The best way to train crew members, in the other
things they need to know, is to keep them constantly
informed of the overall purpose of the job. Suppose, for
example, that the crew is setting offset grade hubs for a
highway. Tell them, as you go along, how these hubs
will be used as guides for bringing the subgrade to the
desired elevation and for placing the highway surface to
the prescribed finished grade. Besides training the crew,
you will be making fieldwork much more interesting for
everybody-including yourself. Furthermore, a field
crew will do a better job when they know the purpose
of what they are doing.
Another incentive in producing highly motivated
field crews is competition. Let’s say you have a level
circuit to accomplish. If time permits and if you are not
far behind in your workload organize two or more level
parties to run the same circuit. Then you can determine
how proficient the crews are by seeing how closely each
crew comes to the correct closing benchmark elevation
and the time it takes each crew to run the circuit. You
also can use this method in transit work for things like
timing the setup of the instrument, measuring horizontal
and vertical angles, and measuring distances by stadia.
Always find time for training. Perhaps, when waiting
for transportation to and from work you can start an
open discussion of various solutions to an actual or
hypothetical survey problem.
When you are training surveyors, do not forget that
the EAs assigned to the drafting room or soils laboratory
are also responsible for knowing the techniques of
surveying. Whenever the work load permits, the
engineering chief should rotate a few personnel for
short, on-the-job training periods. This creates interest
and helps your personnel to prepare for advancement.
Combat Intelligence
Engineering Data
The collecting, analyzing, and reporting of
engineering data for combat intelligence is the
responsibility of the engineering division of an NMCB
deployed to a combat area. Normally the collecting of
such data is the job of the field survey crews or an EA
assigned to a reconnaissance patrol.
“Combat intelligent” is defined as that knowledge
of the enemy, weather, and geographical features
(terrain) required by a commander in planning and
conducting tactical operations. The objective of combat
intelligence is to minimize the uncertainties of the
effects that the enemy, weather, and terrain may have on
the accomplishment of the mission.
Of primary interest to the EA is the collection of
terrain data. Terrain information includes stream data
(widths, depths, condition of banks, and rates of flow);
bridge data (types, widths, lengths, conditions, and load
limits); existing roads (types, widths, and conditions);
and topographic mapping, including all pertinent natural
and man-made features. In general, a rough
reconnaissance survey is performed.
Methods for collecting engineering data will
depend on the situation. You maybe given a military
map and told to take a reconnaissance patrol out to check
the accuracy of the map. Or, you maybe tasked with
obtaining data for establishing a suitable construction
site for an entire advanced base that might require the
efforts of several crews. Your experience as a surveyor
will enable you to collect data and report your findings
to the engineering officer who, with your assistance, can
analyze the data and make recommendations to the
battalion planning team.
Information pertinent to organization and
deployment of a reconnaissance patrol is found in the
Seabee Combat Handbook NAVEDTRA 12003. The
battalion operation order will specify combat
intelligence procedures.
MATERIALS TESTING
SECTION
Personnel assigned to the quality control (QC)
division of the operations department are responsible for
ensuring that construction work is according to the job
specifications; that is, the workmanship, materials used,
prevailing conditions, and appearance of the finished
structure are within the specified minimum standards.
This involves constant and careful construction
inspection and materials testing. While QC is capable of
performing inspections, it needs support from the
materials testing section of the engineering division to
perform testing, such as in-place density and concrete
strength determinations.
As the EA supervisor, a large portion of your job is
making sure that QC is receiving the support that it
needs. This includes, in part, coordinating testing
requirements to ensure that all tests are completed on
time, making sure that tests are performed using
established standard procedures, analyzing test results
for accuracy and validity, and advising QC of the testing
results. In addition to providing support to QC, the
materials testing section also performs tests, such as soil
classification and compaction testing, that may be
needed for the design of a new structure, road, or
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