United States Navy | Navy Recruitment

Choosing a Military Branch

Deciding to enlist in the military is a big step. Once that decision is made, the hard work isn’t over yet. You still have to choose the military branch that you’ll be serving. There are four primary options: the Army, the Marines, the Navy, and the Air Force. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages for different people.

Many people choose their branch of the military based on family history. If they have close family members or honored family members that have served in one branch, they are likely to choose that same branch. Family’s opinion on each branch is also important; there is a lot of judgment between branches of the military, and people enrolling are likely to let those opinions influence their decision.

People who are in the military to prepare for a certain job are likely to choose their branch based on what will advance them in their careers. For instance, some people want to be pilots in their civilian lives. In that case, they would likely enter the Air Force to get the necessary training to jumpstart their career.

Examining your strengths and abilities is also an important part of choosing your military branch. For instance, the Navy and Air Force are the most technologically advanced branches of the military. They have a lot of jobs that require more intellectual fortitude as well. On the other hand, the Marines and the Army are the most physically demanding branches. Both have jobs that require intellect, but they have far more jobs that demand physical strength and performance.

There are many things to take into consideration while choosing a military branch. Talking with a recruiter can be a very helpful step in the process. They can look at your strengths and skills and help you choose a branch that you’ll excel in.

Filed Under: Military Tagged With: Air Force, United States Navy

The Mother of all Beasts

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Aircraft carriers are huge ships fitted with flight decks, which allow aircrafts to take off and land on them. They allow the armed forces to deploy their air power anywhere in the world without relying on any foreign soil to set up its base of operations or use their airports that are an easy target.. The aircraft carriers are recognized as sovereign territories at sea as per the freedom of navigation laws, hence they can carry on their air operations out of the carrier battle group which include a carrier and a set of 6 – 8 war ships providing escort. The usage of aircraft carriers dates back to early 20th century, during World war one, where wooden ships were used as balloon carriers , which has evolved into present day carriers which are nuclear powered and can carry dozens of Fixed wing as well as rotary wing aircrafts. They are the largest of the ships operated by the navies and can cruise at speeds of up to 35 knots which makes it capable of being deployed at any part of the worlds in a matter of weeks. There are around 22 aircraft carriers in active service all over the world which are maintained by 9 fleets. Brazil, India. Russia and Thailand have 1 carrier each in active service , UK, Italy and Spain maintain a fleet of 2 carriers each, where as US navy has 11 active aircraft carriers and out of which 6 carrier groups are stationed at strategic locations and ready for action at moment’s notice.
The US Navy Nimitz Class Super carriers comprises of 11 carriers which are nuclear powered. These are powered by 2 A4-W reactors, and have a maximum speed of over 25 knots. They carry a wide range of armaments on board along with the aircrafts, these include Anti ship missile, Missile defense cannons, Sea sparrow anti-aircraft missiles etc., in order to defend it from the enemy threats.

Filed Under: Navy, Navy Facts Tagged With: Aircraft Carrier, Anti-ship missile, DARPA, History, Navy League of the United States, Royal Navy, United States Department of Defense, United States Navy

Dealing with Bombs under Water

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US Navy SEALS, the US Navy’s principle Special Operations group recruits 18-28 year old male candidates holding US citizenship. Should be a high school graduate or equivalent and should be proficient in reading writing, understanding and speaking English with a minimum ASVAB scores of 165 or 220 (depending upon the sub tests taken into consideration) and the candidate should pass the SEAL Physical Screening Test (PST) . Upon satisfying all these requirements, the candidate will be eligible to undergo BUD/S.
The SEAL training is very rigorous with a drop out rate of around 70- 90 percent. The candidate goes through a at least a year of formal training environments before getting enlisted
Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL training (BUD/S), a 6 month course at Naval Special Warfare Training Center, Coronado. It starts as a Indoctrination and pre training classes for the first 5 weeks which then paves way for the 3 phases of BUD/S. Out of which the first phase , 8 week Basic Conditioning which includes the ‘Hell Week’ encountered midway of the 1st phase and considered the toughest where the candidate will be tested to his limits. Hell week tests the candidates of the physical endurance, their mental tenacity and team work. More than 65 percent of the candidates quit at this time. The remaining will move to the 2nd phase which includes 8 weeks of diving lessons and then the 3rd phase where the candidates are trained in land warfare for 9 weeks. Then they undergo basic parachute training for 3 weeks. In the end the candidates go through 8 weeks of SEAL qualification training which includes aspects like mission planning, operations, tactics, techniques and procedures. Once upon successful completion of all these programs, they are considered as SEALs authorizing them to wear the SEAL insignia over their uniform.

