AN OVERVIEW Return to Welcome Page National Strategy The destruction of the Berlin wall in November 1989 was visible evidence of the collapse of the Soviet Union, and a pivotal event in the re-shaping of United States strategy. A huge land army, pouring through the Fulda gap to claim possession of Europe was no longer a threat. Total annihilation in a global thermonuclear war also ceased to be an immediate concern. A major review of National strategy and force requirements shifted the Department of Defense s focus to new dangers, primarily those of aggression by regional powers in the littorals, those regions bordering on the world s seas. With an understanding of the unique capabilities of the Navy and Marine Corps to respond to those threats, the DOD review recognized the importance of maintaining a forward deployed presence, and maintaining maritime supremacy as a deterrence to war. The concept of forward engagement as a proactive means of conflict prevention became the focus for our National efforts rather than that of conflict response. Each of the services has changed their concept of operations to support the new National strategy. For the Navy, Forward From the Sea explains future Naval strategy, while the Marine Corps concept of operations became known as Operational Maneuver From The Sea, or "OMFTS". Our Naval forces represent the cornerstone of US peacetime operations and provide rapid response to developing crises around the world. Operations in Somalia, Cuba, Bosnia Haiti and others, demonstrate a higher demand for the Naval force than ever before, and our involvement in Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) and Military Operations Other Than War (MOOTW) are evidence of our expanding mission. Our forward-deployed operational forces will continue to provide a critical link between protection of our allies and our peacetime commitments and rapid response to developing crises. The Seabees are an integral part of that Forward Engagement strategy, as evidenced by their deployment in various sized elements in so many places around the world. While Seabee elements are always in harm s way by the very nature of their work, they may easily fall in harm s way in the military sense, likely to be the object of attack with little or no notice or provocation. It is for that reason that the Seabees proudly proclaim that they build, but they also can fight when required. The Seabees proud and illustrious history of success in combat theaters around the globe supports that claim.
History The U. S. Navy Seabees were formed shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II. Because there was a huge need for construction, and civilian labor in war zones impractical, Rear Admiral Ben Moreell, Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Yards and Docks, decided to establish the first construction battalions. "Seabees", then derives from the contraction of "Construction Battalions", or C B's. With emphasis on experience and skill, these craftsmen were quickly trained and deployed to overseas assignments where their exploits became legendary as they hacked through jungle and blasted coral rocks during their island-hopping campaign across the South Pacific. During the war, the Seabees built 111 major airstrips, 700 square blocks of warehouses, hospitals to house 70,000 patients, storage tanks for 100 million gallons of gasoline, and housing for 1.5 million men. In nearly every major invasion, United States Marines were followed by Seabees to support the invasion and provide facilities for conduct of the war and provide for the needs of the troops. Seabees have played an active role in combat operations ever since, from Korea to Vietnam to Desert Storm. Peacetime operations range from disaster relief at home or abroad to assistance to the "Partners For Peace" nations of the former Soviet Union. Organization The Naval Construction Force (NCF) is organized into 2 Brigades, as Type Commands (TYCOMS), under the operational control (OPCON) of CINCLANTFLT and CINCPACFLT. The Second Naval Construction Brigade (SECONDNCB) has headquarters at Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Virginia, and the Third Naval Construction Brigade (THIRDNCB) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. SECONDNCB homeport is in Gulfport, Mississippi, while THIRDNCB homeport is at Port Hueneme, California. Each Brigade has 4 Regiments attached, with 10 active and reserve Battalions reporting to the Regiments. Each Brigade also has one Naval Construction Force Support Unit (NCFSU), one Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) and an Underwater Construction Team (UCT). Not all NCF units report operationally to the Brigades, although an ADCON relationship is maintained. Construction Battalion Units (CBUs) report to Naval Station Commanders. Amphibious Construction Battalions (ACBs) report to Amphibious Group Commanders, and the Cargo Handling Construction Battalions (CHCBs) to the Navy Cargo Handling and Port Group at Cheatam Annex, Williamsburg, Virginia. There is an Administrative Control (ADCON) relationship of the Seabees with LANTDIV and PACDIV of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFACENGCOM), through which technical support of the Civil Engineer Corps parent is provided. Like the Marine Corps, the NCF is task organized, and can respond rapidly and with flexibility to shore based, ship to shore or underwater construction requirements of any size. They provide military construction in support of Navy and Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) operations, (and other services) and repair of battle damage as required. Their direct warfighting capability is primarily defensive in nature, but has some limited
