July/August 2017

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Celebrate the Seabees

For 75 years, the Seabees have led with the motto, “We build, we fight,” serving as the US Navy’s construction battalions since World War II. That “can do” history is being celebrated with a diamond anniversary campaign and events throughout the nation and at the US Navy Seabee Museum, in Port Hueneme, California.

Seabees are enlisted personnel trained in both construction and combat. More than 325,000 made their name supporting the Allied effort in World War II. They are led by the Civil Engineer Corps, the Navy’s engineers and architects, who execute and manage the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the Navy’s shore facilities. Additionally, 2017 also marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil Engineer Corps and the 175th anniversary of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command.

The anniversary celebration kicked off on January 21 with the opening of two new museum galleries: Seabees in the Pacific Theater during World War II and Seabees in the Cold War. The museum is also increasing its youth outreach with a new STEM Center to help students learn what Seabees do for a living. All seven jobs are featured for students to learn about: builders, engineering aids, equipment operators, construction mechanics, steelworkers, utilities personnel, and electricians. The center also demonstrates the work of underwater construction teams.

There will also be “Can Do” STEM Challenge events in conjunction with nationwide anniversary events. The challenge will provide hands-on problem-solving projects to encourage young people to be creative while learning STEM principles.

For more information on the Seabees and the US Navy Seabees Museum, go to www.history.navy.mil/seabeemuseum.

TOP PHOTO: THE SEABEES WITH THE 111TH NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION UNLOAD HEAVY EQUIPMENT FROM RHINO FERRY AT NORMANDY BEACH (1944). MIDDLE LEFT PHOTO: A SEABEES RECRUITING COMIC BOOK. MIDDLE RIGHT PHOTO: A SEABEES SIGN AT BOUGAINVILLE NAVY YARD. BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO: SEABEES LEARN HOW TO CREATE A PETROLEUM-OIL-LUBRICANT TANK DURING WORLD WAR II (1943). BOTTOM RIGHT PHOTO: SEABEES ASSIGNED TO NAVAL MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION 7 PLACE DIRT INTO HESCOE PROTECTIVE BARRIERS UTILIZING AN UP-ARMORED EXCAVATOR AT A FORWARD OPERATING BASE IN AFGHANISTAN.