Military diving

[Groupie59]

Here's a bit about what you COULD be doing as a military diver. http://http://uk.youtube.com/Deeps47I'll say this for it, you won't get bored, and you'll see the world! Gotta be better that flippin burgers!

[GOOGLE]Tony Groom [/GOOGLE]

 

[mattbinvt]

First Talk to a Recruiter, if you are a 4 year college graduate you may be Officer Material. Second Take the ASVAB Test. Eiether way this dosen't hurt if you do look at the Officer Programs. This Test will tell them what you are good at. IE: Math, Mechanical Aptitude, ETC. Second The Navy has multiple Diving Programs. All have HEAFTY Bonuses assuming you complete Navy Diver Programs. There are Salvage Divers, Seal Team Delivery Divers, UCT Divers (SEABEES), EOD Diver (Taking apart things that go BOOM) The list goes on. The hardest part when meeting with a recruiter is he is trying to sell you a job, Go in there do well on the ASVAB, and tell them what YOU want. If you sign up GET IT ALL IN WRITING!!! Check out this link. You will also have to do a physical Readiness Test Prior to contracting with the Navy. This PRT Test is conducted by former Navy Divers, and US Navy SEALS. It is not just a quick jog around the block. Navy Diver School is VERY Demanding.
Navy Diver: On Duty: Navy Life: About the Navy: Navy

Good Luck,

 

[goldenbear01]

Hi Max,

Although I'm a new diver, I'm also a proud Cal alumnus (hence the handle). Not knowing you personally, I'll just offer some general thoughts that may prove helpful--or not. First, I've never heard of the military turning down a recruit for completing college before he enlisted. However, I have heard of the military favoring college graduates (especially for the officer corps). Moreover, college will give you the chance to weigh your options and what you want to do with your life afterwards. Given this, it might not be a bad idea to finish school first, then enlisting.

Assuming your interest in military diving stems from a desire to pick up some diving skills, you may want to consider what exactly is the skill set that the military will teach you and if it matches your future goals. If you want to learn how to operate as a special operative, then military diving would be appropriate. If you want to learn how to excavate dig sites underwater, military diving may not necessarily be the best option. If you just want to learn to dive, you can find many programs that will teach you how to dive--including in college.

That said, you won't find a better value (best quality for the price) in the US than Cal. Additionally, Cal has a couple different ROTC programs--Army and Navy (the Marine Corps ROTC is included in the Navy program). Additionally, Cal actually has a PE course where they follow the NAUI curriculum. Additionally, Cal's Scientific Diving Training Program is specifically designed to train students in basic and advanced SCUBA diving techniques as well as underwater research techniques. Finally, if you're interested in marine archaeology, the Oceanic Archaeology Laboratory at Cal is specifically dedicated to marine archaeology.

Anyway, good luck with your decision and I hope you get to glow some bubbles and get wet whatever you decide.

goldenbear01

 

[Gary D.]

Assuming your interest in military diving stems from a desire to pick up some diving skills, you may want to consider what exactly is the skill set that the military will teach you and if it matches your future goals. If you want to learn how to operate as a special operative, then military diving would be appropriate. If you want to learn how to excavate dig sites underwater, military diving may not necessarily be the best option.
goldenbear01

Not all military diving is involves being a so called “special operative”. In fact very few military divers ever train for or become one. Most of that is reserved for the SEAL teams which are a very small part of military diving. For some reason, maybe to much TV, the general public thinks all military divers do is sneak and attack stuff. But that is very far from the truth.

The military and I’m including all 5 branches has a very wide variety of diving opportunities. A more realistic description of military divers as a rule would be commercial divers in uniform. I don’t know if the military will ever get rid of the underwater fighter stigma but it is a very far from the truth.

Gary D.

 

[sweatfrog]

Navy Diver: On Duty: Navy Life: About the Navy: Navy
Get everything in writing beforehand and keep it in a safe place. It will be the adventure of a lifetime and no regrets, as long as you acheive what you're striving for.

 

[muddiver]

In your case, joining the military to be a diver is just a "cop-out". Dude, you are in the middle of the most important thing you can do in your life! Finish the stupid college degree. It doesn't matter what you get it in, it's the fact that you finished and you have received the education that will help you think differently than the common high school drop-out.

You want excitement while you finish up college, than go get a summer position with the U.S. Forest Service or the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and chase brush fires for a couple of sumers. You'll get the same physical challange, the mortal danger and it's all over at the end of the season, or start of the school year, which ever comes first.

