Ask A Seabee

Ramsay · 12-07-2014, 08:12 PM

Hi there, I am considering enlisting and joining the Seabees. I haven't talked to a recruiter yet and have done some of my own research. I've read that the military is really downsizing and making cuts, especially with the Seabees recently. Decommissioning of battalions, sailors being urged to cross rate, advancement in E4-E6 is a standstill, extremely overmanned etc. has this affected you at all? Will I have a difficult time picking up a Seabee rate? Thanks for your response.

FutureND · 12-07-2014, 10:54 PM

The military as a whole is downsizing, and the Seabee's have been hit pretty hard. There have been a few battalions decommissioned over the past few years and advancement has not been the best. Advancement over the past few cycles has picked up a bit, most Seabee rates are just below average for E4 and get worse the higher you go. It seems to vary which rate had the best chances cycle by cycle but all in all Seabee advancement is worse than in the fleet. A few years ago a few rates were locked at zero advancement but that has picked up since then. I do know of a few people who have cross-rated, and a couple of those were told that was their only way of staying active. I've been in for just under two years so it hasn't really affected me too bad, I picked up third easily and most people I was in A school with have picked up third also. The bright side is that if you are on your game and are a good Seabee then you will do well and go far, there will always be someone who advances, it's just up to you. I personally love what I do and where I am and wouldn't change it at all.

Feel free to ask anything else.

BloodyPheonix · 09-12-2015, 08:53 PM

Hey man I know it's been a bit since this thread was active but I just had a thought. Bees go through Expeditionary Combat Skills right?

FutureND · 09-12-2015, 11:45 PM

ECS, yes we do. It's a pretty fun month, lots of range time.

BloodyPheonix · 09-13-2015, 01:55 PM

Can you give a break down of what that was like?

FutureND · 09-13-2015, 04:31 PM

First week is CLS, combat life saver, training. You learn immediate battlefield actions for gu shots and/or explosions. Second week is m9 training, you spend the whole week at the range. Third week is at the range with the m4, and fourth week is at the range with m9 and m4. This is where you will get your rifle qual as well as a chance to better your pistol score.

BloodyPheonix · 09-13-2015, 09:17 PM

Thanks man you go through with any riverines?

12-07-2014, 08:12 PM	#1
Ramsay Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	Hi there, I am considering enlisting and joining the Seabees. I haven't talked to a recruiter yet and have done some of my own research. I've read that the military is really downsizing and making cuts, especially with the Seabees recently. Decommissioning of battalions, sailors being urged to cross rate, advancement in E4-E6 is a standstill, extremely overmanned etc. has this affected you at all? Will I have a difficult time picking up a Seabee rate? Thanks for your response.

12-07-2014, 10:54 PM	#2
FutureND Active Duty Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: California Posts: 756 Rep Power: 0	The military as a whole is downsizing, and the Seabee's have been hit pretty hard. There have been a few battalions decommissioned over the past few years and advancement has not been the best. Advancement over the past few cycles has picked up a bit, most Seabee rates are just below average for E4 and get worse the higher you go. It seems to vary which rate had the best chances cycle by cycle but all in all Seabee advancement is worse than in the fleet. A few years ago a few rates were locked at zero advancement but that has picked up since then. I do know of a few people who have cross-rated, and a couple of those were told that was their only way of staying active. I've been in for just under two years so it hasn't really affected me too bad, I picked up third easily and most people I was in A school with have picked up third also. The bright side is that if you are on your game and are a good Seabee then you will do well and go far, there will always be someone who advances, it's just up to you. I personally love what I do and where I am and wouldn't change it at all. Feel free to ask anything else.

09-12-2015, 08:53 PM	#3
BloodyPheonix Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 139 Rep Power: 0	Hey man I know it's been a bit since this thread was active but I just had a thought. Bees go through Expeditionary Combat Skills right?

09-12-2015, 11:45 PM	#4
FutureND Active Duty Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: California Posts: 756 Rep Power: 0	ECS, yes we do. It's a pretty fun month, lots of range time.

09-13-2015, 01:55 PM	#5
BloodyPheonix Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 139 Rep Power: 0	Can you give a break down of what that was like?

09-13-2015, 04:31 PM	#6
FutureND Active Duty Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: California Posts: 756 Rep Power: 0	First week is CLS, combat life saver, training. You learn immediate battlefield actions for gu shots and/or explosions. Second week is m9 training, you spend the whole week at the range. Third week is at the range with the m4, and fourth week is at the range with m9 and m4. This is where you will get your rifle qual as well as a chance to better your pistol score.

09-13-2015, 09:17 PM	#7
BloodyPheonix Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 139 Rep Power: 0	Thanks man you go through with any riverines?