Did You Know: SEABEES help train new Afgan Army?

The photos below illustrate a largely unknown aspect of SEABEE contributions to efforts having great international and historical importance. A group of Navy SEABEES, mostly reservists on Special Active Duty, were part of a multi-service and multi-national contingent of military trainers sent to aid the training of a brand new Afgan Army to serve as part of the coalition stabilization and reconstruction efforts in Afganistan. SEABEES are traditionally described as non-combat forces, but nothing could be further from the truth! Although the primary SEABEE mission is construction work of all types, the combat role is just as important. It's why Construction Battalions were first formed in World War Two to replace civilian contractors who could not be expected to fight back against enemy attacks!

Inclusion of SEABEES as Military Trainers in the effort to train the combat forces of a newly constituted democratic government in Afganistan is acknowledgement of the combat proficiency that SEABEES possess. This should help to put both construction skill and fighting skill on equal status in the image of the SEABEES held by the public at large.

Photos courtesy Engineering Aide 1st Class, Paul Marguglio (SCW), NMCB-14, detachment 0314, Orlando, Fl., one of the SEABEE reservist team members. The personal skill designator (SCW) stands for SEABEE Combat Warfare, and is earned by meeting rigorous qualifications in Infantry Warfighting Skills and other training accomplishments in the same way that Surface Warriors earn (SWS), Surface Warfare Specialist, and Submariners earn their "Dolphins" for demonstrated proficiency in undersea warfare!

OPERATION SEABEES KNOWLEDGE seabeesinfohq.org E-Mail seabees@seabeesinfohq.org