The term “navy sailor” refers to enlisted members of a naval force who are not officers; these individuals typically make up the majority of the force. Before embarking on a training course that must be completed successfully, an applicant must meet both educational and physical requirements to become a navy sailor. Within a naval organization, sailors are typically required to choose a specific occupation; once chosen, the candidate will receive training in their proposed specialized occupation.
Before beginning the process of becoming a navy sailor, an applicant must complete any required educational qualifications. All applicants for the Navy or Navy Reserve in the United States must have a high school diploma. Higher-ranking applicants, such as those seeking to become officers, must complete various levels of education; in some cases, the Navy will help pay for an applicant’s education before he or she enlists.
The first step toward becoming a US Navy sailor is to contact a Navy recruiter and discuss the various options available to him or her within the military. At this point, anyone interested in becoming a Navy sailor must show proof of citizenship, date and place of birth, educational qualifications, and a Social Security number. Recruiters provide potential sailors with information such as job opportunities and enlistment length.
Each potential navy sailor in the United States must pass the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery. This test is designed to match each applicant to the Navy job for which he or she is best suited. After the test, all sailors must have a physical to ensure that all medical conditions and general health are assessed before they enter training camps.
Before training to become a Navy sailor can begin, career choices must be finalized with a counselor, and a pre-enlistment interview must be completed. The potential sailor signs his or her enlistment contract, which confirms entry into the US Navy, during the final interview. The enlisted sailor then takes an oath of enlistment, during which he or she swears to perform his or her duties and defend the country; friends and family are usually welcome to attend the oath of enlistment ceremony.
Each enlisted person’s training as a Navy sailor begins with a boot camp in the United States, which lasts between seven and nine weeks. General skills, such as drills and weapons training, are taught during boot camp. Following boot camp, each sailor will receive educational training in his or her chosen occupation, which will last for the first year of enlistment in the Navy.