Page 10 - Fall 2014 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO SAILOR SERVES OVERSEAS WITH
NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION 11

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Electa G. Berassa

GULFPORT - A 2007 Springfield North High School graduate and Springfield,
Ohio, native boasts a unique distinction: that of serving in the Navy as part of a
premier Navy engineer unit in the world today.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Charity Hughes, Utilitiesman, is a Navy Seabee assigned
to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 (NMCB 11), home-ported in
Gulfport, Miss., and recently returned from deployment to Bahrain. NMCB 11
is a Seabee battalion specializing in advance base construction, battle damage
repair including welding, contingency engineering, humanitarian assistance and
disaster recovery support to fleet and unified commanders.

Naval Mobile Construction Battalions, more commonly known as the
“Seabees,” are the premier military engineer units in the world today. Born out
of necessity in the early days of World War II, their exploits are legendary. This
legacy is carried on today by the men and women of the Naval Construction
Force who build and fight. For over 70 years, the men and women of the Naval
Construction Force have been deployed around the world around the clock and
have defended America at all times.

Hughes and the rest of the battalion returned from their six-month deployment earlier this year, where they were in charge of
providing engineering support to four combatant command areas of responsibility. While deployed, Hughes and the other Navy
Seabees of NMCB 11 were responsible for executing a countless number of projects, ranging from security improvements to
bases in Africa to the construction of a submarine support facility in Guam.

Hughes said it is an exciting time to be in the Navy. “Since joining the Navy, I have become a lot more mature. I have also been
able to go to different places and gain an appreciation for everything I have here in the U.S.”

“This deployment was a huge success for the Naval Expeditionary Task Force Europe and Africa, and for us as a crew,” said
Cmdr. Steve Stasick, commander of NMCB 11. “The Sailors did very well executing the mission.”

“We’ve been very pleased with the support of the Naval Station Rota community at large,” said Stasick. “It enabled us to
operate in 19 countries in four COCOMS [combatant commands].”

“I have had struggles, but it has been rewarding to see how much I have accomplished in the Navy,” said Hughes. “I have no
regrets at all.”

Through concentrated planning and operations, Hughes and other Seabees of NMCB 11 were able to assist the local population
and add an unparalleled level of responsiveness and flexibility to our fleet and unified commanders in the area.

When it comes to protecting and defending America, being there matters, and America’s Navy Seabees are already there.

“Why Being There Matters”
On our planet, more than 70 percent of which is covered by water, being there means having the ability to act from the sea. The
Navy is uniquely positioned to be there; the world’s oceans give the Navy the power to protect America’s interests anywhere,
and at any time. Your Navy protects and defends America on the world’s oceans. Navy ships, submarines, aircraft and, most
importantly, tens of thousands of America’s finest young men and women are deployed around the world doing just that. They
are there now. They will be there when we are sleeping tonight. They will be there every Saturday, Sunday and holiday this year.
They are there around the clock, far from our shores, defending America at all times.

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