By Maureen Malone Updated January 04, 2022
A career as a sailor in the U.S. Navy provides many opportunities for career training. In addition to education specific to your career, you will receive military training to learn the values and skills necessary to be a Naval sailor. In many cases, you will receive this basic training at boot camp when you enter the Navy; however, some officer career paths include military jobs that don't require basic training.
Enlisted Personnel
When you enter the Navy as an enlisted sailor, the first step in your military training is to attend boot camp. According to the U.S. Navy website, boot camp is a seven- to nine-week training program at the Great Lakes Training Center near Chicago, Illinois, where training includes conditioning, swimming, weapons and drill. After boot camp, you will continue to "A" school.
This is where you receive the training you need for your specific career in the Navy. Enlisted sailors may pursue careers in a variety of fields including health care, information technology and special forces. Some examples of jobs include IT specialist, health care administrator, construction and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician.
Commissioned Officers
Commissioned officers are not required to attend boot camp. To receive a commission as an officer, you must have at least a bachelor's degree in any subject. You will still be required to attend officer training to learn Navy values and the leadership skills you will need as an officer overseeing enlisted sailors. Opportunities for officers exist in many fields including special forces, health care and aviation. Some examples of these military jobs that don't require basic training include attorneys, doctors, nurses, and surface warfare officers.
Officer Candidate School
Navy training programs for officers are located in Rhode Island at Naval Station Newport. College graduates attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) to move into their new leadership role as a Naval officer. During the 12-week training program, officers receive rigorous physical and military training and receive the leadership and knowledge required to command ships and submarines.
Officers in specialized, professional fields such as chaplaincy, nuclear engineering or medicine attend the five-week Officer Development School (ODS). During ODS, officers develop leadership skills and learn military history, customs and etiquette.
Reserve Officer Training Corps
Through the Reserve Officer Training Corps, the Navy offers current college students scholarship money to complete their education. Upon graduation, these midshipmen are commissioned as officers. Students in the ROTC program do not attend boot camp or OCS. However, they must complete rigorous military training throughout their college career, which is essentially a Navy officer boot camp.
In fact, Naval ROTC midshipmen are strongly encouraged to stay in shape throughout college and exceed Navy physical fitness standards, according to Steel City Naval ROTC. During the school year, midshipmen take military history, naval science and marine seminars. They also attend training and cruises on Naval ships during summer breaks.
