DC's (USN and FTS) do the work necessary for damage control, ship stability, firefighting, fire prevention, and chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) warfare defense. They also instruct personnel in the methods of damage control and CBR defense, and repair damage control equipment and systems.

What They Do

The duties performed by DCs include: operating, repairing and maintaining installed firefighting systems and equipment, damage control equipment, and chemical, biological and radiological defense equipment; training shipboard personnel in the operation, maintenance and repair of damage control systems and equipment, life saving devices, and various firefighting methods; performing emergency repairs to decks, structures and hulls by emergency pipe patching, plugging, and shoring; performing maintenance and repair of watertight closures and assorted fittings; performing emergency repairs to piping fittings and fixtures; acting as the ships Fire Marshal and fire fighting leaders;
training ship's company in chemical, biological and radiological defense.

 
Working Environment

Damage Controlmen work in a variety of climates at sea and ashore. They normally perform their work at sea in a controlled climate, but are often called upon, to work in machinery spaces and flight decks in various sea states and weather conditions. USN DC's are stationed primarily aboard USN deploying ships, FTS DCs are stationed aboard Naval Reserve Force (NRF) ships that deploy or conduct local operations. They may work in noisy environments on some assignments. People in this rating work closely with others, usually supervise and teach others and often do physical work. 

Electrician's Mate (EM)

General Description 

 Electrician's Mates (USN and FTS) are responsible for the operation of a ship's electrical power generation systems, lighting systems, electrical equipment and electrical appliances. The duties include installation, operation, adjustment, routine maintenance, inspection, test and repair of electrical equipment. EM's also perform maintenance and repair of related electronic equipment.

What They Do

The duties performed by EMs include: installing power and lighting circuits; repairing distribution circuits; running wiring for lights and other equipment; maintaining operating efficiency of distribution panels, switches, switchboards, controllers, voltage regulators, current transformers and voltage transformers; maintaining operating efficiency of electric motors; repairing electrical equipment and appliances;
installing and maintaining storage batteries; inspecting, maintaining, testing and repairing electric power equipment; maintenance and repair of shipboard elevator systems; interpreting electrical sketches, diagrams and blueprints; maintenance and repair of various propulsion and auxiliary control consoles; connecting electric power machinery and electric power equipment.

Working Environment

Most work in the EM rating is performed indoors, under varied conditions at sea and ashore. Work may be done in a shop-like environment. EM's do mostly physical work of a technical nature and usually work closely with other ratings. USN EM's are stationed primarily aboard USN deploying ships, FTS EM's are stationed aboard Naval Reserve Force (NRF) ships that deploy or conduct local operations. 

Engineman (EN)

General Description

Enginemen operate, service and repair internal combustion engines used to power some of the Navy's ships and most of the Navy's small craft. Most enginemen work with diesel engines. Enginemen also operate and maintain electrohydraulic controllable pitch propeller systems and steering engines, refrigeration and air conditioning systems, air compressors, desalinization plants and small auxiliary boilers. Enginemen perform their duties in surface ships.

What They Do

The duties performed by ENs include: aligning fuel, water and air piping systems and controlling operation of diesel engines used for ship and small craft propulsion, and to generate electrical power; cleaning, lubricating, adjusting, testing and performing other preventive maintenance on diesel engines, reduction gears, air compressors, hydraulic or pneumatic clutches, steering engines and controllable pitch propeller systems; operating and maintaining desalinization plants used to make fresh water from sea water; operating and servicing refrigeration plants and air conditioning systems; repairing or replacing valves, pumps, compressors, heat exchangers and control devices used with diesel engines and gas turbines; making entries into and analyze machinery operating records and reports.

 
Working Environment

Enginemen work in engine rooms or shops which, at times, may be warm and noisy. They may also work outdoors aboard small craft. The work performed is sometimes physical. Although Enginemen often work closely with others, they may also be required to work alone with limited supervision. 

Gas Turbine Systems Technician - Electrical (GSE)

General Description

GSEs operate, repair and perform organizational and intermediate maintenance on electrical components of gas turbine engines, main propulsion machinery, auxiliary equipment, propulsion control systems, and assigned electrical and electronic circuitry up to the printed circuit and alarm warning circuitry.

What They Do

The duties performed by GSEs include: operating electric plant main and propulsion control equipment; locating circuit failures and replacing parts; measuring current, voltage and resistance; testing for shorts, grounds and continuity; testing protective circuitry; testing, servicing and replacing batteries; performing preventive maintenance on digital data equipment and control and monitoring circuits; measuring insulation resistance; repairing electrical/electronic cables, wiring and connectors; maintaining alarm, indicating and warning systems; maintaining and repairing gas turbine engines and auxiliary equipment;
working with blueprints, schematics and charts; performing administrative procedures related to gas turbine propulsion system operation and maintenance; performing work area inspections;
operating standard test equipment; stopping engines and checking for proper performance; replacing and adjusting operating tolerance of contacts, microswitches, relay switches, pressure switches and temperature switches.

Working Environment

Gas turbine systems technicians usually work in engine rooms or shops that may be hot and noisy aboard many types of modern ships. At shore they may work at major repair or training facilities. Work is physical and analytical (trouble-shooting) for electronic components. 

