R 012246Z MAR 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 007/11
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/69TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCES, 144TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS, AND 169TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL FACILITIES COMMAND//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF MARINES SERVING AROUND THE GLOBE, I EXTEND HEARTIEST CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NAVAL ENGINEERS AS YOU CELEBRATE THE 169TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL FACILITIES (NAVFAC) COMMAND, THE 144TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS AND THE 69TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCES. MARINES TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN RECOGNIZING YOUR LEGENDARY HERITAGE. SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE NAVAL FACILITIES COMMAND, NAVAL ENGINEERS HAVE LABORED UNCEASINGLY TO IMPROVE MARINE CORPS INFRASTRUCTURE, BENEFITING COUNTLESS MARINES, SAILORS AND FAMILIES. DRAWING FROM THE CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS EXPERTISE THAT FORMS THE BACKBONE OF NAVFAC AND THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCES, THE LEGENDARY SEABEES HAVE PROVEN, TIME AND AGAIN, TO BE CRITICAL FORCE MULTIPLIERS FOR MARINES.
2.  FROM ERECTING MORE THAN 400 ADVANCED BASES DURING WORLD WAR II, TO CONSTRUCTING CAUSEWAYS AND PONTOON DOCKS ON THE HEELS OF ASSAULT WAVES AT INCHON, KOREA, SEABEES HAVE CONSISTENTLY PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN OUR NATION'S MILITARY VICTORIES. SEABEES CONTINUE MAKING VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS, BUILDING CRITICAL SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MARINES SERVING IN THE HELMAND VALLEY OF AFGHANISTAN AND MATERIALLY ENHANCING AFGHAN INTERNAL DEFENSE THROUGH NATIONAL LEVEL RECONSTRUCTION SUPPORT. OUR CORPS IS GRATEFUL TO ALL NAVAL ENGINEERS WHO SELFLESSLY VOLUNTEER TO RUN TO THE SOUND OF THE GUNS AND BUILD AND FIGHT ALONGSIDE MARINES IN HARM'S WAY.
3.  AS YOU COMMEMORATE YOUR PROUD LEGACY AND INNUMERABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WE ALL CELEBRATE THE STORIED HISTORY OF NAVAL ENGINEERS AND HONOR THOSE SEABEES WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN SERVICE TO THEIR NATION. MARINES EVERYWHERE SALUTE YOUR EFFORTS AND WELCOME EVERY CHANCE TO SERVE SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH YOU.
4.  CONGRATULATIONS AND SEMPER FIDELIS.  JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//