Army - Navy

Navy Reserve Mobile Construction Battalion 26/Detachment 1326 (Sea Bees) – Receiving Commander’s Award for exceptional volunteer services at Lake Shelbyville

Navy Reserve Mobile Construction Battalion 26/Detachment 1326 (Sea Bees) – Inspection and replacement of roofs for information shelters at boat ramps.

Lake: Lake Shelbyville, IL

Partners: USACE; Navy Reserve Mobile Construction Battalion 26/Detachment 1326

Partnership Type: MOU

Corps POC: Andrea L. Lewis, Operations Manager, Lake Shelbyville; Larry J. Gutzler, Park Ranger, Lake Shelbyville

Story: Since 1980 the approximately 85 men and women of the Navy Reserve Mobile Construction Battalion 26/Detachment 1326 (Sea Bees) has been training at Lake Shelbyville and, in the process, accomplishing much needed repairs for the lake’s aging facilities. Meeting at full strength on a monthly basis from March – November and with lesser numbers for other months, this unit has replaced roofs, built bridges, constructed trails, improved visitor access to meet ADA standards, insulated buildings, assembled picnic tables, cut trees, rebuilt campsites, installed fences, constructed horseshoe pits, built shelters, painted facilities, replaced campfire grills, and completed many other projects for the public to use. The work provided has been valued at $150,000.00 to $200,000.00 per year, which makes them our most prolific partner.

In recognition of their accomplishments, the unit has received a National Take Pride in America Award in 1989 and a Commander’s Award in 2001. They also receive a Volunteer Award Plaque each year at the Lake Shelbyville Volunteer Dinner.

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