In the Military

Mount Pulaski native serving with a U.S. Navy construction battalion
 

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[July 01, 2015]  GULFPORT, MS – A Mount Pulaski native and 2012 Mount Pulaski High School graduate is building bridges and roads around the world as a member of the U.S. Navy’s Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1, based in Gulfport.

Petty officer 3rd class Christopher Wernsing is a steelworker with NMCB 1, a unit specializing in building structures in areas of conflict. Sailors attached to NMCB 1 and other similar units, nicknamed “Seabees,” are a unique group in the Navy whose motto is “We build, we fight.”

Wernsing is responsible for fabricating and erecting steel building components that can be used to form the skeleton of a building or bridge, or as reinforcements for concrete or masonry structures.

“This job keeps me very busy,” said Wernsing. “If I’m not out on a project I’m planning, determining resources and time, acquiring materials or going over blueprints for future projects.”

Seabees are trained as builders and fighters. They not only build bridges, roads, runways and other structures in war zones; they also defend those structures after they’ve built them.

 

Wernsing and the rest of the sailors assigned to NMCB 1 are part of the Navy’s construction force that has been around for more than 70 years. Seabees have built entire bases and bridges and bulldozed and paved thousands of miles of roadway and airstrips for the U.S. military all over the world, playing a vital role in every major conflict the U.S. has been involved with since World War II.

“So far I’ve been to Okinawa, Japan with NMCB 1 where we worked on projects at the Marine Corp base,” said Wernsing.

With nearly 600 personnel assigned to the battalion, jobs are highly varied and every job plays an important role in keeping the battalion ready to deploy around the world to defend America wherever needed.

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Wernsing’s commanding officer said he’s proud of the hard work and dedication from the battalion over the past 12 months preparing for their next deployment.

“This battalion works extremely hard, ” said Cmdr. Kemit Spears. “They are ready to execute missions in any environment, in areas all over the world.”

Working with NMCB1 and serving in the U.S. Navy, Wernsing said he is learning about himself as a leader and person.

“I’ve really sharpened my leadership and project management skills here and down the road I plan on getting my bachelor’s degree through the Navy to further my career,” said Wernsing.

[By Navy Office of Community Outreach, Public Affairs]

"Why Being There Matters" - On our planet, more than 70 percent of which is covered by water, being there means having the ability to act from the sea. The Navy is uniquely positioned to be there; the world's oceans give the Navy the power to protect America's interests anywhere, and at any time. Your Navy protects and defends America on the world's oceans. Navy ships, submarines, aircraft and, most importantly, tens of thousands of America's finest young men and women are deployed around the world doing just that. They are there now. They will be there when we are sleeping tonight. They will be there every Saturday, Sunday and holiday this year. They are there around the clock, far from our shores, defending America at all times.

Thank you very much for your support of the men and women in U.S. Navy, deployed around the clock and ready to protect and defend America on the world's oceans.

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