The Reserve Seabee program in the Naval Reserve
began in December 1947.
The Seabees in reserve were organized,
first, as Naval District Seabee Companies and, later, as Seabee Reserve
Divisions performing weeknight drill duty (later, weekend duty) at Naval Reserve Centers.
The existence of battalions in the reserve
program did not occur until July 1960 when eighteen battalions were
authorized for the Naval Reserve.
The start of each battalion was modest with headquarters established in several rooms in a Naval Reserve Center, no
full-time staff, and only a small officer and enlisted staff. Battalion
billets were established by the Chief of Naval Reserve and filled
entirely by CEC and Seabee personnel in Selected Reserve (SELRES, or pay)
status. The authorized battalion staff was eight reserve officers and 26
enlisted reservists. Seabee Reserve Divisions were attached to reserve
battalions on a geographic basis.
Battalion active duty for training for some
battalions began in 1961. Many battalions had their initial organizational
training at Davisville, Rhode Island. Battalion active duty for training
continued annually from that point with duty at various Navy and Marine
Corps bases within the United States.
In August 1967 Reserve Naval Construction Regiments were authorized
to exercise operational control over as many as four battalions. In
1968 two addition regiments were authorized for a total of six regiments
and 18 battalions.
In June 1968 the existing Construction Battalion Divisions were renamed Mobile Construction Battalion Sub-units
emphasizing the direct control of the sub-units for operational
and training purposes by the battalion commanding officer. There were about 200 Seabee Sub-units nationwide.
MCB-12 (Mobile Construction Battalion-12)
This reserve battalion was organized on 5
March 1961 and had its headquarters at Davisville, Rhode Island.
There were 11 assigned Seabee Divisions
located in five northeastern states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. This battalion drew reservists from
the First
Naval District.
Ordered to active duty: 13 May 1968 at Construction
Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi.
Active service time in Vietnam:
21 September 1968 - 21 April 1969
Released from active duty: __ April 1969
MCB-22 (Mobile Construction Battalion-22)
This reserve battalion was organized on 5
March 1961 and had its headquarters at Naval Reserve Center, Dallas, TX.
There were 17 assigned Seabee Divisions
located in five south central states: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, and Texas. This battalion drew reservists from the Eighth
Naval District.
Ordered to active duty: 13 May 1968 at Construction
Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi.
Active service time in Vietnam:
13 August 1968 - 5 March 1969
Released from active duty: 14 March 1969 at
Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi.
