US Navy SEABEES
Courtesy of Engineering Aid Third Class C Mantos
HISTORY OF THE SEABEES
SEABEE MOTTO: "WE BUILD, WE FIGHT"
SEABEES CAN DO
WITH WILLING HEARTS AND SKILLFUL HANDS,
THE DIFFICULT WE DO AT ONCE,
THE IMPOSSIBLE TAKES A BIT LONGER
WITH COMPASSION FOR OTHERS WE BUILD
WE FIGHT FOR PEACE WITH FREEDOM
The Seabees have built entire bases, bulldozed and paved thousands of miles of roadway
and airstrips and many more construction projects from the islands of WWII, Korea,
Vietnam, to the mountains of Bosnia.
In December 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Rear Admiral Ben Morell,
Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Yards and Docks established Naval Construction
Battalions. During WWII men were recruited from the civilian construction
trades and placed under the Civil Engineer Corps.
After the War the Naval Construction Battalions were organized into 2 units:
Amphibious Construction Battalions (PHIB CBs) and Naval Mobile Construction
Battalions (NMCBs).
Following Korea the Seabees were assigned to provide construction work and training to
underdeveloped countries.
During the Gulf War more than 5000 Seabees served in the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia
Seabees built 10 camps for more than 42,000 personnel, 14 galleys, and 6 million sq ft
of aircraft parking apron.
Seabee divers make up one of the Navy's smallest communities, numbering less that 120
Navywide. The job of the Seabee diver is underwater construction, repair, inspection,
and demolition.
Divers are required to complete extensive and rigorous training. Amphibious Seabees
find their work beneath the surface, installing cables, performing pier inspections,
mapping out the contours of the ocean's floor or collecting bottom
core samples.
History supplied by Navy Public Factfiles
Graphic of Seabees in Action supplied by Navy Public Factfiles
The Naval Construction Force is supported around the world by the various units, and they are:
Naval Construction Brigades (NCB)
A Naval Construction Brigade (NCB) exercises administrative and operational control of two or more Naval Construction Regiments in a specific geographic area or in support of a specific military operation. The NCB provides initial review of plans, programs and construction capabilities; assigns priorities and deadlines; and redistributes resources. There are two Naval Construction Brigades, one for the Atlantic Fleet, and one for the Pacific Fleet.
Naval Construction Regiments (NCR)
Naval Construction Regiments (NCRs) exercise administrative and operational control of two or more Naval Mobile Construction Battalions or other Naval Construction Force units operating in a specific geographic area or operating in support of a specific military operation. A Regiment normally consists of the Commander, the Regimental Staff and Battalions assigned. There are Two Training, Two Active and Four Reserve NCRs.
Naval Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCB)
Naval Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCBs) provide responsive military construction support to Navy, Marine Corps and other forces in military operations, construct base facilities and conduct defensive operations. In addition to standard wood, steel, masonry and concrete construction, NMCBs also perform specialized construction such as water well drilling and battle damage repair. They are able to work and defend themselves at construction sites outside of their base camp and convoy through unsecured areas. In times of emergency or disaster, NMCBs conduct disaster control and recovery operations. There are Eight active duty and Twelve reserve NMCBs.
Naval Amphibious Construction Battalions (ACB)
To support Commander, Naval Beach Group in Amphibious Force Projection with fully trained and Combat ready forces, executing all tasks Timely, correctly, safely, and decisively.
Underwater Construction Teams (UCT)
An Underwater Construction Team (UCT) provides construction, inspection and repair of ocean facilities such as wharves, piers, underwater pipelines, moorings, boat ramps, etc. They are capable of diving to 190 feet using scuba or surface supplied air to perform work underwater. Each Brigade oversees one UCT.
Naval Construction Battalion Units (CBU)
Construction Battalion Units (CBUs) provide minor construction work at various Naval bases. They also erect and provide public works support to Fleet Hospitals during wartime. The Brigades have administrative control over 19 CBUs.
Naval Construction Force Support Units (NCFSU)
A reserve unit, the Naval Construction Force Support Unit (NCFSU) provides augment construction, engineering and logistics and specialized equipment support for a Naval Construction Regiment and other units. Each Brigade oversees one NCFSU.
Visit The Seabee Memorial at Arlington Cemetery
Visit the Seabees Memorial at Arlington Cemetery. Seabees is the nickname for the U.S. Navy Construction Battalions (CB's). Formed during WWII, they were trained in both construction and combat, and built living quarters and naval facilities in the Pacific.
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Graphic Courtesy of US NAVY
I am proud to have served in the US Navy Seabees
