170TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL FACILITIES COMMAND, 145TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS AND 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCES
Date Signed: 2/23/2012 | ALMARS Number: 007/12
ALMARS : 007/12
R 231650Z FEB 12
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 007/12
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/170TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL FACILITIES COMMAND, 145TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS AND 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCES//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF MARINES SERVING AROUND THE GLOBE, I EXTEND SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NAVAL ENGINEERS AS YOU CELEBRATE THE 170TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL FACILITIES COMMAND, 145TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS AND 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCES.  MARINES TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN RECOGNIZING YOUR HERITAGE AND LONG-STANDING SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY'S NAVAL FORCES.  SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THESE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS, NAVAL ENGINEERS AND SEABEES HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE MARINE CORPS INFRASTRUCTURE, PROVIDE QUALITY FACILITIES AND SUPPORT OUR MARINES, SAILORS AND FAMILIES AS WELL AS FIGHT ALONGSIDE MARINES IN EVERY CONFLICT OUR NATION HAS KNOWN.
2.  SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1842 AS THE BUREAU OF NAVY YARDS AND DOCKS, THE NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND HAS A PROUD LEGACY OF PROVIDING OUR NAVY AND MARINE CORPS TEAM SUPERIOR BASE AND FACILITY SUPPORT.  TOGETHER WITH THE CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS, SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1867, THESE TWO BASTIONS OF NAVY ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE HAVE SERVED AS THE BACKBONE FROM WHICH WE CONTINUE TO DRAW TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.  YOUR LEGACY OF SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE CONTRIBUTES TO THE COMBAT READINESS OF OUR CORPS IN INNUMERABLE WAYS.
3.  FROM THE ADVANCED BASE CONSTRUCTION EFFORTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEIR CREATION IN 1942, ESTABLISHING PORTS, AIRFIELDS AND CAMPS IN THE ALEUTIANS, TULAGI, AND NEW HEBRIDES, TO THE CURRENT FIGHT IN AFGHANISTAN, SEABEES CONTINUE TO ADD TO THEIR LEGACY.  YOUR EFFORTS TO OVERCOME SIGNIFICANT ENGINEERING CHALLENGES IN SUPPORT OF OUR MARINES IN HELMAND PROVINCE REINFORCE OUR HISTORICAL PARTNERSHIP AND ENHANCE OUR SUCCESS.
4.  WHILE CELEBRATING YOUR MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND "CAN DO" SPIRIT, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO STOP AND REFLECT UPON THOSE NAVAL ENGINEERS AND SEABEES WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN SERVICE TO OUR NATION.  MARINES EVERYWHERE SALUTE THOSE WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CLARION CALL TO DUTY WITH REMARKABLE COURAGE, DEDICATION, AND UNSHAKABLE RESOLVE IN YOUR EFFORTS TO BUILD AND FIGHT.
5.  CONGRATULATIONS AND SEMPER FIDELIS.  JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//