3rd NCR Seabee Rodeo

A NMCB-14 team competed against a NMCB-23 team from Fort Belvoir, Va. and a NMCB-24 team from Huntsville, Ala.

In the past, Seabee rodeos have focused on Seabees in construction ratings, mostly equipment operators and construction workers. This year's rodeo was an all-hands, all-skills event with 14-member teams. Scoring emphasis was placed on bringing in as many junior Seabees as possible and not loading the team with senior people.

Competition began the first day with an agility test to measure each team member's physical readiness. This was followed by a 150-question written test of rating specific information as well as general military knowledge. Then the teams moved to the range for a beam-hit laser marksmanship competition.

Seabee Rodeo Competition Winners The winners in each segment of competition were: Highest agility -EO3 Michael White of NMCB-23 Highest written test scores - EO3 Michael Turner of NMCB-24 Highest Beamhit marksmanship - BU3 Eric Vega of NMCB-14 Highest personnel inspection - BU3 Eric Vega of NMCB-14 Highest practical skills - NMCB-24

As the Seabees settled into their tents for the night, teams took turns standing watch in the compound and dealing with various emergency training scenarios.

The second day of competition began with a personnel inspection. The teams then started the capstone event; the practical skills competition.

To demonstrate their all-around skills and teamwork each group constructed a shower tent from the ground up, manufactured and raised a flagpole and cooked lunch. Equipment operators, steel workers, storekeepers, culinary specialists and others all came together with Seabee ''can do'' spirit. Midway through the hot August day, the teams took a break from digging and hammering for hot dogs and three flavors of chili from their respective chefs.

Commodore Robert Newman of 3rd NCR said, ''We're trying to build small unit leadership. We limit the number of people here as well as seniority. We want to build up our junior people so they can take the reins.''

CM1 John Kareck from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 24 nails flooring for the shower tent, as part of the practical skills competition.

When the dust settled, NMCB-24 took the practical skills competition and the overall win. Newman presented them with the 3rd NCR Magnificent Seven Trophy, named for the seven members of the regiment who died in Iraq in 2004 and whose names are now inscribed on it.

''Let us never forget the Seabees who died from NMCB-14,'' said Newman. ''Now NMCB-24 has got to figure out how to hang onto the trophy. All of you go back to your battalions and be proud of what you did.''

One of the Seabees of NMCB-23, SK3 Kris Eger, from California, Md., was selected Overall Outstanding Seabee of the rodeo and awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for her performance.

Commodore Robert Newman of 3rd Naval Construction Regiment samples the chili that the culinary specialists cooked as part of the competition during the Seabee Rodeo.

''What an experience,'' said Eger. ''We met new people, we challenged our training and we never gave up. This is all a group effort. That's what I love about the Seabees, we do very little as individuals. Nobody finishes alone.''

Ensign Chris Buckley, officer in charge of the winning NMCB-24 team said, ''This was a tight competition. We had good competition among the battalions and everyone worked hard. I think we just did a little better job of teamwork and that made the difference.''

Exhausted from the dayÕs competition, members from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 23 try to cool off under what little shade they could find.

Commodore Robert Newman presents Ensign Chris Buckley of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 24 with the 3rd Naval Construction Regiment Magnificent Seven trophy for their overall win at the 2006 Seabee rodeo competition held at NAS Jacksonville.