7. Provide Seabees and Marines the highest possible QOL to sustain a vibrant force with high morale.

By the end of March the Fearless Seabees had established their hive and were ready for action. Hostile activity in the area of operations had increased steadily during March and had culminated in a brutal and sadistic attack on four American contractors working in Fallujah. The attack effectively shifted the MEF's and MEG's focus from CMO to Force Protection. Det SWA built and fought alongside the Marine Corps constructing bunkers, berms, and bypasses and then shifted focus once again to perform clean-up operations.

As the stability and optimism gradually increased, the Fearless Seabees began several traditional contingency projects including the construction of a "thousand man camp" for the Fallujah Brigade and a frontier outpost for the Iraqi Border Patrol. Seabees developed and implemented the Iraqi Construction Apprentice Program and undertook a substantial project to build a Community Outreach Center for the Fallujah Liaison Team. These projects ran concurrently with several camp improvement projects that significantly increased the security and quality of life for both Seabees and Marines. Seabees further supported MEF operations by installing

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watchtowers along a main supply route, creating a bypass to a historically hostile supply route crossroads, repairing a bridge damaged by anti-Iraqi forces, and building a hardened bunker for United States Marine Corps camp in Mahmudiyah.

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EMBARKATION MPSRON II OFFLOAD DET SWA's operations began with deployment of a twenty-person Offload Preparation Party (OPP) to Diego Garcia and Sigonella, Sicily and a 125 person advanced party to Camp Moreell, Ali Al Salem, Kuwait. The DET offloaded the P-25, P-29 and an additional Core of CESE from MPSRON I from the MV Lopez, MV Phillips, MV Baugh, MV Button, MV Williams and the "black bottom" ships Bellatrix, Alitar, and Sissler which carried augment CESE and TOA from Gulfport. A marshalling yard was established at Port Ash Shuaybah Kuwait where CESE and containers were staged, mobile loaded, and staged for convoy to Camp Moreell. Equipment and container bar codes were scanned prior to departing the staging area and upon arrival at the assembly area. Thirty Seabees transported 406 units of CESE and 127 Containers to Camp Moreell, Ali Al Salem, Kuwait with an additional 12 Seabees providing convoy security. Upon arrival at Camp Moreell, CESE was positioned in an established Alfa yard and each unit of CESE received a Joint Limited Technical Inspection (JLTI), which revealed several broken MTVR windshields. Cores 1, 2, & 3 were staged by core in the container lot. Eight personnel (3 daytime, 5 nighttime) maintained 24-hour per day Supply Operations to pull all required items from each core. The inventory operations revealed significant location discrepancies, which were noted and forwarded to Gulfport and Port Hueneme for resolution.

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