Filed Under: Navy Tagged With: High school, Indoctrination, Military, United States, United States Naval Special Warfare Command, United States Navy, United States Navy SEALs, United States Special Operations Command

Naval Diving a dream Job

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In order to defend the country’s interests there is a need for underwater reconnaissance, demolition, construction, ordinance disposal, ship maintenance, search and rescue, salvage operations etc which are carried out by the country’s defense forces. They make use of expert divers called combat divers or naval divers or frogmen for these purposes. The typical offensive activities carried out by a naval diver include underwater demolition, infiltration, sabotage of enemy installations and equipments. The defensive activities include clearing of mines underwater, anti sabotage operations against enemy divers etc. SBS and SEAL teams are well experienced in these kinds of operations.
The military divers, in order to remain undetected and also prevent any disasters while handling explosives underwater, use specialized or modified equipments. They use rebreathes to prevent the release of bubbles due to the exhaled air, which may give away their position. The suits and diving gear used by then will be made of non reflective surfaces, with non magnetic components.
World War II saw a lot of action on the part of the US Navy divers which included the efforts by the salvage teams trying to rescue trapped sailors from USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor. They were assigned to removal of underwater obstacles during the Okinawa Invasion where they created a record by removing 1200 underwater obstacles in 2 days. The Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) teams defused many explosives and underwater mines during the course of World War II.
The Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) develops and tests various diving equipments and practices depending upon the requirements of the US Armed Forces. US Navy along with NEDU, Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) and Navy Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL) have developed and proved the saturating diving techniques in its Sealabs ( Experimental Underwater Habitats) and other research programs.

Filed Under: Navy Tagged With: National Naval Medical Center, United States, United States armed forces, United States Navy, United States Navy SEALs, US Navy, USS Oklahoma, World War II

A Pre-set Fate

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Earl used to race a souped-up Model A down the streets of L.A. This was in the 1930s. He had a buddy with a shop who milled the heads and did various other things to the buggy to make it romp. Earl went through a number of different hotrods, racing title for title. He was a cut-up all the way around, going pretty much nowhere with his life.

When the United States become active in WWII, Earl’s younger brother, Don, joined the merchant marines at age 17. Earl was never one to be one-upped. He joined the Navy. He became a medic and floated from port to port across the entire globe. He also literally had a wife in Liverpool and one in L.A. He used to buy cheap watches in one port and sell them for triple the price in the next. M.P.s caught onto the doings and attempted to arrest Earl. Earl was sharp. He knew he couldn’t be arrested at his duty station so he slept there, having buddies deliver meals. He once slept at his duty station for two weeks before the M.P.s gave up.

Earl got his hands on a .25 caliber pistol. The troop transport was a converted ocean liner, heavy guns mounted. During gunnery practice, Earl pointed the 25 caliber out the port hole of his stateroom and fired three shots. (Yeah, he had a rough life in the Navy . . . a stateroom.) Gunnery practices ceased immediately. He discovered that the piercing noise of small firearms can be heard through the din of heavy artillery. As he heard the approach of feet, with doors opening and closing, the pistol made it to the bottom of the Atlantic.

The little boy in Earl never quite grew up. At age 80, and as a minister, he still drove like a kid. It eventually cost him his life. Some kids are born to be hell-raisers, and it doesn’t seem to matter how much structure you give them, you can’t save them from themselves. The Navy tried. Earl did what Earl was going to do.

