Reserve Naval Construction Force Support Unit FOUR (RNCFSU FOUR) was developed from the elements of Reserve Naval Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit - 302. CBMU 302 had an authorized allowance for the unit of 4 officers and 230 enlisted personnel. CBMU 302’s first headquarters existed at N & MCRC, Denver, Colorado, starting there in October 1977 with LCDR William H. HINTON, III, CEC, USNR as Commanding Officer. In October 1979 LCDR S. R. MULVIHILL, CEC, USNR relieved LCDR Hinton with LCDR Monroe F. BREWER, CEC, USNR relieving LCDR Mulvihill in January 1980. In October 1981 LCDR James E. SHELTON, CEC, USNR relieved LCDR Brewer.

From 1977 to 1984 CBMU 302 had an active duty component of 1 officer (LT, CEC) and 25 enlisted personnel at Naval Base Subic Bay in the Phillippines. This arrangement was unique whereby the active component was to augment the reserve component in time of mobilization. The more normal arrangement was the opposite. In CBMU 302 the reserve CO (LCDR) would become the unit CO upon activation and CBMU 302 would reach the full unit staffing of 5 officers and 270 enlisted men.

In FY81 the Headquarter of CBMU 302 moved from Denver, CO, to Cape Girardeau, MO. At that time there were 3 Detachments of CBMU-302: Det A at St. Louis Area Support Center, Granite City, MO, Det B at NRC Evansville, IN, and the Det C (Headquarters) at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. CBMU 302 built its own facility on annual training duties in an army WW II warehouse at Granite City using Army supplied materials.

A sister unit, CBMU 301, Charleston, South Carolina, was established and fully staffed only with reserve personnel at 5 officers and 270 enlisted. In FY81 the RNCF also established RNCFSU 1 (Manor, PA) and RNCFSU 2 (Ft. Carson, CO) . The first Commanding Officer of RNCFSU ONE was LCDR Edward C. McGee, CEC, USNR, and the Commanding Officer of RNCRSU TWO was LCDR D. K. Franke, CEC, USNR.

In October 1983 CDR BOOTH, CEC, USNR relieved LCDR Shelton as Commanding Officer of CBMU 302. The Headquarters moved to the Charles Melvin Price Support Center (CMPSC), Granite City, MO. in 1983.

Reserve Naval Construction Force Support Unit FOUR was established on 1 October 1984 with its Headquarters at Bldg 306, Charles Melvin Price Support Center, Granite City, Illinois, and a detachment Det A at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Another support unit RNCFSU THREE was established at Ft. Jackson, S. C. The new authorized allowance of RNCFSU FOUR was 12 officers and 202 enlisted personnel. The unit’s mission was to provide heavy equipment capabilities and engineering services to support a construction regiment and up to four battalions. The unit’s permanent drill site was CMPSC, Granite City, Illinois and the unit was attached to the SIXTH Reserve Naval Construction Regiment, NAS Glenview, IL. The first Commanding Officer of RNCFSU FOUR was CDR Monroe F. BREWER, CEC, USNR.

In April 1985, RNCFSU FOUR along with the SIXTH Regiment, RNMCB-26, Naval Reserve Fleet Hospital units CBHU-113, Naval Reserve Center, Forest Park, IL, and CBHU-118, NRC Cleveland, OH, deployed to MCB 29 Palms, CA, for Unit Military Skills Training and the completion of 400 man-days of project work. In addition, as became a normal annual training occurance, some individuals were sent on indivudual training duty to schools including rate training classes, APG classes, and military skill training classes.

In April 1986 RNCFSU FOUR deployed to Army Training Center, Fort Benning, GA, for Unit Military Skills Training along with the SIXTH RNCR, RNMCB-20, RNMCB-26, and NR FH CBHU-118 renamed CBHU-18D, at NRC St. Louis, MO. CBMU-113 was renamed CBMU 13A at Forest Park, IL. Project work as well as Military Skills Training was conducted. In September, the SIXTH RNCR completed management of the construction of a new Cargo Handling Platform at Columbus, OH. This was a major achievement in exercising direct construction management of a two year planning and construction project. On 1 October 1986 CDR Jack A. WERNER, CEC, USNR relieved CDR BREWER as Commanding Officer.

In January 1987 RNCFSU FOUR deployed to CBC Gulfport, MS, for Technical Training along with the SIXTH RNCR, RNMCB-20, an RNMCB-26 Detachment, and CBHU-18D (renamed CBHU-22, and established at CMPSC, Granite City, Illinois). CBHU 13A was redesignated CBHU 18, NRC Cleveland, OH. In FY87 the SIXTH Regiment was assigned Operational control of all LANTFLT construction and support as RNCF construction detachments were deployed to the Atlantic area. Subunit detachments were deployed to USNS Roosevelt Roads, P.R.; NAS Bermuda; Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba; Camp Rodman, Panama and Naval Station Rota, Spain. The first RNCF Roadeo was held in Gulfport, MS, in 20-21 May 1987.

