171ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND, 146TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS AND 71ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCES
Date Signed: 3/12/2013 | ALMARS Number: 008/13
ALMARS : 008/13
R 112127Z MAR 13
UNCLASSIFIED/
ALMAR 008/13
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/171ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND, 146TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS AND 71ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCES//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINES, I WISH ALL NAVY ENGINEERS A HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS AS YOU COMMEMORATE YOUR ANNIVERSARIES.  ALL WHO WEAR OUR CLOTH ARE ETERNALLY THANKFUL FOR YOUR TIME-HONORED LEGACY OF SERVICE TO OUR NATION'S NAVAL FORCES.  FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, NAVY ENGINEERS AND SEABEES HAVE WORKED AND FOUGHT ALONGSIDE MARINES, IMPROVING COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH FACILITY AND ENGINEERING ENHANCEMENTS.
2.  SINCE ITS FOUNDING, NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND HAS ENJOYED A PROUD HERITAGE, PROVIDING THE NAVY MARINE CORPS TEAM WITH EXCEPTIONAL INSTALLATION SUPPORT.  BOLSTERED BY THE CREATION OF THE CIVIL ENGINEER CORPS, NAVFAC HAS CONSISTENTLY PROVIDED SUPERIOR TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND INVALUABLE FACILITIES ENGINEERING SERVICES.  OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, NAVAL ENGINEERS EXECUTED AN UNPRECEDENTED NINE BILLION DOLLARS IN MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, WHICH HAS DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED OUR READINESS AS WELL AS THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR MARINES, SAILORS AND FAMILIES.
3.  THE LEGENDARY SEABEES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CRITICAL CONSOLIDATION AND DEMOBILIZATION OF OUR FORWARD OPERATING BASES AND COMBAT OUTPOSTS AS WE REDUCE THE SIZE OF OUR FORCE IN AFGHANISTAN.  TODAY'S SEABEES HAVE WRITTEN NEW CHAPTERS IN A STORIED LEGACY -- FIGHTING AND CONSTRUCTING JUST AS THEY DID 70 YEARS AGO WHEN THEY BUILT CRITICAL EXPEDITIONARY AIRFIELDS WHILE UNDER FIRE ON GUADALCANAL AND BOUGAINVILLE, ULTIMATELY ENABLING MARINES TO DEFEAT A DETERMINED ENEMY IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS.
4.  WHILE CELEBRATING YOUR RENOWNED ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND INDOMITABLE SPIRIT, WE PAUSE TO REFLECT UPON THOSE SAILORS AND CIVIL ENGINEERS WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN SERVICE TO OUR NATION.  MARINES EVERYWHERE SALUTE YOUR COURAGE, DEDICATION, AND RESOLVE TO PROVIDE THE UTMOST IN CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT.
5.  CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ANNIVERSARIES AND SEMPER FIDELIS.  JAMES F. AMOS, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//