Welcome to a different post for this site. While not directly related to Special Operations, someone reached out to me for assistance in writing up a modern Seabee template for 4E. It’s pretty much done, so I wanted to go ahead and share it – especially since this site has been pretty quiet. I hope you get some use out of it!
Seabees (a heterography of the first letters “CB” from the words Construction Battalion) provide responsive military construction support to Navy, Marine Corps and other forces in military operations, construct base facilities and conduct defensive operations. In addition to standard wood, steel, masonry and concrete construction, Seabees also perform specialized construction such as water well drilling and battle damage repair. They are able to work and defend themselves at construction sites, outside of their base camp, and convoy through unsecured areas. In times of emergency or natural disasters, Seabees often provide first response to conduct disaster control and recovery operations. The Seabee Community is comprised of 7 ratings – Builder (BU), Construction Electrician (CE), Construction Mechanic (CM), Engineering Aide (EA), Equipment Operator (EO), Steelworker (SW) and Utilitiesman (UT).
Combat skills performed include: Embarkation via airlift/sealift; Chemical, Biological, and Radiological (CBR) response including individual and unit protection and decontamination; coordinating disaster recovery teams (DRT), Pier Damage Repair (PDR) and Airfield Damage Repair (ADR) teams; performing camp security (e.g. guard duty, obstacle construction, observation posts and patrols for squad/platoon sized elements, convoys with various numbers of troops and Civil Engineering Support Equipment (CESE), and communications set up). Individuals obtain small arms qualifications, advanced first aid training and crew served weapons qualifications.
Ratings:
- Builder (BU): BUs make up the largest segment of the Naval Construction Force. BUs work as heavy timber, rough and finish carpenters, roofers, concrete workers, masons, painters, bricklayers and cabinet-makers.
- Construction skills performed include: erecting wood, masonry, concrete and steel structures, installing interior finish work, sheet rock, paneling, ceramic tile walls, suspended ceilings, floor coverings, millwork and trim; operating carpentry shops, cabinet-making shops and tool and equipment repair shops; mixing, placing and finishing concrete to include building forms for concrete construction, operating concrete batch plants, portable concrete mixers and other concrete finishing tools and equipment; building wharves, bridges, and other heavy timber structures; reading and interpreting blueprints and preparing sketches for projects; making estimates of material, labor, Civil Engineering Support Equipment (CESE) requirements, and project management.
- Construction Electrician (CE): Construction electricians install and repair wiring; overhead and underground primary and secondary distribution systems; setup, operate and service electrical equipment; climb poles and towers utilizing lineman’s equipment; attach and service electrical equipment (i.e. transformers, switching equipment, motors, motor controllers, controls and electrical system), and perform tasks required in combat and disaster preparedness or recovery operations.
- CE skills performed include: Installation, maintenance, operation and repair of: low voltage telephone distribution networks; interior wiring used for lighting, electrical outlets and equipment; power generation equipment including distribution panels, cables and branch circuits; power distribution systems including medium voltage overhead cables, underground cables, transformers, circuit breakers and associated hardware. Construction Electricians also maintain batteries, electric motors, relays, solenoids and switching gear. CEs plan and estimate construction projects from blueprints, provide sketches for projects and make estimates of material, labor and equipment requirements.
- Construction Mechanic (CM): Construction mechanics perform tasks involved in maintenance, repair and overhaul of automotive, materials handling and construction equipment; assign and supervise activities of assistants who locate, analyze and correct malfunctions in equipment and issue repair parts; maintain records; prepare requisitions and reports; train assistants in repair procedures and techniques; maintain individual combat readiness and perform tasks required in combat and disaster preparedness or recovery operations.
- CM skills performed include the repair and maintenance of heavy construction, tactical and automotive equipment. Construction Mechanics diagnose and troubleshoot equipment failures to include mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. They maintain spare part inventories for equipment repair, databases for preventive maintenance and documentation of repair and maintenance performed. In addition to supporting the Naval Construction Forces, Construction Mechanics are in high demand to provide support to Special Warfare and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Units.
- Engineering Aide (EA): EAs assist construction engineers in developing final construction plans. They conduct land surveys; prepare maps, sketches, drawings and blueprints; perform quality assurance tests on common construction materials such as soils, concrete and bituminous paving; and perform other engineering technician functions.
- Construction skills performed include: conducting construction site surveys for roads, airfields, pipelines, ditches, buildings, drainage structures and waterfront construction; preparing architectural, mechanical, electrical, hydrographic, topographic maps, and triangulation drawings; computing the volume of bulk materials (concrete, bituminous mixtures, and earthwork) from drawings and specifications; operating and maintaining various types of precision surveying and laboratory test instruments and equipment; designing grading and drainage systems; conducting quality control inspections for all types of construction projects; preparing equipment, manpower, and material estimates from drawings and specifications; prepares project network analysis, charts and graphs.
- Equipment Operator (EO): Equipment operators perform tasks involving deployment and operation of automotive, materials handling, weight lifting and construction equipment; direct and coordinate efforts of individuals and crews in execution of construction, earth‑moving, roadbuilding, quarrying, asphalt batching and paving, concrete batch plant operations, concrete paving and transit mixer operation assignments; maintain records and reports on mobile and stationary equipment and organize and supervise automotive and construction equipment pools; maintain individual combat readiness and perform tasks required in combat and disaster preparedness or recovery operations.