In July 1987 the SECOND RNCR and its units began receiving Zenith 286 computers and SAMMS software for improved management and control.

In March 1988 RNCFSU FOUR deployed to Army Training Center, Fort Jackson, SC, with the SIXTH RNCR, RNMCB-20 and RNMCB-26. A Mobilization Exercise involving both battalions and RNCFSU FOUR was conducted testing NAVRESCEN mobilization procedures as part of FY88 ACDUTRA. The ACDUTRA emphasized individual military skill training plus practical field training culminating in a Field Exercise (FEX). A large element of RNCFSU FOUR deployed to MCB Camp Pendleton, CA, for military training. On 1 October 1988 CDR Randall R. HART, CEC, USNR relieved CDR WERNER as Commanding Officer.

In March 1989 RNCFSU FOUR deployed elements for its Annual Training to MCB, Camp Pendleton where they conducted a TAC-OPS exercise to support RNMCB 20 . RNCFSU FOUR’s main body also supported RNMCB 26 when it deployed to CBC Port Hueneme in April 1989 to conduct a Wooden Fist (Contingency Crew Construction Training) exercise.

In July 1990 RNCFSU FOUR deployed to assist RNMCB 20 at CBC Gulfport, MS. RNMCB 20 deployed to CBC Gulfport for a mobilization exercise for all hands. In April 1990 RNMCB 26 deployed to CBC Port Hueneme and conducted a Sea Dragon (embarkation preparation and shipboard loading) exercise. On 1 October 1990 CDR Richard E. SRNA, CEC, USNR relieved CDR HART as Commanding Officer.

During the year of FY91 the SIXTH RNCR’s focus was on Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Military training was emphasized.

In January 1991 a Detachment of 68 men from RNCFSU FOUR’s Alpha Company were activated from the Granite City - St. Louis area for Desert Storm. The detachment was processed to active duty through CBC Port Hueneme, CA. They were sent to AL Jabahl, Saudia Arabia, and worked for the U. S. Marines on mobile equipment. Several RNCFSU FOUR members volunteered to supplement RNMCB 23 and were sent to Guam. Other volunteers were sent with CBHU 22 to Bahrain. Those personnel and returned in early June 1991 via CBC Gulfport.

Several individuals in the 6th RNCR’s units were cross assigned out to those RNCF units activated for Desert Storm (primarily RNMCB 24, Redstone Arsenal, AL, but also RNMCB 23, Fort Belvoir, VA) and were recalled to active duty in the first quarter of FY91. Deactivation occurred for those individuals by July 1991. In total the RNCF activated 2,575 reserve members in 14 different units, detachments or augment groups. The 6th RNCR contributed about 75 individuals.

In 1991 RNCFSU FOUR did not deploy as a unit for annual training because of Desert Storm. Some members went individually to CBC Gulfport, MS, for communications training.

In July 1991 the SIXTH RNCR was renamed “Sixth Naval Construction Regiment” as a result of the lessons learned during mobilization of reserve units for Desert Storm. Subordinate units were similarly renamed dropping the word “Reserve” from their title. RNCFSU FOUR became NCFSU FOUR.

In July 1992 NCFSU FOUR deployed for annual training to CBC Port Hueneme, CA, for schools and military skills training and to NAS Fallon, NV, completing contributory support projects.

In September 1992 the Sixth Naval Construction Regiment was decommissioned at NAS Glenview, IL. This event was part of a broader action where two reserve battalions (NMCB 2, San Francisco and NMCB 12, Davisville, RI) were decommissioned in addition to the 6th NCR, the 5th NCR, San Francisco, CA and NCFSU 1, McKeesport, PA. This left 15 reserve battalions and 3 NCFSUs in the Reserve Naval Construction Force. In September 1992 the RNCF had a total strength of about 14,000 in commissioned and augment units.

As a result of the decommissioning of the 6th NCR its battalions - NMCB 26 and NMCB 20 - were attached to the 8th Naval Construction Regiment, Columbus, OH, with CAPT Frank E. Falcone as Commander. NCFSU FOUR and CBHU-22 were attached to the SECOND Naval Construction Regiment, NAS Glenview, Illinois. CBHU-18 was disestablished. On 1 October 1992 CDR Donald F. KNUDSON, Jr., CEC, USNR relieved CDR SRNA as Commanding Officer of NCFSU FOUR.

