The Seabeescr.ee Ag a in have been Chosen by the Dept, of Defense to fill in on much
needed technical assistance missions to friendly nations.
Now undergoing training at C3C are men from the Battalions who will make up the
Seabae Technical Assistance Teams(STaT)capable’ of moving in fast to a disaster area
er providing construction know-how to friendly nations who ask for help.
Seabeds have already shown'their experiences and capabilities in this field when
they were flown into Chile to bring order cut of the chaos that was. created by an
earthquake disaster. Seabees also provided technical assistance in'the construction
of the Ecuadorian academy at Ecuador.
-Normally one officer.and 12 to 15 men are picked out of a battalion to form the
STaT group. They are liable to immediate service anywhere in the world.
Men selected for this program -arc also undergoing training that is not normally as
sociated with their spec sliced rating. For example, a builder may bo expected to
"ill in as a electrician in a situation that may require an ample amount of electri
cal work. Through this mohtbd of cross-rating, Construction Battalion Base Unit hop
es to double or triple the actual number of rates in any given team, therefor in
creasing the flexibility and capability of the teams.
The teams are familiarized with advance base components, .such things as distilla
tion units, water purification units, portable galley equipment, etc. They are also
>cing given additional-training cn first aid and foreign languages, and phases of
communication.
In addition to the technical training the men of STaT are .broadening their military
capabilities. They -are attending schools on demolitions counter guerilla warfare;
jad evasion, escape and survival. The purpose of this training is net primarily to .
.so the teams in military situations, but rather to help the men recognize and bo
>re pared for conditions requiring these . specialized tactics. ^
When called upon, SIUT will be ready to move anywhere in the world, much the same
Jay as mobile construe it ion battalion detachments are denLovod at present.
In coordinating.training for this nevj program, C5BU has called upon a variety of
.raining commands ’for help * In order to. got as much training as possible in a short
>ime, men have been sent to established schools of the Marine Corps, army, Civil '
iagineers Corps Officer School, Naval Schools Construction, and the Construction
iattolion Center Construction Equipment Dept. Officers assigned to head STal are
;ivcn a course at the army’s Special Forces Staff Officer School, Fort Bragg, North
Carolina.
Two teams of 15 man bach are being formed in MCB-9. They are tentatively scheduled
.'or deployment to Pc rt .Huenema in mid October for leave and-intensive training, a
‘ew Group VIII billets are still open in these teams. If you are interested submit
. special request chit to the. Executive Officer via the Chain of Command,* MCB Nine
ill consider applications frm outstanding 3rd Class Petty 'Officers for this program.