- EO construction skills performed include: Operating construction equipment, weight handling equipment (cranes), material handling equipment (forklifts), and heavy transportation vehicles. EOs perform horizontal construction (including asphalt paving), conduct quarry/blasting operations, concrete/asphalt batching operations, line haul operations and operate water well drilling equipment. EOs also read and interpret blueprints, prepare sketches for construction projects and make estimates of material, labor and equipment requirements. In addition to supporting the Naval Construction Forces, EOs are in high demand to provide support to Special Warfare and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Units.
- Steelworker (SW): Steelworkers perform tasks directly related to fabrication and erection of pre-engineered structures, including steel reinforcement; control job site deployment of materials and equipment; direct and coordinate the composition, training and efforts of crews who fabricate, assemble, erect, position and join structural members and fabricated sections; maintain individual combat readiness and perform tasks required in combat and disaster preparedness or recovery operations.
- Construction skills performed include: erecting steel bridges, tanks, buildings, towers and pre-engineered structures; fabricating, erecting, installing, cutting, fitting, welding and bolting structural steel shapes, plates and the built-up sections used in heavy construction; hard-facing of Civil Engineer Support Equipment (CESE) to prolong life; layout, fabricating and installing of sheet metal assemblies and systems; performing various welding and metal cutting operations; shaping and installing reinforcing steel (rebar) for use in concrete structures.
- Utilitiesman (UT): Utilitiesmen plan, supervise and perform tasks involved in installation, maintenance and repair of plumbing, heating, steam, compressed air, fuel storage and distribution systems, water treatment and distribution systems, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, systems, as prescribed by drawings and specifications; schedule and evaluate installation and operational tasks; prepare records and reports; maintain individual combat readiness; and perform tasks required in combat and disaster preparedness or recovery operations.
- Construction skills performed include installing and maintaining systems requiring plumbing and pipe fitting skills; identifying and carrying out procedures to limit or minimize the adverse effects of environmental pollution; reading blueprints and performing material and cost estimates.
Units of Assignment:
Most Seabees are assigned to Naval Construction Battalions. However, some receive assignment to special teams, listed below. These teams require additional skills beyond their normal duties, and so the members of those teams have additional skills as listed under Unit of Assignments in the Skills section of the template.
- Underwater Construction Teams (UCT): Underwater Construction Teams (UCT) are the United States Navy Seabees’ underwater construction units numbered 1 and 2 that were created in 1974. A team is composed of divers qualified in both underwater construction and underwater demolition. Possible tasks include battle damage repairs, structural inspections and assessments, demolition of waterline facilities or submerged obstructions, installation of submerged surveillance systems, or harbor and channel clearance. As needed, teams may test and or evaluate new or existing aquatic systems or equipment. Extending construction, whether vertical or horizontal, beyond the shoreline and waterline is their specialty.
- UCT training is 26 weeks at Dive school in Panama City, Florida. There is a tactical training phase for advanced expeditionary combat skills and demolitions. After Basic Underwater Construction Technician training a diver is qualified as a (2nd Class Diver). UCTs are members of the Naval Special Operations (NSO) community, however tactical operations are almost never a Seabee task.
- With their skills sets UCTs can deploy to support a Naval Special Warfare Command, either with SEAL teams, Special Boat Teams, Navy EOD Teams, or other dive elements. They also can apply for selection to support Naval Special Warfare Development Group.
- Seabee Engineer Reconnaissance Teams (SERTs): Seabee Engineer Reconnaissance Teams (SERTs) were developed in 2002 by the First Naval Construction Division (1st NCD) in Operation Iraqi Freedom intended to provide more engineering capability on the battlefield in support of the United States Marine Corps. SERTs are composed of ten-member teams: two Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officers and eight enlisted Seabees, augmented with additional personnel, as missions require.
- SERTs are divided into three elements: a liaison element, a security element, and a reconnaissance element. The liaison (LNO) element has a CEC officer and two petty officers who are communications specialists. The LNO element is responsible for communications with higher echelons, both in transferring engineering assessments and intelligence and in receiving engineering reach-back solutions. The reconnaissance element has a CEC officer, who is the SERT Officer-in-Charge (OIC), a Builder or Steelworker chief petty officer who has some bridge construction experience and petty officers of varying Seabee ratings. The OIC is normally a licensed professional engineer with a civil/structural engineering background. All SERT units include a Navy Corpsman.
- SERT’s were decommissioned in 2013 along with their command 1st Naval Construction Division. Today UCT’s have adapted the combat engineer role of a SERT providing the special operations capable aspect for the Fleet Marine Force amphibious assault component.
U.S. Navy Seabee 101 Points
Attributes: ST 11 [10]; DX 11 [20]; IQ 11 [20]; HT 11 [10].
Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d-1/1d+1; BL 24 lbs.; HP 11 [0]; Will 11 [0]; Per 11 [0]; FP 11 [0]; Basic Speed 6.25 [0]; Basic Move 6 [0].