Filed Under: Military, Military Photography, Navy, Navy Facts, Recruitment Tagged With: Atlantic Ocean, Earl, History, Liverpool, Navy, Parliament, United States, United States Navy

US Navy SEALs and the amazing Work

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US Navy SEALs stands for United States Navy Sea Air and Land teams. It is a special operations forces unit of the US navy and part of Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) , commissioned in 1987 at Naval Amphibious Base, San Diego CA
During the course of second world war, for successful beach landings there was a need of advance reconnaissance for obstacles and defenses so that the landing forces can be guided safely, led to the training of Explosive ordinance Disposal (EOD) personnel and Combat swimmers from both the Army and Marine Corps at the Amphibious Scout and Raider School, Florida to form Naval Combat Demolition Unit.
By 1943, 9 Under Water Demolition Teams were formed who were to lookout and clear obstacles to make way for safer beach landing of troops. By March 1961, the need of guerrilla and counter guerrilla forces was recognized and the Under Water Demolition Teams were trained to be able to operate from Air, Land and Sea thereby forming SEALs. The first 2 teams were trained in various unconventional areas of combat and warfare which included Close quarters combat, High Altitude parachuting demolition, SBI training etc to make them effective fighting material.
Naval Special Warfare Groups (NSWG) I & III based in San Diego and NSWG II & IV in Norfolk are the major operational components of NSWC. The NSWG consists of SEAL teams of SEAL delivery vehicle teams, high tech equipment’s and Special Boat teams, and is responsible for their deployment in any part of the world when required. NSWC boasts of having around 5400 personnel in active duty including 2450 SEALs, and 600 SWCC. Also handles a reserve of 1200 personnel and NSW deployable anywhere on the globe. Their main mission areas are Direct action, counter terrorism & Counter drug ops, Special and Hydrographic Recon security assistance, rescue operations and foreign internal defense.

Filed Under: Navy, Navy Facts Tagged With: Naval Special Warfare Command, San Diego, Special forces, Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen, United States, United States Naval Special Warfare Command, United States Navy, United States Navy SEALs

The Weird Legend of Wes

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The son of a minister in Northern Idaho, Wes was an average student but smart as a whip. He was the fastest sprinter in the high school but never turned out for the track team. He was desired by some of the most beautiful girls in school. He dated most and the relationships failed miserably. Wes was married to beer, tequila, whisky, gin, and cheap wine.

By his high school senior year, Wes had totaled seven cars and two motorcycles. Totaled, not wrecked”as in junk yard refuse. In the final accident, Wes flipped a 1971 pearl paint job Javelin end for end for a quarter of a mile down the highway. He arrived to the hospital DOA . . . except for a twitching little finger on his right hand. He later told his friends that it was an LSD flashback. Oh, yes, it wasn’t just alcohol.

Wes tried college for one year in 1973 but could not take the pressure of being told what to do. A few months later he joined the Navy. Yes, everyone went: Huh!?

The folks in the U.S. Navy must have been pretty savvy about Wes, or maybe it was just pure dumb luck. His duty? Helmsman. Try to imagine the conversations in the bars at Wes’ hometown. Try to understand the enormity of this irony. You can’t, right? Don’t bother trying. It was the kind of event that was so ridiculous that you would never see it in a movie. It was way too unbelievable.

Wes remained in the Navy for one hitch which, from what little was known, went without incident. It was likely the most stable time in Wes’ life.

In 2010, Wes is near crippled. The condition of his body is not from the Navy who seemingly tried their best to make him face his demons and correct his life’s course. The crippled body was due to the nine totaled vehicles. Age shows the after effects later in life. One of Wes’ friends used to say: -Live fast, die young, and have a good looking corpse. Wes tried and failed.

Filed Under: Navy, Navy Facts Tagged With: High school, Navy, United States Navy, US Navy

Preparing for Navy Boot Camp

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If you’ve recently joined the Navy, you’re probably feeling excited, apprehensive, and maybe a little anxious about starting this new chapter in your life. One thing you will need to do is prepare for boot camp. Because it is physically and mentally demanding, having a good idea of what to expect when you get there can help you get through the experience.

