SeaBees

Jobs

Photo of Seabeas engaging in construction work

Each Seabee team employs up to seven different kinds of workers: Builders, Steelworkers, Engineering Aides, Construction Electricians, Utilitiesmen, Equipment Operators and Construction Mechanics. Together, they form a unit that builds and fights.

Builders
As their name implies, Builders construct buildings and other structures such as bridges, wharves and other heavy timber structures. They learn how to read and interpret blueprints and prepare sketches for construction work. They are trained to build or repair in a variety of materials, such as wood, masonry (bricklaying and stonework), concrete, sheet rock and ceramic tiles. Not only do they know how to erect a building, but they’re also trained to do the interior work such as installing ceiling and floor tiles, millwork and trim. They train in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Steelworkers
Steelworkers learn the many ways to fit pieces of steel together to form a solid structure. They’re trained to weld and cut steel and how to install sheet metal assemblies and systems. At the end of their training, they’ll be able to erect steel bridges, storage tanks, buildings and towers. They train in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Engineering Aides
Engineering Aides survey locations for paving projects and structures, prepare maps and figure out how much building material, how long a project will take and how many people the project will need to make a particular building or road based on drawings and blueprints. When needed, they sketch their own blueprints and drawings. They also do quality control inspections for all types of construction projects and prepare reports based on their findings. They train at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Construction Electricians
Construction Electricians install, maintain and repair power cables and phone lines. These cables and lines can be located overhead or underground. They’re in charge of installing transformers and power distribution panels and they install and maintain fire alarms, streetlights and public address, interoffice and telephone switchboard systems. They also estimate costs based on blueprints and other drawings. Those estimates include materials, personnel and time it might take to do the jobs. They train at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.
Utilitiesmen
These are the plumbers and heating, cooling and ventilation experts in the Seabees. They operate, maintain, repair and install water pipes, heating and cooling systems and make sure wastewater gets directed to the treatment plant. They also make sure that each system operates within environmental standards and estimate the costs for materials, personnel and time it will take to do the jobs. They train at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.
Equipment Operators
Equipment Operators operate and maintain construction equipment. They drive bulldozers, graders, excavators, cranes and other heavy-duty equipment. They evaluate all of these pieces of machinery to make sure they’re safe and efficient, often recording the condition of equipment. They also estimate labor and equipment requirements for each job. They train at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Construction Mechanics
With any job involving machinery, there has to be a member of the team who knows how they all work and who can fix them when they don’t. Construction Mechanics troubleshoot and diagnose equipment failures and repair and maintain almost every aspect of machinery to keep it in good working order. They also keep track of all spare parts required for easy replacement.
 

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans also used Sailors to build on land.
  • The Seabees were created immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
  • Seabees play a crucial role in disaster relief efforts, working with communities to help clean up and rebuild.
  • During the first Gulf War, more than 5,000 Seabees served in the Middle East.
  • In Saudi Arabia alone, Seabees built 10 camps for more than 42,000 personnel, 14 galleys capable of feeding 75,000 people, and six million square feet of tarmac for aircraft parking.