Creating an environment among the project team where outside the box thinking is encouraged and innovative ideas flourish is a key component of Construction Partnering. During one of the partnering sessions for the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake Earthquake Recovery Program projects, the team came up with a novel idea to use this $2.7 billion recovery program as a training opportunity for Navy Seabees.

Called the Seabees Skills Mentoring Program, this unique training program exposes Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps officers to large-scale commercial construction techniques. Service members in the program receive training from on-site contractors and professional engineers to gain knowledge in modern construction practices and procedures. The training i