The Navy’s Construction Battalion is known as the SEABEES (C-B’s… get it?) and they are among the most appreciated troops on a base. That’s because they make things more comfortable for the troops by building almost everything… and almost anything.
They often work “outside the wire”, constructing a Forward Operating Base or Combat Outpost from the ground up, laying the foundation, building the protective berms and walls, making wooden floors for the tents, hammering together structures for offices and chow halls and showers and bathrooms.
They build tables and chairs, bunks and doors, bomb shelters and even barbecue grills (by cutting a barrel in half).
Strangest request? Petty Officer Jeff Conmy says “A dartboard. In the shape of a human.” And he arches an eyebrow. Did he build it? “No. I said we can’t help you. That’s what we told them.” And he laughs.
Conmy, a 23 year old from Ventura California, says he grew up playing with legos and always liked building stuff, so when he decided to join the Navy fresh out of High School, becoming a SEABEE was a no-brainer.
He’s good with a torch and had welding experience so that’s his specialty here now. He’s on his fourth deployment and 2nd tour of Afghanistan and when asked what he’s looking forward to most when he gets home, he says candidly “not taking showers with a bunch of men!’