5. Building schools, and erecting, repairing, and
normally considered to be 4400 meters wide. The
improving public buildings
PHIBCB is not intended for prolonged use in the field
and is finished when the mission of the naval beach
Teams carry enough food, toolkits, and automotive
group is accomplished. This group assists the landing
and construction equipment to be Self-sufficient in the
force in ship-to-shore movement by providing a uniform
field while performing their construction tasks. Seabee
flow of material and services required by the landing
teams also provide medical and dental care to the local
force. To carry out this task, the PHIBCB provides
villagers and conduct on-the-job training and classroom
causeway piers, barge units, fuel systems, and
instruction for host country workmen.
construction in support of the landing party.
These teams receive extensive training at their
At present there are two PHIBCBs: Amphibious
parent NMCBs' home port. After completion of this
Construction Battalion ONE, operating from Coronado,
training, they may be deployed to any part of the
California, and Amphibious Construction Battalion
worldgenerally to an underdeveloped area. These
TWO, operating from Little Creek, Virginia.
teams are actually the Seabees' "Peace Corps," and their
work in Vietnam won the admiration of the Vietnamese.
UNDERWATER CONSTRUCTION
Seabee teams have also been deployed as engineers for
TEAMS (UCTs)
the Army's Special Forces, technical instructors for the
Agency for International Development, and
The Underwater Construction Teams (UCTs) are
construction advisors under various military assistance
specially trained units that construct, maintain, and
programs.
repair underwater facilities. Each UCT is capable of
performing underwater construction tasks and
surveying the sea bottom to select the site for an
ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING THE
underwater facility.
NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCE
The two UCTs are assigned to the 31st NCR and the
Many elements of the national defense organization
Third Naval Construction Brigade, home ported at
provide support to the NCF, some directly and some
Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC), Port
indirectly. In this section we will cover only the Naval
Hueneme, California, and Naval Amphibious Base,
Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Naval
Little Creek Virginia, respectively.
Construction Battalion Centers (NCBCs), home port
Naval Construction Regiments (NCRs), and Naval
SEABEE TEAM (CIVIC ACTION TEAM)
Construction Force Support Units (NCFSUs).
A Seabee team is a small, highly mobile, air
NAVFAC
transportable construction unit that can be tailored to
accomplish a variety of construction tasks. The standard
NAVFAC provides support for the NCF in the
composition of a Seabee team is one CEC officer and
general area of shore facilities and related material and
12 petty officers; however, when necessary, the standard
equipment. The commander of NAVFAC serves as
personnel allowance can be increased to allow the
technical advisor to the CNO on all matters relating to
undertaking of a specific deployment task. Although
the NCF and also as technical advisor to the Chief of
Seabee team allowances are normally associated with
Naval Personnel (CNP) on all matters pertaining to CEC
an NMCB, the responsibility for the operation of the
officers and Seabee personnel.
team in a foreign country lies with the appropriate
United States and host country agencies.
NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION
CENTERS (NCBCs)
The tasks usually assigned to a team call for
experience in operating equipment needed for the
The Naval Construction battalion Centers (NCBCs)
following tasks:
are permanent shore stations equipped and staffed to
1. Constructing roads, dams, and bridges
support the NCF. Each NCBC has a supply and fiscal
department and a construction equipment department
2. Clearing forests and jungles to reclaim land for
(CED) that furnishes depot level maintenance for units
new hamlets, croplands, and refugee centers
of automotive and construction equipment. This type of
3. Drilling water wells
maintenance involves major overhaul, using facilities
4. Digging irrigation canals
that are not readily available at the battalion level. Naval
1-8
