Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25 concludes “Operation Footprint” for Navajo Nation
21 June 2024
GALLUP, New Mexico -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25 (NMCB 25), in collaboration with the Southwest Indian Foundation and the 567th Rapid Engineer Deployable, Heavy Operational Repair Squadron, Engineer (RED HORSE), has successfully completed "Operation Footprint," an Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) project that built an ADA-compliant home for Alvin Malone, a Navajo military descendant. This initiative enhanced military readiness and improved the quality of life for the Malone family.
Lt. j.g. Crider, the project’s officer in charge (OIC), emphasized the humanitarian impact of the project, and said, "Working with the local community and providing homes for Veterans in the Navajo Nation has been really rewarding. The humanitarian aspects of what the Seabees do are very important to me and should be publicized more."
This project is part of a broader effort by the Southwest Indian Foundation to address housing shortages on the Navajo Reservation. It also served as a meaningful tribute to Alvin Malone's father, Richard Malone, a WWII Army veteran who served under Lieutenant General George S. Patton.
Capt. Douglas Whimpey, commodore, First Naval Construction Regiment (1st NCR), emphasized the importance of this collaboration, and said ,“Interoperability is becoming more important every day in combat and in jobs like these. When we have a chance to apply it on an exercise, it’s absolutely crucial. Having different services working together allows us to learn, to speak the same language, coordinate, and collaborate effectively.”
Looking ahead, the IRT program will continue to foster civil-military partnerships and address diverse community needs across the United States and its territories. Enhanced collaboration with local governments and organizations will ensure that IRT missions deliver critical services while providing robust training opportunities for military personnel.
Naval Construction Group One (NCG 1) is homeported in Pt. Hueneme, California, and leads and manages the overall capability and readiness of its Naval Construction Regiments (NCR’s), Naval Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCB’s), Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU), and Underwater Construction Team (UCT). NCG1 provides the required engineering support that the Navy and Nation needs to construct and maintain base facilities, repair battle damaged facilities, conduct defensive operations as required, and to meet disaster preparedness and recovery missions.
For more information on the Naval Construction Force, please visit: https://www.necc.usff.navy.mil/ncg-1/ or contact NCG-1 public affairs at (805) 276-3546 or comnecc_ltlc_pao@navy.mil.