United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy
Seabees, form the U.S. Naval Construction Force (NCF). The Seabee
nickname is a heterograph of the first letters "C B" from the words
Construction Battalion. Depending upon how the word is used "Seabee"
can refer to one of three things: all enlisted personnel in the USN's
occupational field 7 (OF-7), all officers and enlisted assigned to the
Naval Construction Force (NCF), or Construction Battalions. Seabees
serve outside the NCF as well. During WWII they served in both the
Naval Combat Demolition Units and the Underwater Demolition Teams
(UDTs). The men in the NCF considered these units to be "Seabee". In
addition, Seabees served as elements of Cubs, Lions, Acorns and the
United States Marine Corps. They also provided the manpower for the
top secret CWS Flame Tank Group. Today the Seabees have many special
task assignments starting with Camp David and the Naval Support Unit
at the Department of State. Seabees serve under both Commanders of the
Naval Surface Forces Atlantic/Pacific fleets as well as on many base
Public Works and USN diving commands.United States Naval Construction
Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees, form the U.S. Naval
Construction Force (NCF). The Seabee nickname is a heterograph of the
first letters "C B" from the words Construction Battalion. Depending
upon how the word is used "Seabee" can refer to one of three things:
all enlisted personnel in the USN's occupational field 7 (OF-7), all
officers and enlisted assigned to the Naval Construction Force (NCF),
or Construction Battalions. Seabees serve outside the NCF as well.
During WWII they served in both the Naval Combat Demolition Units and
the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs). The men in the NCF considered
these units to be "Seabee". In addition, Seabees served as elements of
Cubs, Lions, Acorns and the United States Marine Corps. They also
provided the manpower for the top secret CWS Flame Tank Group. Today
the Seabees have many special task assignments starting with Camp
David and the Naval Support Unit at the Department of State. Seabees
serve under both Commanders of the Naval Surface Forces
Atlantic/Pacific fleets as well as on many base Public Works and USN
diving commands.Naval Construction Battalions were conceived as a
replacement for civilian construction companies on contract to the
Navy after the U.S. was attacked at Pearl Harbor. At that time
civilian contractors had roughly 70,000 men working on U.S. bases
overseas. International law made it illegal for civilian workers to
resist an attack. To do so would classify them as guerrillas and could
lead to summary execution. That is exactly what happened when the
Japanese invaded Wake Island and would serve as the backstory to the
WWII movie "The Fighting Seabees".Adm. Moreell's concept model CB was
a USMC trained battalion of construction tradesmen: A military
equivalent of those civilian companies, capable of any type of
construction, anywhere needed, under any conditions or circumstances.
It was realized that CBs were flexible, adaptable and could be
utilized in every theater of operations. The use of USMC organization
allowed for smooth co-ordination, integration or interface between NCF
and Marine Corps elements. Additionally, CBs could be deployed
individually or in multiples as the project scope and scale dictated.
What distinguishes Seabees from Combat Engineers are the skill sets.
Combat Engineering is but a sub-set in the Seabee toolbox. They have a
storied legacy of creative field ingenuity, stretching from Normandy
and Okinawa to Iraq and Afghanistan. Adm. Ernest King wrote to the
Seabees on their second anniversary, "Your ingenuity and fortitude
have become a legend in the naval service." Seabees believe that
anything they are tasked with, they "Can Do". They were unique at
conception and remain unchanged from Adm. Moreell's model today. In
the October 1944 issue of Flying, the Seabees are described as "a
phenomenon of World War II". Since their creation, all Seabee advanced
military training has been under USMC instruction. Even so, they
always bring their toolbox. One of those tools is the ingenuity
Admiral King referenced. They gained fame for their application of it
during WWII. The UDTs and flamethrowing tanks are declassified top
secret examples. Postwar they followed with more of the same for the
CIA and State Department. Together with their USMC training and
ability to appropriate anything, they provide the Navy an
unconventional asset found nowhere else in the U.S military. Seabee Top Movies & Young Movies