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GULFPORT -- First Naval Construction Division in Norfolk, Va., said today that the deployment of two additional Naval Mobile Construction Battalions to Afghanistan as part of the 30,000-troop surge will require adjustments to the deployment schedules of Seabee units and that most deployment tour lengths will be increased and homeport periods shortened to meet the requirement.
Seabees from NMCB 4 from Port Hueneme, Calif., are on their way to Afghanistan for a newly lengthened 7 1/2-month deployment. They will be followed by NMCB 133, homeported at the Naval Construction Battalion Center here. NMCB 133, which will leave in March, will have their deployment shortened to about four and a half months.
Battalions normally deploy for six months and are in homeport for 12 months. In order to maintain the two additional deployed battalions, active duty units will shift toward a schedule of deploying for eight months and being in homeport for 10 months. In addition, the increased operational demand on Naval Construction Force reserve units will require 11-month mobilizations and 8-month deployments for the reserve NMCBs.
