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| Emily Fisk, a dog trainer, leads her search dog Skye atop a rubble pile obstacle during a tour of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation’s Training Center facility. The rubble pile was constructed by Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 25, and is one of many training facilities they built at the center to simulate realistic disaster scenarios for search dogs under the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training Program. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Hooper/Released) |
08.12.2016
Courtesy Story
Naval Construction Group ONE
SANTA PAULA, Calif. - Local civic and reserve military leaders toured the National Disaster Search and Rescue Dog Foundation’s (SDF) National Training Center (NTC) to see first-hand the ongoing naval construction efforts there, Aug. 12.
SDF was founded in 1996 to help strengthen disaster response capabilities by training rescued dogs and then partnering them with firefighters and other first responders to help find people buried in rubble following a disaster.
The tour highlighted the capabilities of the training facility, the search dogs and their handlers that the foundation serves, as well as the Seabees’ ongoing construction projects.
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMBC) 25 along with support from 1st Naval Construction Regiment (1 NCR) are working under the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training Program (IRT) and alongside a general contractor to construct various training facilities at the center. The facilities simulate realistic disaster scenarios for search dogs.
Serenity Nichols, an executive assistant at the foundation, said her first contact with the Seabees started when they volunteered at the training center, constructing a retaining wall in their off time. And it was through those interactions that she learned of the IRT program.
“The IRT program provides an opportunity for military reservists to receive readiness training while helping communities in need. In this case, they helped the Search Dog Foundation by providing resources and equipment to build training props for our canine disaster search teams. It’s a great partnership and a win-win for both the Seabees and the Search Dog Foundation,” said Nichols.
Senior Chief Builder Timothy Cooper, NMCB 25’s project officer-in-charge, spoke highly of his unit’s partnership with the SFD through the IRT program.
“The benefit for us is that it gives our Seabees a chance to exercise their construction skills. We’ve gained 22 new licenses in heavy equipment and 1200 hours of equipment operation for our Seabees,” said Cooper.
Cooper also said that the benefits of the partnership extend well beyond refining construction skills for his Seabees. He believes his troops are gaining valuable leadership skills as well.
“Our crew leaders are learning to be crew leaders and even I am learning something new every day about how to manage personnel,” said Cooper. “It’s a win-win. We’re getting a lot of excellent training and the Search Dog Foundation gets a product in the end.”
According to Cooper, the Seabees have made huge progress over the last six months on the project.
“23,000 cubic ft. of dirt has been moved and placed, 485 tons of gravel has been placed and compacted, 120 cubic yards of concrete was poured, we finished 9000 square ft. of surface area inside buildings, 500 ft. of retaining wall was installed, and 4.2 miles of fitness trails were cut in,” said Cooper.
Future work at the foundation is expected to include a collapsed building, a collapsed bridge, and an additional rubble pile to simulate real-world disasters and enhance training for the search dogs.
“You don’t construct a building that’s leaning 5 degrees in one direction and 2 degrees another direction every day. You don’t have structures that have planes crashed through the side of the building. But I’ve never worked with a better group of people,” said Cooper.
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| Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 25, pose for a group photo with distinguished civilian visitors at the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation’s Training Center. Seabees from NMCB 25, based out of Port Hueneme, Calif., are constructing various training facilities at the center to simulate realistic disaster scenarios for search dogs under the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training Program. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Hooper/Released) |
