Seamen
Background
All ships must have teams of individuals with "jack-of-all-trades" skills who make things run smoothly above deck. Seamen perform many duties to help operate and maintain military ships, boats, and submarines.
What They Do
Seamen in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Handle lines to secure vessels to wharves or other ships
- Operate and maintain on-deck equipment and ship rigging
- Operate hoists, cranes, and winches to load cargo or set gangplanks
- Stand watch for security, navigation, or communications
- Supervise crews painting and maintaining decks and sides of ships
- Supervise firefighting and damage control exercises
Physical Demands
Seamen may have to climb ships' rigging and perform work at heights. Their work often involves moderate to heavy lifting.
Special Requirements
No information available.
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to work closely with others
- Interest in sailing and being at sea
- Preference for physical work
Helpful School Subjects
Helpful school subjects include:
- Math
- Shop mechanics
Helpful Fields of Study
No information available.
Work Environment
Seamen and deckhands work aboard all types of ships and submarines. On ships, they often work outdoors on deck while servicing shipboard equipment.
Services offering this career:
- Coast Guard
- Navy
Hiring Practices
To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.
This position is for enlisted personnel.
Wages
The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.
Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay.
Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.
There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.
Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.
Training Provided
Although classroom training of six to 12 weeks is provided to seamen, most training occurs on the job. Training programs vary depending on service and specialty.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian seamen work primarily for shipping companies, sometimes called the Merchant Marine. They also work for cruise ship lines. They perform many duties similar to military seamen. They are called able seamen, deckhands, or boatswains.
Related Civilian Careers
Employment and Outlook
In peace time the services have about 10,000 seamen. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new seamen due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. New seamen work together on teams led by experienced supervisors. Through practice, they learn the many tasks they must perform. In time, seamen supervise one or more teams. Eventually, they may become managers responsible for planning and directing the work of many seamen. Often, seamen receive additional training that prepares them for other careers in their service.