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Many of your questions about the Navy have been asked and answered before. See if you can
find your question in the list below. Or, to get the most complete picture of the Navy, locate your
nearest recruiter and set up a meeting.



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For most Enlisted programs, you must be at least 18 years of age (or 17 with your parents¶
permission) and no older than 34 years of age. For most Officer programs, you must be 19 years
of age and no older than 35 years of age (keep in mind that waivers may be granted for positions
in high demand). To learn about additional requirements associated with joining the Navy, visit
the Qualifications & Commitment section of this site.

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Sure! We call it the Buddy Program. The Buddy Program provides for the enlistment of small
groups of not more than four people of the same gender who wish to remain together for as long
as possible during their first enlistment. Just ask your recruiter for details.

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Yes. You can talk to your recruiter with no obligation at all, and you won¶t be under any
obligation until you actually sign a contract. We encourage you to gather all the information you
can to help make an informed decision. Visit the recruiter locator to get started.

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Your first year of service will likely include your primary training, your job training and your
first duty assignment. This is when you will get familiar with the Navy, its rules and regulations,
and your job. Like your first year in any organization, be it a club, a school or a job, you¶ll need
time to get oriented and meet people.

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Once you know the program you¶re interested in, simply apply. The Navy offers everything from
college scholarships to financial assistance to accredited training programs. And there are
programs available to those at all levels ± from undergraduate to graduate to professional. Visit
the Education Opportunities section of this site to learn more about the specific programs
available and the requirements associated with each.
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The Navy encourages continuing education and will pay up to 100 percent of the tuition for
Active Duty servicemembers stationed ashore who attend courses during their off-duty time at
accredited colleges, universities, vocational/technical schools and business schools. Also, many
ships have accredited teachers and educators on board who get underway with the ship to teach
college-level lessons and help Sailors keep up with their studies while at sea.

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The Navy encourages continuing education and will pay all or most of the tuition costs,
depending on the program for which you qualify. Contact a recruiter for more information.

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It depends. Normally ships will go to sea for 10 days to two weeks each month for training
operations. Extended operations away from home port can last up to six months, and ships
deploy every 18±24 months. This varies depending on the mission and type of ship. Ships on six-
month deployments spend time visiting ports throughout the world. If you are on a shore duty
tour, you will likely spend no time at sea during the course of the duty assignment (usually two
to three years).

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There are plenty of activities available to Sailors in their off-duty time. Depending on the size of
the ship, you¶ll have areas for exercise, watching movies, playing cards, emailing friends, and
purchasing snacks and other items. Many ships also provide college classes.

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Navy workdays are varied. The tempo of Operations will dictate actual length. While in home
port or on shore duty, the workday is very similar to that of civilian jobs. While out to sea, the
workday is often longer because of the workload needed to keep the ship, aircraft and other
machinery working properly and efficiently.

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Under normal circumstances, you will be eligible for a promotion from E-1 to E-2 in 9 months,
from E-2 to E-3 in 9 months, and from E-3 to E-4 in 6 months. Advancements on the basis of
merit can occur in basic training to E-2 without waiting the 9 months. By referring friends who
join the Navy, you can be promoted even faster!


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Once you have completed basic training and any follow-up schooling, you will probably move
just once to your first permanent duty station. Naturally, if you stay in the Navy past your first
enlistment (or if you request a specific deployment) you may have to move again.

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Yes. This is one of the many benefits the Navy provides for your spouse and your dependents.

 

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You can request career placement in fields such as nuclear engineering, advanced electronics,
computers or aviation. The Navy has jobs in more than 60 fields, and if a position is open in a
field for which you are qualified, your recruiter will work with you to get you that position.

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It is possible to switch jobs, but you can¶t always count on it. That¶s why you are encouraged to
find a job you like before training so that your training will not go to waste. Also, the Navy is
more likely to let you switch jobs if you want to switch to a rating that is in high demand, such as
one in nuclear power.

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No problem. Your recruiter can help you figure out what you may be good at and can help you
find a job that matches your existing aptitudes. Also, you can find what your aptitudes are by
using the Life Ops tool.

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Absolutely. You just need to have the interest and meet any entrance-level qualifications.

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No. Women undergo the same training as men. Women do have separate living quarters.

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Women are expected to maintain the same high standards of appearance as men. The only
difference is that women are allowed to wear their hair longer, provided it is a style that is easy
to maintain and meets certain regulations.

