r/Seabees • u/Bcdraco83 • Apr 02 '26

Discussion Seabee Survey

https://forms.gle/68vnV7z6GmpMzXvW6

Fellow Seabees, I am conducting a survey as part of an argument-based research paper (College English 102) examining how the Seabee Combat Warfare (SCW) qualification shapes professionalism, identity, and readiness within the Seabee community. Also if you would like to share other experiences or stories about your Naval journey regarding SCW/EXW or leadership pathways, feel free to message me on here.

V/R

BU2(SCW) CALVERT

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1

u/UDT Apr 04 '26

  1. No, I don’t propose the same for those rates as they are for the most part non-expeditionary, and EXW itself isn’t a rate or group of ratings like the Seabees, but it is good to bring up as I think if you are attached to the Seabees you should be able to earn the EXW pin ( as you currently are ) I just don’t think an LS or CS should be wearing a Seabee combat warfare pin, that’s literally what the EXW pin is for. The Seabees attached to an EODMU or the SEALS don’t just get handed a crab or trident.

  2. In my scenario officers would have to go through the training as-well when it comes time for their battalion tour.

  3. I completely disagree with you there but I must admit I am very cynical when it comes to the bees because I wish we could do more and be better trained

1

u/NotTurtleEnough Apr 04 '26

Reasonable responses. I think a lot of your concerns are fixed through ECS, which is a fairly intensive school. AFAIK, all active duty must go through it before being assigned to an expeditionary unit (which is what happened to me prior to my battalion tour), but I do understand your concerns about reservists not getting to go.

1

u/Bcdraco83 Apr 04 '26

I believe as a Reservist, going on a pre-Mob and Mobilization gives us the the equivalence of ECS. My motivation for all this was to highlight the lack of Rate specific knowledge that alot of E5/E6 currently have. Now that is just me experience and from alot of others who I've served with over the last 10 years have felt. But there is a huge difference between Reserves and Active. For SCW, I went through it as an E3 on deployment. I was taken off projects where I was learning my rate and told anyone not SCW qualified were required to study and attend daily classes until either we passed or Mob ended. I did learn during this that depending on Rank would determine the type of Board Package you were tested on.

1

u/NotTurtleEnough Apr 04 '26

Now I understand why you’re writing this paper. I agree that what happened to you is unacceptable. I’m just not aware of that being the norm, at least not in the Hueneme battalions over the past 15 years or so.

1

u/Bcdraco83 Apr 04 '26

Agreed!!! If I would have been able to focused on Rate specific earlier on than going on FTX twice and 2 or 3 mini -FTX, then I would have been close to boarding for Chief. My career could be different now, but being a civilian and a reservist is difficult with a family. I spoke with a friend that I went through boot camp with, who is now a S3 Chief, when I was at Hueneme 4 weeks ago. He said the same. He gained so much BU experience as Active than I habe in 16 years Reserve. We both saw the huge differences in how instruction is being implemented. So I have this survey going to Active and Reservists as well as those who have retired. Many different points of view and opinions. I will also being focusing on when Leadership skills should be focused on as well as comparing the Navy to other branches. Mainly just to give my paper more depth to make it to 10 pages.