The Seabees have always said, "We build, we fight," but more often than not the emphasis is on construction instead of combat. Still, a Seabees recon team supporting the 2nd Marine Division's push toward Baghdad found itself in a hot zone in the Euphrates-Tigris River Valley. SERT-5, from Port Hueneme, Calif., is thought to be the first Seabee unit to face hostile fire since Vietnam.
SERTs, Seabee Engineer Reconnaissance Teams, perform quick evaluations of field site conditions, usually regarding roads and bridges. Their job is to gather intelligence. They help determine what measures and equipment will be needed to "fill in the gap." As soon as the front-line combat units push forward, the second wave of troops and materiel should flow forward into secured areas.