You want to be a commercial diver, do like Steve Barsky, go to Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara and attaned the Marine Technology program, now while your still young. Companies don't hire old commercial divers unless they have lots of experience, a solid reputation as a get it done guy and some sort of special skill. Then drive to Morgan City, LA with a stack of resumes and knock on the doors of all the commercial diving companies down there. You will be competing with thousands of commercial diving school graduates that only have high school deplomas, or less for a job that pays $10 to $12 an hour, working 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week and with no expected holiday or day off. The two months on three off died when commercial diving companies started putting their dive spreads on work boats and motoring from job to job.

Last of all, IF you want to be a military diver, you need to be committed. It's a way of life, not a change of career or different choise of school. Right now military folk are dying just trying to do their job. Don't think you might spend some time in Afganistan, or Iraq. The Army needs security forces and they are using anyone who can carry a rifle to sit shot-gun on convoys. YOU WILL GO TO THE THEATER at some time if you go military (Coast Guard is the exception and they have very, very few divers). Also the commitment is eight (8) years, not two or three. You will be told you do four active. What the recruter will forget to explain is you are still on the hook for four more after that as an inactive reserve which is nothing more than a guy that will get a phone call to pack up his sea bag of uniforms and report for 15 more months in country after you have been out for a couple of months. Go to Benefiting the US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard - Military.com and do some more research before you make that decision.

 

[Gilldiver]

MUDDIVER, that was the best reply yet. I would add that most military diving is much akin to commercial construction diving. You are there to WORK, not look at things and play in the water.

As for diving in the Sandbox, there are a few rivers over there and there is a lot of EOD being done in these rivers.

But to the original poster, try to contact the dive team at the nearest Navy base to you. There is always one to do underwater inspection and repair on hulls etc. Get the real word from the guys doing the job today.

You are also not just a diver, in fact most of the time the diving is your second qualification. Your title might be Electricians Mate 2nd Class, Diver 3rd class. You will learn at least two separate trades.

Last, I saw your mention of archaeology. The only thing that pays less then commercial diving is archaeology. If you want, I can give you a contact on the East Coast with a Assistant Professor of Anthropology who specializes in Artic Archaeology at a major university who just happen to make Master Chief last year in the Coast Guard. How an active academic archaeologists is also an active Master Chief is a story all in its self, and he has done a tour in the Sandbox. If anyone here knows the in's and out's he will and can talk over a military/academic career.

 

[adamscht]

My only warning is that dive school is extremely demanding, just not in the technical aspects of diving, but physically and mentally as well. The drop out and wash out rate is very high. If you make it that is a great experience that you'll never forget, but remeber once you enlist you are in, washing out is nothing to be ashamed of but its not oh well, I tried, it is you still have a contractual obligation, here is your list of alternate MOS's to fullfill your enlistment.

Need to make sure you have a desire to serve as well just in case dive school does not turn out as expected. But overall, if you enlist for 00B or 21D with dive school you are at least guarenteed the shot

 

[Adventxplore]

Here is the navy site on their diving. It should answer most of your questions. Navy Diving | We Dive The World Over

Here is the navy site on EOD divers. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Here is the Army recruiting site for diver. GoArmy.com > Careers & Jobs > Diver (21D)


I hope this helps.

p.s. here is the site for navy dive magazine faceplate. http://www.necc.navy.mil/diver/docs/FACEPLATE_APRIL2007.pdf?story_id=23866&page=2

 

[nwhitney2003]

I think muddiver had the best reply as well.
I would add that just because you have anything in writing from the military (even in a safe secure place) does not guarantee anything. Remember the military has been dealing with enlisted personal who were thinking they were going in for a specific MOS only to find out otherwise, for a very long time. There will be loopholes in anything you sign that are biased for the military. I'm not trying to persuade you one way or the other but don't want you to rely on a contract in case things don't turn out in your favor. You could ask an attorney who specializes in military issues to review the paperwork with you and answer your questions. Joining the military is an honorable decision regardless of your MOS and regardless of politics. College or the military can provide great experiences for you but you are the one responsible for making that happen. I second muddivers suggestion of finishing school first. You can dive while in school and then decide if the military is right for you upon graduation. Your fear of ending up in a desk job after graduation is somewhat misplaced. That will only happen if you choose it. Good luck.