Builder Construtionman Jacob Kirk, assigned to Naval

Builder Construtionman Jacob Kirk, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3, tightens pull-down straps on a pallet of supplies during NMCB 3's 48-hour Mount Out Exercise (MOE The MOE tested NMCB 3's ability to deploy construction equipment and personnel in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations anywhere in the Pacific Region within 48 hours. One of the first battalions commissioned during World War II, NMCB 3's legacy stands strong in its ability to build and fight anywhere in the world as either a full battalion or as a group of autonomous detachments, simultaneously completing critical engineering and construction missions. For this deployment, NMCB 3 has split into nine details to perform critical construction projects in remote island areas such as Timor-Leste, Tonga, Cambodia and the Philippines. The teams will also conduct operations in Atsugi, Yokosuka and Okinawa, Japan; Chinhae, Republic of Korea and China Lake, Calif. The Naval Construction Force is a vital component of the U.S. Maritime Strategy. They provide deployable battalions capable of providing disaster preparation and recovery support, humanitarian assistance and combat operations support. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chris Fahey.)