offensive capability if required by the situation. When deployed in support of MAGTF operations, Seabee elements are self sufficient for a period of time, just as are the Marine Corps units, for 30 days if supporting Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) and 90 days in support of Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) or MEF forward (FWD). Medical support, to be self sufficient, must match those time requirements. It must be realized, however, that the Seabee Medical departments lack the manpower or equipment capability to handle levels of medical care beyond initial levels, and must depend on the Marine Corps, Navy, or other services medical support elements to provide advanced levels of care. Reserve Force Integration To a greater extent than any other Naval organization, the Seabees are truly an integrated force. Seabee reserve units are "commissioned", which, for practical purposes, means they have both an ADCON and an OPCON relationship with their Regiment and Brigade. They are frequently called up, by individual rates or in groups, to help support operations around the world. As with other reservists, they tend to have considerable expertise to contribute because of their age and background. However, along with age comes additional medical risks and conditions which can represent a significant challenge to the medical department. A skilled individual may be very valuable to his unit, but becomes a liability if not deployable. It is incumbent upon the medical department to closely monitor the medical and dental health of all members, and take a vigorous approach to the promotion of healthy life styles, frequent exercise and health maintenance. Short fused deployments of small groups require constant and close coordination with the operations department so that reserve augments may be identified early and steps taken to ensure their medical deployability. Seabee Organizational Terms Naval Construction Brigade (NCB) The NCB exercises ADCON and OPCON of two or more Naval Mobile Construction Regiments in a specific geographic area or in support of a specific military operation. The NCB provides initial review of plans, programs and capabilities; assigns priorities and deadlines, and re-distributes resources. Naval Construction Regiment (NCR) The NCR exercises ADCON and OPCON of two or more Naval Mobile Construction Battalions or other NCF units operating in a specific area or operating in support of a specific military operation. A regiment consists of a Commander, staff, and the assigned battalions and units. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) The NMCB provides the responsive military construction support to the Navy, Marine Corps and other forces in military operations, construct base facilities and conduct defensive operations as required. In addition to standard wood, steel, masonry and concrete construction, NMCBs also do specialized work such as water well drilling and battle damage repair. NMCBs also conduct disaster control and recovery operations, placing themselves at risk for all manner of infectious disease and blood borne pathogens. NMCB strength is between 611 and 768 personnel.
Seabee disaster relief efforts following the 1997 Typhoon in Guam Air Detachment (Air Det) An Air Det is an element of a NMCB, organized to perform a specific task as an advance "Fly-In Element" to provide preliminary construction support in advance of arrival of remaining battalion assets. An Air Det is ready to deploy within 48 hours, with its 89 personnel assigned. Construction Battalion Unit (CBU) The CBU consists of 40 personnel who provide minor construction support to Naval bases. During wartime, they also construct and provide public works support to the Fleet Hospitals. Underwater Construction Team (UCT) The UCT consists of 59 personnel who provide construction, repair and inspection of wharves, piers, underwater pipelines, moorings and the like. They have 190 foot dive capability using SCUBA or surface supplied air. They have surface recompression capabilities using a small, Transportable Recompression Chamber System (TRCS) should bends be encountered. The Seabee diver's job-site
Naval Construction Force Support Unit (NCFSU) - a reserve unit of 218 personnel providing augment construction, engineering and specialized equipment support for a NCR and other units. Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit (CBMU) The CBMU is a reserve unit of 336 personnel which provides public works functions at advanced bases during wartime or other contingency. Seabee Construction Specialties - Rates Engineering Aide (EA) Assistants to construction engineers in development of construction plans. They conduct land surveys; prepare maps, sketches, drawings and blueprints; provide cost estimates; perform QA on materials, soils, etc., and other engineering technician functions. Equipment Operator (EO) The heavy equipment operators; heavy transportation, trucks, forklifts, cranes, bulldozers and others. Steelworker (SW) These workers rig and operate special equipment used to build steel structures, including sheet metal work, steel reinforcement of concrete; welding and cutting operations, and fabrication of structural steel. Utilitiesman (UT) These workers are involved with plumbing, heating, air conditioning, steam, compressed air, fuel storage and distribution systems. They also provide water treatment and distribution and sewage treatment and disposal at Navy shore installations. Builder (BU) Perhaps the largest segment of the NCF, these are the carpenters, bricklayers, cabinet makers, roofers, plasterers painters and others involved in providing the finished construction project. Construction Electrician (CE) These individuals build, maintain and operate power production facilities and electrical distribution systems of Naval installations. Construction Mechanic (CM) CMs repair and do maintenance an all heavy construction and automotive equipment, aquire parts, as well as prepare maintenance records and cost control data. Given this diversity of manpower and job descriptions, it should be apparent that the Seabees represent an industrial capability unlike any other in the civilian community. The potential for disease and injury demands a proactive approach by both the safety and
medical departments, working together to eliminate these undesired outcomes. The opportunity to develop a strong occupational and preventive medicine program is not only there, but essential to preserve the strength of the NCF.