On 1 October 1992 the reserve Seabees were reorganized under active duty commands for operational command and control. The reserve Seabee units were organized under either the 2nd Naval Construction Brigade (NCB), Norfolk, VA, or the 3rd Naval Construction Brigade, Pearl Harbor, HI. The 2nd NCB Commander was RADM William A. HEINE, III, CEC, USNR, and the 3rd NCB Commander was RADM G. B. ESTES, CEC, USN. As a result NCFSU FOUR reported to the SECOND NCR which reported to 3rd Naval Construction Brigade.

In 1993 changes in reporting relationships resulted in changed priorities for Annual Training. The concept of Tiered Readiness (units trained on a rotation basis to Tier I - Mobilization Ready units or Tier II - Contributory Support units) resulted in Contributory Support tasking for the units of the SECOND NCR. As a result the SECOND NCR shifted the tasking of its units to construction execution and crew support.

In FY93 NCFSU FOUR deployed for annual training to NAB Coronodo, CA, and NAB Fallon, NV, for contributory support work . In June 1993 the Base Realignment and Closure Commission announced that Naval Air Station Glenview was to close (BRAC 93).

In 1994 the SECOND Naval Construction Regiment continued the contributory support of Pacific Navy and Marine Corps bases.

During fiscal years 1993 and 1994 the SECOND NCR managed the initial implementation of the Tier I/Tier II system, the establishment of the NMCB Augment units (company sized augment units designed to augment active duty battalions) and the realignment of the reserve battalions. During this period the women and men of the SECOND NCR accomplished the following:

• the emergency repair and upgrade of the road system at San Clemente Island (NMCB 25)
• construction of a Navy Exchange furniture store at NAS Lemoore (NMCB 15)
• completion of road repairs at Twenty Nine Palms (NMCB 25 and NCFSU 4)
• construction of a complete EOD office and storage facility at NAB Coronado (NMCB 15)
• completion of a rehab of the entire concrete barracks at USMC Camp Pendleton (NMCB 25)
• provided over 5000 man-days of augmentation to the active duty Construction Battalion Unit in the southern California area (NMCB 15 and NMCB 25)

In 1994 orders were received by the SECOND NCR to prepare for its decommissioning in September. NCFSU FOUR was to be scheduled for decommissioned also. NMCB 15 and NMCB 25 were to remain operational but were to be attached to the NINTH Naval Construction Regiment, Naval Air Station, Dallas, Texas. NCFSU TWO was to be detached, its headquarters moved from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Naval Reserve Readiness Center, Port Hueneme, and to be attached to the FIRST Naval Construction Regiment, Armed Forces Reserve Center, Los Alamitos, California.

This action was part of the general reserve construction force unit action whereby other units were to be decommissioned at the end of the fiscal year: NMCB 13, Peekskill, NY; NMCB 16, Los Alamitos, CA; and NMCB 20, Columbus, OH, along with the 8th NCR, Columbus, OH (recently of Philadelphia, PA).

This action left 12 reserve NMCBs and two NCFSUs in addition to eight NMCB Augment units and two CBMUs (both unit types stood up as a consequence of Desert Shield/Desert Storm). The commands and units remaining were the two active duty brigades (NCBs) each brigade with two reserve Naval Construction Regiments, six reserve NMCBs, one reserve NCFSU, four reserve NMCB Augment units, one reserve Underwater Construction Team and one reserve CBMU. Naval Reserve CBHUs continued to be attached to the remaining reserve regiments. The strength of each brigade was about 6,000 reserve Seabee officers and men in units. The total strength of the RNCF was approximately 14,000 in September 1994 (about 16 percent of the Naval Reserve).

At 0830 hours on 17 September 1994 a Decommissioning Ceremony for the SECOND Naval Construction Regiment was held in Hanger 1 at NAS Glenview, Illinois. The keynote speaker was RADM David J. Nash, CEC, USN, currently Commander, 3rd Naval Construction Brigade, and Commander, Pacific Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After remarks by CAPT Raderer the regimental colors were struck and presented to RADM Nash.

Naval Construction Force Support Unit FOUR assembled on 17 September 1994 for a ceremony at the unit’s Permanent Drill Site at the Charles Melvin Price Support Center, Granite City, Illinois. Commencing at 1300 hours the unit conducted decommissioning procedures under the direction of CDR Donald F. Knudson, Jr., CEC, USNR with CAPT James E. Shelton, CEC, USNR, as speaker. The unit’s colors were struck and following the ceremony the colors were forwarded to RADM D. J. Nash, CEC, USN, Commander, 3rd Naval Construction Brigade, Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.