Advantages: Fit [5]; Naval Training [1]; and 20 points chosen from additional ST or HT, Desirable Advantages (pp. 14-15), Reputation (Decorations), Military Rank (GURPS SEALS in Vietnam, pp. 14), Patrons (pp. B72-74), Unit of Assignment, or Talents.
Disadvantages: Duty (U.S. Military/Navy, 12 or less) [-10]; and -20 points chosen from Desirable Disadvantages (p. 15-16). Note: Color Blindness is an allowable disadvantage for the following ratings: Builder, Construction Mechanic, Engineering Aid, Steelworker, and Utilitiesman.
Skills: Architecture (A) IQ-1 [1]-10; Camouflage (E) IQ [1]-11; Carpentry (E) IQ [1]-11; Climbing (A) DX-1 [1]-10; Computer Operation (E) IQ [1]-11; Driving/TL8 (Auto) (A) DX [2]-11; Driving/TL8 (Automobile) (A) DX [2]-11; Driving/TL8 (Heavy Wheeled) (A) DX [2]-11; Electronics Operation (Comm) (A) IQ [2]-11; Engineer (Combat) (H) IQ+1 [8]-12; First Aid/TL8 (E) IQ [1]-11; Gunner/TL8 (Machine Gun) (E) DX [1]-11; Guns/TL8 (Grenade Launcher) (E) DX [1]-11; Guns/TL8 (LMG) (E) DX [1]-11; Guns/TL8 (Pistol) (E) DX+1 [2]-12; Guns/TL7 (Rifle) (E) DX+1 [2]-12; Guns/TL8 (Shotgun) (E) DX [1]-11; Hazardous Materials/TL8 (Chemical) (A) IQ-1 [1]-10; Hiking (A) HT-1 [1]-10; Knot-Tying (E) DX [1]-11; Masonry (E) IQ [1]-11; Navigation/TL8 (Land) (A) IQ+1 [2]-12; NBC Suit/TL8 (A) DX-1 [1]-10; Professional Skill (Construction) (A) IQ [2]-11; Running (A) HT-1 [1]-10; Scrounging (E) Per [1]-11; Soldier/TL8 (A) IQ-1 [1]-10; Swimming (E) HT [1]-11; Tactics (H) IQ-1 [2]-10; Throwing (A) DX-1 [1]-10. (101 pts so far)
MOS Skills: Choose an MOS (called a rate or rating in the Navy) and a unit of assignment.
1. MOS:
- Builder: Increase Carpentry to IQ+2 [4]-13, Masonry to IQ+2 [4]-13, and Professional Skills (Construction) to IQ+2 [8]-13. Add Machinist/TL8 (A) IQ-1 [1]-10 (+13 pts)
- Construction Electrician: Add Electrician/TL8 (A) IQ+2 [8]-13; Increase Climbing to DX [2]-11 (+9 pts)
- Construction Mechanic: Add Mechanic/TL8 (Diesel Engine) (A) IQ+2 [8]-13 and Mechanic/TL8 (Gasoline Engine) (A) IQ+1 [4]-12 (+12 pts)
- Engineering Aide: Increase Architecture to IQ+1 [4]-12, Computer Operation to IQ+1 [2]-12. Add Mathematics (Surveying) (H) IQ+1 [8]-12 (+12 pts)
- Equipment Operator: Add Driving/TL8 (Construction Equipment) (A) DX+2 [8]-13; Explosives (Demolition) (A) IQ+1 [4]-12; Freight Handling (A) IQ [2]-11; Mathematics (Surveying) (H) IQ-1 [2]-10 (+16 pts)
- Steelworker: Add Metallurgy/TL8 (H) IQ-2 [1]-9; Professional Skill (Welding) (A) IQ [2]-11; Increase Climbing to DX+1 [4]-12 (+6 pts)
- Utilitiesman: Add Electrician/TL8 (A) IQ [2]-11; Increase Climbing to DX [2]-11 (+3 pts)
2. Unit of Assignment:
- Naval Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCBs): No change to the above skills – this is a normal duty assignment for Seabees.
- Underwater Construction Teams (UCT): Add Boating/TL8 (Motorboat) (A) DX [2]-11; Explosives (Demolition) (A) IQ+1 [4]-12; Explosives (Underwater Demolition) (A) IQ+1 [4]-12; Scuba/TL8 (A) IQ+1 [4]-12. Increase Professional Skill (Construction) to IQ+1 [14].
- Seabee Engineer Reconnaissance Teams (SERTs): Increase Camouflage to IQ+2 [4]-13; add Observation (A) Per [2]-11.
3. Special Training:
- Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP): Add Spear (A) DX [2]-11; MCMAP [3]
Professional Skill (Construction) – Covers the use of hand-held and heavy construction equipment not covered under other skills (such as carpentry). Also covers the reading of blueprints, developing estimates, etc.
Note: I will likely add another page in the near future for Civil Engineering Corps (CEC) officers, who are in charge of Seabee battalions.
GURPS Special Ops 
Hello Steve. It’s nice this posted on your site. I’ll try to send some more ideas your way. Cheers!
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