Even when he was just a child, master carpenter Nathan Gilbert knew what he wanted to do with his life. After graduating high school, he joined the Navy and became a member of the Seabeas—the Navy’s construction force. Today, he takes us back to the base he called home throughout his career.
He Was Always Going to Be a Seabee
Nathan always knew he wanted to join the Navy’s Construction Battalion. After hearing his father and grandfather tell stories about their time in the Seabeas, he knew it would be a good fit. He’d get the training, discipline, and experience he needed to be a professional builder when he left the Navy.
Nothing Has Changed Back in Gulfport
Nathan called Gulfport home from 2009 to 2014, and he wanted to make sure that things hadn’t changed. The Navy is still training excellent builders, deploying Seabeas all over the world (wherever they’re needed) to build bases, structures for humanitarian efforts, and disaster relief buildings. They train in a variety of different trades, including HVAC, electrical, carpentry, and roadwork.
It’s Where His Training Began
Gulfport is where Nathan’s training (and the training of countless other Seabees) began. In that time, he learned the skills he needed to build, but also to enter the trades as a professional. With the Navy’s help, he was able to get into construction when he left the Navy, making him the tradesman that he is today.
What Does Seabees Training Look Like?
Seabees training is intense. When a Construction Battalion sailor finishes their boot camp, they head to Gulfport to learn their skill sets. Later in their careers, they’ll return to Gulfport to train and reach the journeymen level. All the while, the CB chiefs maintain a level of discipline that keeps sailors on track with their training and other military expectations.
All Their Training Starts at Gulfport
For the most part, the new members of the Seabees have no experience. They attend “A School” to learn the basics of their trades, including math, masonry, and carpentry. They learn in the classroom as well as the lab, where construction projects are completed by teams of sailors.
The Trades Need Seabeas
Gulfport trains about 4,000 sailors each year, giving them the skills they need to succeed in the Navy as well as after. With the shortage of skilled tradespeople, these sailors can easily find work in the trades, helping close the skills gap and keep the construction industry moving.
Resources
Special thanks to the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Mississippi.
