Sailor Story: Construction Mechanic Brendan Conaty (SeaBee)

[Navy for Moms Admin]

Sailor: Construction Mechanic Brendan Conaty, Port Hueneme, Calif., Naval Base Ventura County
Mom: Kathleen Martin Conaty, Belmont, Mass.

“With compassion for others, we build, we fight, for peace with freedom.”
– Navy Seabee motto

It isn’t hard to understand the pride and love that Construction Mechanic Brendan Conaty, a U.S. Navy Seabee, feels for the Navy. Growing up in Belmont, Mass., Conaty covered his room in military posters, collected G.I. Joes and idolized those who served in the U.S. military.

After graduating from Belmont Hill School, Conaty enrolled in the Navy’s Delayed Entry Program. He was hooked on the Seabees from the very beginning. Conaty’s mother, Kathleen, was ecstatic when her son shared the news that he had enlisted.

“I always knew I wanted to give back to my country. It was as if I was counting down the years to enlist,” Brendan Conaty says. “I just fell in love with what Seabees did every day – from conducting humanitarian relief efforts to working hands-on supporting the war on terror – I felt like the job had my name written all over it.”

In April 2007, after graduating from Boot Camp and completing A School, Conaty spent two weeks working with the Recruiter Assistance Program (RAP). Bursting with pride, Conaty walked the halls of local high schools, eager to shake the hands of the recruiters who had guided him toward the uniform he now proudly wore, while speaking with students about his Navy experiences. Although he had only been in the Navy for seven months, Conaty was on a mission to share his Navy pride and give back in any way he could.

In May 2007, Conaty reported to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four, located at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, Calif. Days later it was game time, and Conaty was deployed to Camp Covington, Guam. Owned and operated by Navy Seabees, Camp Covington’s strong Seabee history thrilled Conaty. As a construction mechanic apprentice, he trained and performed tasks involving maintenance, repair and overhaul of military vehicles, spending hours soaking up knowledge. He also participated in the mission’s main goal: planning and ensuring natural disaster preparedness in the military stronghold of Guam.

Dedicated to humanitarian work, Conaty volunteered to participate in the Dodi Beach Road Project, where he fixed vehicles, repaved roads and provided disaster relief to a local area devastated by the typhoons that hit Guam regularly.

“I had never been farther than Martha’s Vineyard, and I was rebuilding roads for locals to get to their local market, while gaining irreplaceable tactical knowledge toward my career,” Conaty says. “Nothing could touch how much I learned during this time and nothing could come close to what it felt like when I saw the happiness in the eyes of those my work helped – it is life-defining.”

In October 2007, just before returning to Port Hueneme, Conaty was hand selected to join the convoy security element for his second deployment to Kuwait, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thrilled, he called his mother immediately.

“I was scared – this was different than Seabee construction – my son was going to support the war,” Kathleen says. “But Brendan is doing amazing things and advancing himself as a person. He is so proud – I can’t help but support him and love him to death.”

In December 2007, Conaty was given the opportunity to train outside his rate and enrolled in a training sweep, where he completed his Combat Lifesaver Course. He trained in everything from battlefield trauma and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) recognition to Military Operations in Urban Terrain and Close Quarters Combat Training. Conaty got his first taste of combat training and was invigorated by another opportunity to serve and protect his country.

“This is why I signed up for the Navy, to help in the international state of affairs of this country firsthand,” Conaty says. “I have a larger-than-life opportunity to get into the mix of it all and be a part of the forward progress out there. All the superhero stuff has become my life – it has come full circle.”

In February 2009, Conaty will return to Port Hueneme and begin working toward a bachelor’s degree in English at California State University, Channel Islands. Following in his father's footsteps, he hopes to eventually return to Belmont, Mass., to become an English teacher and give back to the Navy by working with the Navy Recruiting District New England in Boston.

“I want to look back and say that I did things for other people,” Conaty says. “The Navy has been another way for me to do it, and I will continue this passion for the rest of my life.”

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080706-N-5961C-002 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 6, 2008) The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Regan (CVN 76) and Carrier Air Wing 14 (CVW) 14 begin their transit into Agana Harbor for a port call on Guam after working off the coast of the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is on a routine deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Spike Call (Released)



070308-N-5629H-004 WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (March 8, 2007) - Master-At-Arms 1st Class Frank Greco, left, watches as Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Vlad Hamilton starts an IV on him during a combat lifesaver course. Greco and Hamilton are two of 450 Navy Reservists mobilized for Navy Customs Battalion Sierra, which is scheduled perform a customs inspection mission in support of Maritime Security Operations. Sierra is being trained, equipped and deployed by the Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group in Williamsburg, Va. U.S. Navy photo by Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Kristie Hamm (RELEASED)


080628-N-8547M-154 Port Hueneme, Calif. (June 28, 2008) Members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 convoy security team perform a firepower demonstration for the guest of the Seabee Day's parade on the main grinder at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme. Seabee days is an annual event celebrating the Navy Seabees and allows the community to learn more about the Naval Construction Force. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick W. Mullen III (Released)

[Sue]

Just a bit of pride here...but I suspect my son Matt, a Seabee with the NMCB4 is one of the Seabees firing blanks during the Seabee parade on June 28, 2008 in the picture above. I happened to call him that day and he said he was gunner in the parade. Congrats to Brendan on the great story and all his accomplishments as a Seabee. AND a big STAY STRONG, STAY SAFE to Brendan and Matt and all the other men and women of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 as they are overseas on deployment!!! OOH RAH!!!

[Navy for Moms Admin]

Awww! :) What a great connection! Thank you for sharing Momma Louis!

[Sue]

I had emailed my son about the Sailor of the Week story and that the Seabee was from Port Hueneme where he is stationed and my son emailed me yesterday that he is good friends with Brendan and in fact they are deployed to the same spot SOOOO if Brendan's mom is out there....its a small small world when it comes to Seabees!! OOHH RAAHH!!!

[Navy for Moms Admin]

Aww- That is awesome Momma Louis :D Thank you for sharing! - Sincerely, Catherine

[Lois C T(momma T)]

My son is a Navy Reserve Seabee, serving in Iraq, he is a CMCN. He also wanted to serve, for him it has also been a goal since childhood. R.I. (our home) is the Home of the Seabees, which makes us doubly proud! The Article was great, thanks for sharing!

[Marti (Matt's Mom)]

Thanks for the story! My son, Matt graduates from boot camp this Friday, 2/27/09! He's then going to A school and will be a reservist with the Seabee's as well! This story just makes me prouder to be the mother of a Seabee-to-be!

[Brenda S., aka, Sailor Moon]

Moving story. The pictures are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[Denise-- Seabee Mom]

Seabees rock. My son is a seabee and has been for 11 years. He was loving job until he got stuck in Norfolk where they needed a people count but no work. He was stuck changing light bulb and painting. He likes painting as much has he did hanging christmas. My seabee was in a motorcyclye accident in July. We still prey that in time he will be able to return. Michael love being a seabee. Its great to have a little dirt sailor.