Fort Cherry grad building bridges, roads in war zones
GULFPORT, Miss. – A Midway native 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 1st Class Justin Jordan is an equipment operator with NMCB 1, a unit that specializes in building structures in areas of conflict.
Sailors attached to NMCB 1 and other similar units are nicknamed “Seabees,” and they are a unique group in the Navy whose motto is “We build, we fight.”
Seabees are trained as builders and fighters. They not only build bridges, roads, runways and other structures in war zones, but they also defend those structures after they’ve built them.
Jordan, a 2005 graduate of Fort Cherry Junior/Senior High School, operates heavy construction equipment, such as cranes and backhoes.
Jordan 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, plus 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 United States has been involved with since World War II.
“I like that I can help people with construction needs and get the job done well,” Jordan said.
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 whenever needed.
Jordan’s commanding officer said he’s proud of the hard work and dedication from the battalion over the past 12 months as the sailors prepare for their next deployment.
“This battalion works extremely hard,” Cmdr. Kemit Spears said. “They are ready to execute missions in any environment, in areas all over the world.”
By working with NMCB 1 and serving in the U.S. Navy, Jordan said is he learning about himself as a leader and a person.
“Being a Seabee has expanded my professional knowledge in construction and strengthened my skills overall,” he said.