Seabee Rockers

[VirtualMariner]

Here is an assortment of Navy UIM's, more commonly known in sailor jargon as "rockers". The two MCB patches would fall somewhere in the broad window of 1957-1974. The Navy introduced these patches in 1957 and 1974 is the year the Navy changed the designation for these units from "Mobile Construction Battalion" to "Naval Mobile Construction Battalion". Which means that the two NMCB patches are either from 1974/1975 (these UIM's were discontinued in 1975), or from 1980 or newer. I believe the Navy started issuing UIM's again in 1984, but some units started using them again on their own volition as early as 1980 when the jumper uniforms were brought back. Neither of these patches have quite the look or feel of regulation issue, though, so I'm not sure.

 

Does anyone know anything about the designation CBU - Construction Battalion Unit? I'm not personally familiar with it and haven't found any good background information. It appears that there are current units of this designation, though I'm not sure how long they've been around, or what constitutes a CBU. I assume these patches are post-1980.

 

The RNMCB 16 patch interests me, because I don't think the unit exists anymore. The "R" stands for "Reserve", but this designation is no longer used. A Reserve Battalion uses the same designation as an Active Duty Battalion now, but unless I'm mistaken, there is not currently an NMCB 16. Does anyone know when this unit was disbanded, or when the Navy stopped using the RNMCB designation. The answers to those questions could help narrow down the age of the patch. I assume, though, that it's post-1980.

 

Any corrections to the above info, or additional thoughts/facts on these patches and their respective units would be much appreciated.

[jeb137]

...Does anyone know anything about the designation CBU - Construction Battalion Unit? I'm not personally familiar with it and haven't found any good background information. It appears that there are current units of this designation, though I'm not sure how long they've been around, or what constitutes a CBU. I assume these patches are post-1980.

 

The RNMCB 16 patch interests me, because I don't think the unit exists anymore. The "R" stands for "Reserve", but this designation is no longer used. A Reserve Battalion uses the same designation as an Active Duty Battalion now, but unless I'm mistaken, there is not currently an NMCB 16. Does anyone know when this unit was disbanded, or when the Navy stopped using the RNMCB designation. The answers to those questions could help narrow down the age of the patch. I assume, though, that it's post-1980.

 

From http://www.history.navy.mil/museums/seabee...u/401%20CBU.pdf

 

 

"On 18 October 2004, the Chief of Naval Operations sent out OPNAV INST 3111 which realigned or disestablished Construction Battalion Units (CBUs), and relocated a number of Construction Battalion Maintenance Units (CBMUs). The purpose was to align active CBUs with reserve CBMUs into two active CBMUs with reserve DETs to enhance command and control. The revised mission for the CBMU was "to deploy rapidly to provide follow-on operations, maintenance, repair and limited construction capabilities at advance base shore facilities constructed by Naval Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCBs) ... Provide Forward Operating Base (FOB) facility and logistic support to designated Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF),

Marine Expeditionary Group (MEG) Command Elements, and NSW squadrons... Operate, maintain and repair shore facilities and utilities in support of forward deployed, ground-based, fleet hospitals ... Construction Readiness Training (CRT) projects at designated Naval shore activities."

 

 

That said, When I was on active duty, a CBU was a place for SEABEEs to have shore duty. They worked with PWC / Maitenance for Naval Shore Facilities.

 

There are still reserve NMCB in the Naval Construction Forces. They were integrated into the NCF and are deployable units.

 

I was in NMCB-1 & NMCB-74. (When I was in NMCB-1 we called it "McBone Construction".

 

Jon B.

Newaygo MI

[VirtualMariner]

There are still reserve NMCB in the Naval Construction Forces. They were integrated into the NCF and are deployable units.

 

I was in NMCB-1 & NMCB-74. (When I was in NMCB-1 we called it "McBone Construction".

 

Jon B.

Newaygo MI

 

Yeah, I knew there are still NMCB units in the Reserves. I've been out of the Reserves since '97, but at that time the biggest unit at my Reserve Center was a Seabee unit. I was wondering, more specifically, when they stopped calling them RNMCB, as seen on one of these rockers.

 

Thanks for the info on the CBU units. That's one I wasn't at all familiar with.