Sailors from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 turned what was little more than a long ditch at the end of a field into a functional 50-yard, small-arms range at the Center of Military Information Center here as part of Exercise SHARED ACCORD 2009.
The range improvement is just one of two civil engineer constructions during SHARED ACCORD and is designed to allow more efficient live-fire training for the Beninese Army, and for U.S. service members using the range.
The eight Seabees, based in Gulf Port, Miss., and deployed to Rota, Spain, spent three days improving the range for the benefit of both U.S. and Benin forces.
“It’s going to build stronger relationships, not only on a personal level but on a military level,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeffery Coon, a crew leader on the range.
The Seabees first drilled holes for the targets and filled in concrete bases. They also built wooden target holders and a small berm. This will allow for a safer and more stable targeting system.
The addition of stable, reliable targets would improve the Benin Army’s training capabilities, said Petty Officer 1st Class John E. Buchik, project supervisor on the range.
The 25-target range was built two days ahead of schedule despite temperatures that hovered over 100 degrees and prompted hourly breaks.
“It was a little warmer than Mississippi,” said Spier. “We just hydrated more and setup a tarp so we could have some shade.”
SHARED ACCORD is a scheduled, combined U.S.-Benin exercise designed to improve interoperability and mutual understanding of each nation’s military tactics, techniques and procedures. Humanitarian and civil affairs events are scheduled to run concurrent with the military training. The exercise is scheduled to conclude June 25.