12/10/2023
Just a reminder, Seabeeās are among the top tier of the military.
A history lesson and interesting Seabee facts to share with family and friends.
1. For the most part, when the Seabees were created during WWII they recruited skilled steel workers, mechanics, truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, carpenters, plumbers, HVAC guys, etc. i.e. from day one weāve been skilled labor, not someone looking for job skill training
2. In the present time, the Seabees are considered part of the expeditionary forces of the Navy, thus creating a unique requirement: after earning your Seabee Combat Warfare pin, you have to earn your expeditionary warfare pin. No other unit in the Navy (to include the Seals) have a dual warfare platform requirement.
3. Although the history books grossly omit reporting it, most of the major Marine Corps battles from WWII to the present day included Seabee units (Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, etc).
4. Although proudly part of the U.S. Navy, the Seabees operate as virtually a separate entity on their own. They have their own song (like the Navy and Marine Corps), they celebrate their birthday with their own birthday ball (like the Navy and Marine Corps), they have their own motto (we build and fight, CAN DO),
5. The average Seabee is ātriple talentedā as opposed to a Sailor whoās just double talented: a Yeoman on a ship is a Yeoman and a basic deck seaman/sailor on a ship. A Yeoman in the Seabees is a Yeoman, basic construction man/laborer, rifleman in a lite infantry unit.
6. Seabees can be and are assigned to units and details all over the world and in every spectrum of warfare, even special operations. As a matter of fact, the first Seabee Medal of Honor recipient (Marvin Shields) was killed in Viet Nam while serving with an Army green beret unit.
7. In addition to global operations in war fighting and combat zone construction, the bees have been utilized here and abroad in numerous humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions.
8. When the Air Force decided to get into combat engineering, they patterned their āRed Horseā units off the Navy Seabees. They wanted the right mix of lite ground combat capabilities mixed with productive construction capabilities. The Army and Marines combat engineers specialize in breaching operations but are worthless at actual construction
9. The Seabees have major command HQās at Port Hueneme California and Gulfport Mississippi, but other units can be found on regular Navy bases and some Army bases (NMCB 24 had a presence on Ft Knox for years).
10. Seabees have a history of enjoying the consumption of alcoholic beverages and telling stories. If you enjoy hearing quality adventure stories, sometimes of a mature nature, offer to buy a Seabee a few rounds of cocktails in exchange for a few tales of high adventure. Youāll be glad you did!
Extra tidbit- Seabees are also found amongst the SPECWAR units. Most of the SPECWAR Units originally derived from Seabees when they were first formed. Seabees are the father of SEALS!