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Women are free to apply for and hold any job in the Navy. However, there is one community
that women are not allowed to join: Navy SEALs.

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To become an Officer in the U.S. Navy, you must be a United States citizen, have received a
four-year BS or BA degree from an accredited university, have strong grades, and be at least 19
years of age and no older than 35 years of age, depending on the program desired. You must also
be in good physical condition and pass a full medical examination.

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The minimum time on Active Duty for most general Officer programs is four years. However,
Engineering Officers serve a minimum of five years; Pilots and Naval Flight Officers serve eight
to ten years (depending on the type of aircraft they select after training); and Dentists, Medical
Service Corps Officers and Nurses serve a minimum of three years.

In general, the Navy Officer career path alternates between shore and sea tours. Shore tours have
the advantage of giving Officers additional time with their families and increased opportunities
for further education. Sea tours offer opportunities for world travel. While most shore tours do
not require Officers to go to sea, most sea tours average less than 50 percent of the time actually
at sea.

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OCS (Officer Candidate School) is a demanding 12-week program, comprised of discipline,

coursework, physical fitness and military training, that lays the foundation for your Navy career.
You¶ll be challenged by this unique experience, led by Marine Corps Drill Instructors and Navy
Chief Petty Officers. After 12 weeks, you¶ll understand and embrace the importance of
teamwork and of upholding the Core Values of the Navy: Honor, Courage and Commitment.

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Absolutely! Once you¶ve served at least one tour in your designated field (Pilot, Naval Flight
Officer, Intelligence, etc.) the opportunities open up. Here is just a sampling of the many
opportunities available to Fleet-experienced Officers: Engineering Duty Officer, Public Affairs,
Fleet Support, Recruiting, Space Command, Space and Electronic Warfare, Joint and Foreign
Service, and staff positions.

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Comparisons can vary from one career to another, but once you add salary, housing and other
allowances, benefits, and education, the compensation is very competitive with civilian pay.
Unlike most civilian job structures, you¶ll receive built-in annual and incremental raises and
promotions throughout your career.

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The combination of your degree and your Navy experience gives you an unbeatable résumé.
Your technical and leadership skills, training, and experience in a military environment are
highly valued and sought after by civilian companies. Navy Officers find civilian employment in
many different areas, including engineering (both nuclear and non-nuclear), management,
finance, education and government service. In addition, as an Officer, you¶ll be responsible for
leading others right from the start. As your leadership/managerial skills grow and develop, your
responsibilities will increase as well. By the time you leave (if you choose to leave), you will be
well positioned for management jobs.

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Your friend or family member will be the same person he or she was as when he or she left.
However, expect him or her to return more disciplined and confident, with broadened horizons.
You will be able to communicate with your friend or family member through mail and email and
by phone. Navy personnel also get ample vacation and holiday time, so you¶ll never lose touch.
Of course, during primary training, your communication will be limited because of the busy
schedule, and certain operations (such as submarine missions) have extended periods of time
when Sailors are out of contact.

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The most important advice you can give is to encourage your friend or family member to talk to
a recruiter and to anyone else who has served in the Navy. This is an important decision, and it is
important to get this decision right. Help your friend or family member gather information and
weigh the pros and cons to make sure that whatever path is chosen is the right one for him or her.
Navy life is extremely rewarding for people who deal well with its culture but, at the same time,
it is challenging in many ways. Encourage your friend or family member to think about how he
or she reacts to discipline, physical stress, and orders. These factors are part of Navy life and are
important in building the type of Sailor who will succeed.
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Life Ops is an online tool that asks a series of questions about your skills, interests and
ambitions. Based on the answers, Life Ops provides a list of Navy career fields that match your
interests and capabilities. Then you can bring or send these results to a recruiter to start down the
path of a Navy career. Give it a shot. Try Life Ops and see what the Navy can do for you.

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Your profile is the part of the site where you save any information you may want to revisit later,
such as your Life Ops results or job descriptions that interest you. You use your user name and
password to access this information, and you can update this information over time as your
interests change to keep an accurate profile of yourself. Open your profile any time you return to
the site so you can save new information you find quickly and easily.

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Use the ³Forgot Your Profile Password´ link on the sign-in page, or go directly to the Forgot
Your Password page. We¶ll email your user name and password to you.

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Every time you use Life Ops, look at a job description or enter other information, you will be
encouraged to save this updated information to your profile. You can also go directly to your
profile if you want to update your contact info.

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No. The only way a recruiter or anyone within the Navy will see your data is if you send it to
them. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

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