Because there are so many different positions, it is sometimes helpful to organize them broadly into categories.
There are the "hotel services" that must be performed to service the crew itself. Barbering, cooking, drycleaning, washing dishes, emptying trash, storing supplies, swabbing decks. And there is cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning.
There are "maintenance functions" that never end. Changing light bulbs, testing equipment, repairing damaged non-skid, testing fuels, counting bombs, cleaning weapons. And painting, painting and more painting.
There are "non-combat operational functions" like operating steam turbines, monitoring nuclear reactors, distributing electricity, testing avionics, repairing elevators, moving aircraft around the hangar and flight deck, operating radars, computers, radios. And traditional skills like steering the ship, navigating, lookouts, reporting radar contacts. Lots of standing watch and keeping logs and status boards and computer plots up to date.
And there are operational combat related functions like flying Superhornet jets, rescue helicopters, catapult operators, ordinance loading, signaling other ships, developing target lists and flight missions, mission de-briefing, working and training with other US Navy ships, allied navies, and foreign governments, operating carrier based defensive weaponry, readying aircraft to fly their next mission, determining which aircraft take off, land, when and in what order. Tons and tons of administrative paperwork - hey, its the Navy.
They are phenomenally busy, exhilarating, and challenging places and you won't be bored if you get aboard. The teamwork is phenomenal and it is one of the organizational wonders of the world.
Answered By: Z-man - 3/28/2008 |