Gas Turbine Systems Technician - Mechanical (GSM)

 General Description 

These specially trained sailors operate, repair and perform organizational and intermediate maintenance on mechanical components of gas turbine engines, main propulsion machinery including gears, shafts and controllable pitch propellers; and assigned auxiliary equipment and propulsion control systems.

What They Do

The duties performed by GSMs include: maintaining and repairing gas turbine engines and auxiliary equipment; working with blueprints, schematics and charts; performing administrative procedures related to gas turbine propulsion system operation and maintenance; performing work area inspections; testing lubricating oil and distillate fuels for contamination, neutralization and precipitation; operating standard test equipment; stopping engines and checking proper performance; replacing and adjusting operating tolerance of contacts, microswitches, relay switches, pressure switches and temperature switches; operating electric plant control and main propulsion equipment; operating pumps, turning gear, air compressors, oil purification system, low pressure air dehydrators and engineering control systems; performing preventive maintenance on ship's fuel system and air system; maintaining sea water service system, waste drain system, oil purification system and manually operated valves; using hoisting and lifting devices and maintaining special tools. Maintaining and operating ship's service gas turbine generators and support systems; maintaining and controlling ship's service steam water chemistry; maintaining the controllable pitch propeller system.

 
Working Environment

Gas turbine systems technicians usually work in engine rooms or shops that may be hot and noisy aboard many types of modern ships. At shore they may work at major repair facilities. Work is mainly physical and analytical (trouble shooting) for mechanical components. 

Hull Maintenance Technician (HT)

 General Description 

HTs do the metal work necessary to keep all types of shipboard structures and surfaces in good condition. They also maintain shipboard plumbing and marine sanitation systems, repair small boats, operate and maintain ballast control systems, and manage the Quality Assurance Program.

What They Do

The duties performed by HTs include: installing, maintaining and repairing valves, piping, plumbing system fittings and fixtures, and marine sanitation systems. Repairing decks, structures and hulls by welding, brazing, riveting and caulking; examining, testing welds and various shipboard structures; using radiological, ultrasonic and magnetic particle testing equipment. Fabricating with light and heavy gauge metal such as aluminum, stainless steel, sheet copper and brass, steel, sheet and corrugated iron; heat treating, hot and cold forming of metals; pipe cutting, threading and assembly; repairing installed ventilation ducting; repairing metal, wood and fiberglass boats; installing and repairing insulation and lagging; operating marine sanitation systems

 Working Environment

Hull Maintenance Technicians work in a variety of situations at sea and ashore. Sometimes their work is performed indoors in a shop environment. Other times it may be performed outdoors, frequently at sea and in all kinds of climates and weather conditions. They may work in noisy environments on some assignments. HTs are stationed primarily aboard USN deploying ships.

Machinist's Mate (MM)

General Description 

Machinist's Mate (Surface) (MM) Machinist's Mates operate and maintain steam turbines and reduction gears used for ship propulsion and auxiliary machinery such as turbogenerators, pumps and oil purifiers. They also maintain auxiliary machinery outside of main machinery spaces, such as electrohydraulic steering engines and elevators, refrigeration plants, air conditioning systems and desalinization plants. They may also operate and maintain compressed gas producing plants.

What They Do

The duties performed by MMs include: aligning piping systems for oil, water, air and steam, and controlling the operation of ship boilers and steam turbines used for ship propulsion and service systems; controlling operation of turbogenerators used to produce electrical power; leaning, adjusting, testing and performing other preventive maintenance on a ship's boilers, main engines, turbogenerators and other auxiliary machinery including steering engines, elevators, winches, pumps and associated valves; operating and maintaining desalinization plants (distilling plants) to make fresh water from sea water; maintaining refrigeration plants, air conditioning systems and galley equipment; repairing or replacing valves, pumps, heat exchangers, compressors, steam turbines and hydraulic or pneumatic control devices; making entries in and analyzing machinery operating records and reports.

 Working Environment

Machinist's mates work within the hull of a ship in fire rooms, boiler rooms, engine rooms or shops. These locations are sometimes hot and noisy. MMs may be required to perform some heavy physical work. They must be able to work closely with others and, in some cases, with limited supervision.

Machinery Repairman (MR)

General Description

Machinery Repairmen are skilled machine tool operators. They make replacement parts and repair or overhaul ship's engines and auxiliary systems. They also work on deck equipment including winches and hoists, condensers and heat exchange devices. MRs occasionally operate main propulsion and auxiliary machinery in addition to performing machine shop and repair duties. 

What They Do

The duties performed by MRs include: repairing and operating auxiliary machinery; calculating time and material needed for machine shop work and the repairing of auxiliary machinery; drawing sketches and preparing specifications for replacement parts; working from sketches and specifications to produce replacement parts; operating machine shop equipment, such as lathes, drill presses, shapers, bench grinders, milling machines, boring mills, power hacksaws and computer numerically controlled machinery; working with precision measuring instruments such as micrometers, depth gauges, verniers, calipers, gauge blocks, protractors and dial indicators; engraving metal and other materials; performing electroplating and flame spraying operations.

Working Environment

People in the MR rating usually work indoors in a machine shop situation where many motor-powered machine tools are present. They work closely with others and are closely supervised.