These tips will help you prepare for Navy boot camp:

Get physically fit.
If you’re not already in good physical shape, now is the time to work on it. Basic workouts like being able to run a few miles and do push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups will be common in boot camp, so make sure you increase your stamina and strength so it won’t be a shock to your system when you get there.

Get mentally fit.
Most people know that boot camp requires mental endurance as well, as boot camp involves being yelled at, singled out, and embarrassed in front of large groups of other recruits. Talk to friends and relatives who have gone through boot camp, and get advice on how to handle the emotions you will be dealing with.

Get into good habits.
You will also want to start going to bed early and training your body to get up early as well. Boot camp involves early hours and a lot of work on small amounts of sleep. If you are already used to getting up early, it won’t be such a shock to your system.

Tie up loose ends.
Make sure you have handled things back home while you’re away. This includes everything from signing up your bills to be automatically paid to making sure your pets are taken care of to spending time with your family before you take off. This will help to alleviate stress and ensure you have nothing to worry about while you’re gone.

Going into Navy boot camp knowing what to expect will make it a better experience for you.

Filed Under: Navy, Recruitment, Service Tagged With: Camps, Recreation, Recruit training, United States Navy

What You Need to Know to Join the Navy

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Deciding to enlist in the military is a big decision that will affect your life forever. If you have thought about joining the military and feel like the Navy would be a good fit for you, knowing the qualifications and requirements will help you prepare:

Basic Qualifications
To join the Navy, you must be at least 18 years old and no older than 34. 17-year-olds are permitted to enlist, but they must have signed permission from their parents. If you want to be an officer in the Navy, you must be between the ages of 19 and 35 and have a Bachelor’s degree. You also must be a US citizen or a permanent immigrant with a green card.

Physical Requirements
Those who want to join the Navy must fall within a certain body fat percentage for their height. The Navy has charts that help you determine if your weight puts you in the acceptable category. You will also need to pass a medical test to ensure you don’t have any illnesses or issues that would put you or your fellow soldiers in danger, as well as a physical fitness test that involves running, push-ups, and other basic exercises.

Educational Requirements
The Navy requires you at least have a GED or high school diploma to graduate. Anyone wanting to join any branch of the military must also pass the ASVAB (Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery), which is an entrance test. It includes nine categories, including science, math, mechanical comprehension, and paragraph comprehension. There are many ASVAB study guides and practice tests that will help you prepare.

While a recruiter is the best person to talk with to find out specific requirements for joining the Navy, these are the basics you must know. Joining the Navy is physically and mentally demanding, and these qualifications help make sure the Navy is a good fit for you.

Filed Under: Navy, Navy Facts Tagged With: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, Navy, United States Navy

Tuition Benefits Offered by The USA Navy

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These days, it’s hard to get a job without any kind of college experience. The problem is, college isn’t cheap. The average student debt for graduating students in 2008 was around $24,000 dollars. Depending on when these students borrowed money and who they borrowed it from, this amount can double for some graduates who can only afford the minimum payments over however-many years the loan is spread out. This debt is a bane for some, because even college degrees don’t guarantee jobs right out of college. In short, it’s tough being a student.

Fortunately for you, there are options. If the idea of affording school seems daunting, but you know you have to do it, you don’t have to go into debt to make it possible. One of the most rewarding options available is offering your service to the United States Navy. Not only will you satisfy yourself with your duty as a citizen, but the benefits rewarded you by the US government during and after your stay are manifold.

For example, the Navy offers you tuition assistance, which in some cases pays up to 75% of your college tuition costs if and when you take courses off-duty. The nice thing about college is that you can take one class at a time and spread out your education over a number of years, which means that when you’re working as a sailor, which is a busy job, you can still use your free time to complete a course or two at a time. Plus, you’ll be paying only a fraction of the total cost.

Sailors will also gain access to the Servicemembers Opportunity College, Navy. Also called SOCNAV, college is actually an international network of colleges and they allow the traveling serviceman-or-woman the ability to work on their associates and bachelors degrees regardless of station. All in all, this is good news for the bright, young, and ambitious minds who want to save money on school and serve their country in the meanwhile.

Filed Under: Navy, Service Tagged With: College, Colleges and Universities, United States Navy