2006-10-17 01:32:52 · 18 answers · asked by marcelluswallace 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
When I was in the Navy (1982-1985) you were required to follow "shore duty" with "sea duty", but that did not necessarily mean you would have to go haze gray and underway (on a ship). There were many duty stations overseas that were considered "sea duty", but were not actually on the sea.
2006-10-17 02:03:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unless you choose a rate that is mostly shorebound, yes you're required to spend time at sea, or sea duty as it's called by the Navy. Most rates have a specific ship-to-shore rotation, but the amount of time required for each depends on the rate you choose. And just because you're stationed on a ship doesn't mean you're out to sea the entire time. I was stationed on a ship for 4 1/2 years. Not underway the entire time. There was a 6 month deployment in 2001 and an 8 month deployment in 2003. In between those two deployments, there were times we were underway but for the most part we were sitting in port in Norfolk. We were underway a lot for the "work-ups" and training before each deployment, but they tried to get us back to home port every weekend.
2006-10-17 09:05:34 · answer #2 · answered by j.f. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm afraid so there isn't a single job in the navy that doesn't have a ship board use. 90% of the time your 1st assignment will be at sea on some ship. However not all ships spend much time at sea tenders for example hardly ever go anywhere. At most they go to sea for a week or two to exercise the ship and crew. Tugs never go out to sea just back and forth in the harbor. It helps to have your sea service ribbon when in competition to advance up the chain of command.
2006-10-17 12:54:30 · answer #3 · answered by brian L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was in the Navy, we had a Senior Chief (E-8) while I was stationed at NTC Great Lakes that had never had sea duty. The scuttlebutt was that he volunteered for all the crappy assignments so he didn't have to go to sea.
But this example is not the norm. If you do join the Navy, expect to go to sea. It's not that bad, though. You get to see a lot of places you probably never would otherwise. I was a "West Coast" sailor, and visited Subic Bay, Pusan, Pataya Beach, Hong Kong, Sydney, and many other ports. My father-in-law joined the Air Force "to see the world" when he was younger and got to go to Fairbanks, AK and Omaha, NE.
2006-10-17 10:30:58 · answer #4 · answered by Mutt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay, I'm assuming you're talking about enlisted personnel: it depends on your rate (job), the command you're sent to, and the roll of the dice as to how much time YOU will spend "At Sea".
Each enlisted job (and pay-grade within the job) has an "ideal" chart for your career that rotates your "sea" and "shore" tours.
SEA TOUR - a ship, squadron, or shore command that deploys or is overseas. This will include time at the "pier", training "cruises", and actual deployment.
SHORE TOUR - a squadron, or command that delightfully sits ashore supporting those at sea or preparing to go to sea.
I knew guys who were aviation maintenance for shore-birds who NEVER stepped foot aboard a boat, and their time "at-sea" was spent at Air-Force bases in Japan
I was supposed to serve (after all my training) a 3 year sea tour, then a 2 year shore tour, then a 3 year sea tour...
I did a 5 yr sea tour, a 3 year shore tour, and a 3 year sea tour... Of which 6 years was actually spent AT SEA.
Ask your recruiter or rate detailler.
2006-10-17 09:40:50 · answer #5 · answered by mariner31 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everything in the Navy is driven by Navy needs.... so the answer is not a simple yes and no. many navy jobs are conducted on land...with little to no sea duty. But, the more sea duty you have in your record, the better your chances to have a long, prosperous navy career....
Experience is the Navy's driving force.....!
2006-10-17 09:32:47 · answer #6 · answered by john s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While it is conceivable to do a 4 year AD tour without once setting foot on a ship, it is becoming more rare. Even those ratings that are traditionally shore duty heavy are being phased out in favor of civilian contracters. so, it is better to err onthe side of caution and assume that you will see sea duty at least once. and if it's your first duty station, and you only signed up for 4 years, it could easily be your only duty station, unless you extend or re up.
2006-10-17 11:25:07 · answer #7 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I have a friend who was in the Navy during the Viet Nam war was who never set foot on a ship. After boot camp he was sent to Corpsman school and was subsequently assigned to a marine combat unit as a corpsman in Viet Nam.
2006-10-17 08:48:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
as retired navy. say no i know people who didnt do a day at sea . i did 6 yeras overseas and never went out on a ship.i was obn a ship. just look at the rates that best suit not going to sea as your recrutor
2006-10-17 08:41:38 · answer #9 · answered by james w 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
depends on your rate mine was 5 years sea 2 shore spent months looking at the ocean water
2006-10-17 10:56:05 · answer #10 · answered by dementiastateofmind 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