U.S. Navy PDF

U.S. NAVY The US military protects the country and its citizens. The Navy’s main job is sea warfare. Its goal is to protect the nation’s shores and waterways. The United States Navy was founded in 1775 by George Washington. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia. There are mor...

U.S. NAVY The US military protects the country and its citizens. The Navy’s main job is sea warfare. Its goal is to protect the nation’s shores and waterways. The United States Navy was founded in 1775 by George Washington. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia. There are more than 300,000 active personnel in the Navy. The motto of this branch is “Honor, Courage, Commitment.” The Navy uses ships and aircraft to perform missions. It has the largest fleet of ships in the world. TRAINING Recruits must be trained to become sailors in the US Navy. They go to boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois. For nine weeks, they learn to follow commands, work as a team, and gain the skills needed to sail ships. Recruits are placed into groups called divisions. Each division has around 80 members. The group is assigned a sleeping area in the barracks called a ship. Each division is led by a recruit division commander, or RDC. They are strict leaders who make sure their divisions work as a team and follow orders. Recruits spend at least one hour a day, six days a week, on physical training to build up their strength. They also do many exercises to increase their flexibility since they work on ships with narrow passageways. All the physical training that recruits go through helps them prepare for a physical fitness test that they must pass in order to graduate from boot camp. Recruits also practice their swimming skills each day, doing many laps around the pool to build up their arm and leg muscles. They also learn how to rescue other swimmers and pull them to safety. Before they can graduate boot camp, recruits must pass a swimming test. Recruits also learn to protect themselves from enemies by training with three weapons. All Navy recruits learn to fight fires. They practice escaping a room filled with smoke. They learn how to use equipment to put out fires. These skills are necessary in case a fire breaks out on a ship or in a submarine. A test called Battle Stations is the final exam for Navy recruit training. It lasts 12 hours. The test happens on a full-size model of a Navy ship called the USS Trayer. The test gives recruits a chance to practice dealing with real-life combat situations. Rooms in the USS Trayer can catch fire or even flood with water. After Battle Stations, recruits get to replace their hats that say “RECRUIT” with hats that read “NAVY” to show they are officially sailors. They also have a special graduation ceremony. JOBS After graduation, sailors attend a Navy school for more education before they begin their jobs. Some of the jobs of sailors include computer operators, mechanics, pilots, doctors, and cooks. Training after boot camp can last from several months to several years, depending on the type of job each sailor chooses to prepare for. The highest rank in the ©Teaching to the Middle Navy is admiral. Admirals make the most important decisions in the Navy. Officers oversee the enlisted members. They must get leadership training. Some attend college at the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland. All go to advanced training at the Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Rhode Island. MISSIONS One of the Navy’s main missions is sea control. Sailors keep the water of the United States and its allies safe. The Navy also carries out attack missions. Ships and aircraft fire guns and missiles at enemies. The Navy’s brave members have protected the country for more than 200 years. VEHICLES The backbone of the Navy are ships. Six to ten ships form a carrier group. The main and largest ship is an aircraft carrier. They carry sailors, vehicles, and other equipment all around the world. They are like floating towns. Cruisers and destroyers are fighting ships. They carry guns, missiles, and torpedoes. Submarines can go deep below the surface of the ocean. Some can stay underwater for months. They spy on enemy ships and fire missiles and torpedoes. They use sonar to find their way in the dark depths of the ocean. Tugboats are some of the smallest ships in the Navy. They help guide large ships. Aircraft are also important to the Navy. The F/A-18 Super Hornet is a top jet fighter. The MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter finds and destroys mines. H-60 Seahawk series fight in battles, carry people and supplies, and help with water rescues. Planes and helicopters can take off from naval bases on land or from aircraft carries on the water. EQUIPMENT Sailors need different gear to do their jobs safely. Sailors who work near loud engines wear earmuffs. Their colorful clothing allows people to see them easily and avoid accidents. The color of sailors’ clothing differs depending on their job. Divers wear harnesses so helicopters can lift them out of the water. The Navy is also working on new ways to keep the country and its sailors safe, such as robots and drones. NAVY SEALS Navy SEALS are an elite group of soldiers who conduct “special warfare.” Since 1962, the United States government has used Navy SEALS to creep up on the enemy and defeat or disarm them without hurting civilians. SEAL stands for Sea, Air, and Land Teams. A Navy SEAL must be between 18 and 28 years old and already a member of the US Navy. Only males can become SEALS. It takes up to 30 months of hard training before a Navy SEAL is sent on a mission. They must pass an extremely difficult test to become a SEAL. Navy SEALS operate on land, at sea, and in the air. Submersible SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) can bring SEALS ashore under the water. This allows them to surface for surprise attacks. SEALS use Special Operations Craft for faster landings. These speedboats rush ©Teaching to the Middle across the water to their targets. For inland missions, Black Hawk helicopters fly low, swoop in, and deliver the SEALs often before the enemy knows they are on the way. There are 2,500 active SEALS in the Navy. They usually serve six years, and many go back to regular duties after their time as a SEAL.