Category: Navy Specialties

With over 150 roles to choose from, a career in the Navy can set you up for a lifetime of success. Every single field is open to both men and women

Posted on

US Navy Ramps Up Chaplain Deployment to Tackle Escalating Mental Health Crisis Among Sailors

The US Navy is deploying more chaplains aboard ships to address the growing mental health concerns among its sailors, including an increase in suicides.

Chaplains are being deployed to connect with sailors, regardless of their religious affiliation, and provide them with confidential counseling.

Navy officials hope to have 47 chaplains on ships based in Norfolk, Virginia, up from 37 today, and to enhance access to mental health care without stigma or retaliation.

Suicide and mental health concerns among enlisted men under 29 are rising, with more than 500 service members taking their own lives in 2021.

US Navy Chaplain Responsibilities

According to the official website of the Navy Chaplain Corps, the daily responsibilities of a US Navy Chaplain include:

Providing religious ministry: The chaplain conducts religious services and sacraments, such as Mass, Communion, and Baptism, to meet the religious needs of sailors and their families.

Counseling and pastoral care: Chaplains provide confidential counseling to sailors and their families on a variety of issues, including marital problems, financial difficulties, and personal stress.

Advising the command: The chaplain advises the command on the religious and spiritual needs of the crew and provides guidance on ethical and moral issues.

Crisis response: Chaplains are trained to provide crisis response and emotional support during natural disasters, accidents, and combat situations.

Training and development: The chaplain also provides training and development programs to sailors and their families on religious and spiritual topics.

Source: United States Navy Chaplain Corps, “Roles and Responsibilities,” accessed March 30, 2023, https://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/chaplain/Pages/Roles-and-Responsibilities.aspx.

Posted on

Heaving a Line: The Importance of Teamwork and Precision on Board the USS George H.W. Bush

Seaman Isaiah Harris and Seaman Devon Harris, both assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, are the stars of the deck as the ship arrives in Souda Bay, Greece. As the vessel, along with the embarked staff of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, gets ready for its scheduled port visit, these two sailors are hard at work heaving a line.

This may seem like a simple task, but it plays a crucial role on board a Navy ship. It’s a time-honored tradition that ensures safe mooring and docking, and for Seaman Harris and Seaman Harris, it’s an opportunity to showcase their teamwork and precision in a high-pressure environment.

Their dedication and hard work represent the kind of professionalism that makes the George H.W. Bush CSG a force to be reckoned with in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, where they defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.

Posted on

Petty Officer 2nd Class Brittani Raub,recognized as Junior Sailor of the Year

Brittani Raub, a 2015 graduate of Corning Painted Post High School and native of Corning, New York, was recognized as Junior Sailor of the Year aboard the USS George Washington. She is a Petty Officer 2nd Class and was selected by a board of senior enlisted for her exemplary service. The USS George Washington is currently undergoing refueling and complex overhaul work at the Newport News Shipyard, including the refueling of its two nuclear reactors and significant repairs, upgrades, and modernization.

Posted on

USS Ronald Reagan Rotation Scheduled

USS Ronald Reagan

The United States plans to replace its Japan-based aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, by 2025 with a newer, more advanced vessel capable of accommodating new fighter jets and other advanced systems. The move is seen as part of the US efforts to maintain its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region amid increasing security challenges from China and North Korea. The new carrier is expected to be larger and morpadvanced than the current Ronald Reagan, and will be able to accommodate the latest F-35B fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles.

In November 2021, the USS Ronald Reagan participated in a joint naval exercise with South Korea, which involved aircraft carrier operations, anti-submarine warfare, and other training scenarios aimed at enhancing the allies’ ability to work together in defending against potential threats from North Korea.

In August 2021, the USS Ronald Reagan arrived in Hawaii for a scheduled port visit, during which sailors had the opportunity to participate in community outreach events and explore the local area.

In July 2021, the USS Ronald Reagan departed from its home port in Yokosuka, Japan, to begin a scheduled deployment in the Indo-Pacific region, during which it would conduct a variety of training exercises and operations aimed at promoting stability and security in the region.

In May 2021, the USS Ronald Reagan participated in a joint naval exercise with the Royal Australian Navy, which involved training in anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and other scenarios aimed at improving the two countries’ interoperability and ability to operate together in the region.

Posted on

U.S. Navy Band’s Top Sailor Announced

Musician 1st Class Adele Demi, of Colorado Springs, CO.

Musician 1st Class Adele Demi, a 2003 Coronado High School graduate, was selected as the Washington, D.C.-based command’s Sailor of the Year for 2022, according to Navy officials as reported in

“I’m just so honored to be selected because everyone I work with is so hardworking and talented,” Demi said. “I feel very lucky that they selected me out of all the wonderful people who work here.” she was quoted as saying.

Enlisting into the Navy was a career left turn for Demi. Having earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s in clarinet performance from the University of Northern Colorado, she seemed well on her way to becoming a classical musician when she learned about the Navy’s music program.

When she realized she could serve her country and pursue a music career at the same time, she decided it was too good an opportunity to pass up and joined the Navy in 2012.

“I became aware that the Navy provided one of the most stable, secure and fulfilling careers that I could possibly want,” Demi said. “I realized that this incredible opportunity was out there if I was willing to go for it. So I went for it.”

An enlisted sailor with a bachelor’s and a postgraduate degree would be atypical just about anywhere except for the Navy Band, Demi said.

“This command is really unique in that just about everybody has at least one degree in music, if not two,” she said. “That surprised me at first.”

One of the highlights of Demi’s career took place on March 6, 2022. In recognition of International Women’s Day, NBC’s “Today” show highlighted Cmdr. Billie Farrell, commanding officer of the USS Constitution. Farrell, who assumed command of “Old Ironsides” in January 2022, is the first woman to helm the warship in its 225-year history.

Demi’s band was asked to travel to New York City and play the Navy’s anthem, “Anchors Aweigh,” during the television segment honoring Farrell. When Demi was asked to conduct the band, she didn’t hesitate.

“It was an opportunity that came up at the last minute, as our jobs sometimes do,” she said. “We went up (to New York City) the night before, and the next morning, there we were, playing ‘Anchors Aweigh’ on the ‘Today’ show. It was awesome.”

The Navy Band’s travel itinerary is approaching full swing after being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Demi said. It is touring the western part of the U.S. with plans to visit Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Nevada and California.

After that, Demi will prepare to join the Navy’s officer ranks. Last month, she was selected for commission as a limited duty officer. In October, she will commission as a Navy bandmaster — one of about 30 in the entire service, officials said.

Barring the unforeseen, Demi plans to make the Navy a career.

“I’m in it for the long haul,” she said. “I really believe in the mission of the Navy bands. I see the work that they’re doing, and I want to (continue to) be a part of that.”

Demi, who last year helped facilitate a nationwide audition talent search that filled 17 critical vacancies, said she’d like more people to know about the music program’s existence.

“We have the distinct honor of representing 350,000 active-duty sailors and telling their story,” she said. “I’m really proud that I’m able to do that.”