AIR DETACHMENT The Air Detachment (Air Det), as stated in U. S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) Doctrine and Policy Governing, OPNAVINST 5450.46, is part of a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) organization and is capable of deploying within 48 hours of notification. The mission of the Air Det is to provide contingency support for the Navy, Marine Corps, and other forces, and perform and participate in disaster recovery operations and field exercises (FEX). The Air Det has approximately 90 personnel assigned and contains air-liftable supplies, tools, and Civil Engineer Support Equipment (CESE) to perform both horizontal and vertical construction. The Air Det is self-sufficient for 30 days (600 construction hours), except for ammunition, rations, and fuel. The Air Det can operate independently of an NMCB for an indefinite period when provided logistic support. Personnel are assigned to the Air Det by the Battalion Operations Department using the basic guidelines provided in the NCF Embarkation Manual, COMCBPAC/ COMCBLANTINST 3120.1. The ratings and number of personnel assigned to the Air Det are governed by the tasking of the mission.

The Air Det is organized into three platoons: an equipment platoon, a support platoon, and a construction platoon. The equipment platoon supervisor organizes the platoon into a military formation and assigns military and job-related responsibilities.

TABLE OF ALLOWANCE (TOA) The Table of Allowance (TOA) outfits the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion with the capability to perform construction operations under contingency conditions for 90 days (1800 construction hours) without resupply. However, fuel and subsistence are limited to 15 days support, and construction materials that support construction operations are not part of the TOA. The area commander/ project sponsor requiring the use of Seabees is responsible for the procurement and shipment of construction materials.

The Civil Engineer Support Office (CESO), Port Hueneme, California, is the system manager responsible for maintaining NCF TOAs. CESO develops new allowances as directed by COMNAVFACENGCOM and collects field recommendations for revisions to existing TOAs. The TOA represents the best selection of tools and supplies needed to provide general construction capabilities; however, the TOA is not capable of meeting every conceivable operational requirement. When an assigned project requires tools or equipment in excess of the unit's capability, the allowance is supplemented by augmentation.

CESE REQUIREMENTS The amount of CESE and supplies required for a mission is controlled by the availability of airlift, sealift, or over-the-road support. This requires the Air Det to preplan and prioritize all tasking and request only the amount of resources needed to accomplish the mission successfully. The knowledge and expertise of the equipment platoon supervisor enhances the Air Det's ability to identify and request the required CESE, supplies, and POL for the Air Det mission. This allows the embarkation office to prepare aircraft load plans to meet the Air Det's needs.

OPERATOR ASSIGNMENTS Once the CESE list has been established, the equipment platoon supervisor must assign operators and co-drivers. Operators are required to accompany the CESE throughout the transport to the mission site and also must stand by their assigned CESE that has been prepared and staged at the marshalling area for the joint inspection (JI). The staging and marshalling area is where equipment and materials are received. CESE is inspected for cleanliness and fluid leaks, mobile loads are completed, vehicles are weighed and marked for center of balance, cargo is palletized on the Air Force 463L cargo pallets (fig. 1-25), and cargo and CESE are placed into a configuration for each aircraft A pre-JI is held and performed by the battalion embarkation officer and the regiment embarkation staff from Port Hueneme, California, or Gulfport, Mississippi, during the home-port period. When the battalion is deployed overseas, COMCBPAC/ COMCBLANT embarkation representatives perform the pre-JI. The pre-JI allows the battalion time to correct any discrepancies before the main JI.

CESE AND MATERIAL PREPARATION Upon notification of the Air Det to mount-out. the battalion reorganizes and sets up a mount-out control center (MOCC). The MOCC is under the direction of the battalion executive officer. The MOCC controls, coordinates, and monitors the movement of all personnel, supplies, and equipment to the marshalling area. The MOCC and the embarkation staff control all aspects of an NMCB mount-out and serves as the coordinating center for all the companies and battalion staff.