Oxnard High School’s Seabee Night was the first event that commenced a partnership between the school and NMCB 3 to improve community relations with the students and the local military community.
The night kicked off with the pre-game coin toss by two of NMCB 3’s Seabees Utilitiesman Constructionman Alexis Helmes and Builder Constructionman Scotty Hurula.
“This improves community relations and the school wants the military to feel welcome here,” said Maj. (retired) Dale Weaver the Oxnard High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps lead instructor.
A popular attraction at the football game was the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle that the Seabees brought to show the students and their family members what they use for convoying through combat zones. Five members from NMCB 3’s Convoy Security Element answered questions about the MRAP and gave students the opportunity to look inside the vehicle.
”We want to teach the students about the Navy and what the Seabees do,” said Weaver. “It is nice to have the military influence here.”
Weaver said that he looked forward to working with the Seabees to set up more school visits as well as having classes adopt a Seabee detachment for the Battalion when deploy to Europe and Africa early spring 2012.
“Hopefully, as this relationship builds, we will get more and more people [Seabees] to come out,” said Eric Riegert, the Oxnard High School Principal.
NMCB 3 is currently conducting Homeport operations in Port Hueneme, California and is preparing for a spring deployment to Europe and Africa.
NMCB 3 is an expeditionary element of U.S. Naval Forces providing construction, engineering, and security services in support of national strategy, naval power projection, humanitarian assistance, and contingency operations.
