U.S. Navy Engineer Battalion Returns to Vietnam with Pacific Partnership

By Pacific Partnership Public Affairs

May 19, 2010 - QUY NHON, VIETNAM (NNS) -- U.S. Navy Engineers, better known as Seabees, from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11, are conducting four engineering projects here as part of Pacific Partnership 2010.

Pacific Partnership 2010 is the fifth in a series of annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance endeavors aimed at strengthening regional partnerships and increasing interoperability with U.S. interagency, host nations, partner nations and international humanitarian and relief organizations.

During the deployment, the Seabees will be conducting renovation projects at the Hope Center, Phuoc Thuan Clinic, Tuy Phuoc Clinic and Quang Trung Ward with the assistance of engineers and volunteers from Vietnam.For the 23-person advance team in Vietnam, completing the four engineering projects in 30 days began with the tools and building materials.

"You can't get the job done without tools," said Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Brandon Trumbo. NMCB 11 brought four tool containers from California to Vietnam on a C-130 Hercules. The building materials, on the other hand, were primarily purchased from the local Vietnamese economy by Defense Supply Center Philadelphia Pacific Region.

The team arrived in Vietnam May 10 and immediately made their way to Quy Nhon by bus. While driving to the project sites, the Seabees noticed the contrast between the United States and Vietnam.

"It was a 12-hour bus ride to Quy Nhon," said Trumbo. "While riding, you noticed how different Vietnam is from America. The vehicles on the streets appear to be floating down a river of scooters, and the scenery was beautiful; blue water accented by lush green mountain sides."

Besides having the chance to see a new country, the Seabees were eager to work with the Vietnamese. Pacific Partnership gives people from many nations and organizations an opportunity to work together as well as learn from each other. The Seabees were excited to see that the Vietnamese volunteers had the same 'can-do' attitude when it comes to completing the projects, resulting in a strong partnership from the beginning.