Military Career: Divers
Overview
Sometimes, military tasks such as search and rescue, ship repair, construction, and patrolling must be done under water. Divers in the military perform this work. They usually specialize either as scuba divers, who work just below the surface, or as deep sea divers, who may work for long periods of time in depths up to 300 feet.
What They Do
Divers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Perform search and rescue activities
- Recover sunken equipment
- Patrol the waters below ships at anchor
- Inspect, clean, and repair ship propellers and hulls
- Assist with underwater construction of piers and harbor facilities
- Survey rivers, beaches, and harbors for underwater obstacles
- Use explosives to clear underwater obstacles
- Conduct underwater research
Branches of the Military
Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Coast Guard
Helpful Attributes
Helpful school subjects include shop mechanics and building trades. Helpful attributes include:
- A high degree of self-reliance
- Ability to stay calm under stress
- Interest in underwater diving
Training Provided
Job training consists of 5 to 13 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in diving and repair work. Training length varies depending on specialty. Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses. Course content typically includes:
- Principles of scuba diving
- Underwater welding and cutting
- Maintenance of diving equipment
Work Environment
Divers work under water. However, they plan and prepare for work on land or aboard ships. Because diving is not usually a full-time job, divers often have another job specialty in which they work.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian divers work for oil companies, salvage companies, underwater construction firms, and police or fire rescue units. They perform duties similar to divers in the military.
Below is a list of similar civilian occupations:
Opportunities
The services have over 1,500 divers. Each year, they need new divers due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, divers work in teams headed by experienced divers. Eventually, they may become master divers and supervise diving operations
Source: U.S.
Department of Defense, Washington D.C.
