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Which branch of military for training?

23K views 72 replies 24 participants last post by  nick 
#1 ·
Hi, just wanted to know which branch of military has the best training for civilian electrician work.
 
#3 ·
I think Celtic pegged that one. The Navy will give you a great background in generators, a/c, d/c, and controls. You will just have to take code classes to round out your knowledge.
 
#11 ·
Absofukinglutely. The Army Corps of Engineers built the levies that failed in La, the jetties that have caused erosion along the jersey shore and have been changed, and oh wasn't it them that tried to reroute the Red river and it failed miserably? Stick with the Seabees, a finer construction outfit hasn't been built yet.
 
#20 ·
The best non flight related training the Air Farce has to offer is Police/Security training. Unless you want to wire air frames for a career.
There's probably a job or two open for that in Ohio.
 
#19 ·
I had planned to use the skills the Corps taught me when I became a civilian. I was going to settle in NYC when I got out and become a hitman but the local had a much better health insurance and retirement plan.
 
#38 ·
I was a Navy SEABEE construction electrician for 10 years. Not a ship board electrician. In fact, the training you recieve in the Navy Seabees will help you when you get out in the civilian world. And, as a Navy Seabee, you'll never/ever be on a ship.

Construction Electrician "A" school is three intense months of training. You'll learn about Basic Electrical Theory, Pole line construction, generators, air field lighting, fire alarm systems, interior wiring. As you advance, the Navy will send to more schools.

Currently, I'm working for the government as an electrician. And I love it.

"CAN DO!"
 
#42 ·
So you learned all you needed to know about electrical work by being a Comm Sgt. in the Army? I better put my boots back on, it's getting deep in here.
 
#41 ·
IBEW is good but the military offers some experiences you rarely see with the IBEW and plus you get 3 hots a day, room and board.. you can save a lot of money and learn. I'd have to say military enstills discpline, gives you experience and well ibew is a whole bunch of politics and some journeyman are less friendly than others.
 
#44 ·
GO NAVY! BE A SEABEE! As a construction electrician in the seabees you will be working in all electrical areas. THe Air Force has the "Red Horse" those guys specialize in one area such as, interior wiring or linemen work, I think it is the same way in the Army. In the Seabees, you do everything. Linemen work, interior wiring, air field wiring, Generator tech, etc.
 
#53 ·
setting up, installing and maintenance of electrical power plants, transformers, poles, facilities electrical hookup.

i'm not sure what kind of answer your asking for randomkiller.

Just in my personal experience in and around Army facilities I have never seen USA electrical crews do more than bring in generator trucks/trailers and set up a temp. tactical position.
 
#47 ·
Go Navy. I spent 10 years as a shipboard sparky. Making the transistion to land based wiring was an adjustment as far as code and pipe bending but motors and generators, and associated sub-systems I can hang with anyone. See-Bee's for civilian wiring is the way to go without a doubt. Sometimes I wish I had gone that route but I love the ocean and powerplants and I got both on board a ship. Besides the best honor you can get is your warfare pin, wether it be a SW (mine), SS, or AW. The only thing more respected is the Triad pin (SEAL).

As far as Frasbee's comment about the girlfriend, if the military thinks you need one it will be issued in your seabag.
 
#48 · (Edited)
THe only electricians the U.S. President or a U.S. Embassy staff trust is a U.S. Navy SEABEE. You will not find a Navy "Electricians Mate" (Ship Board electrician) at the Presidential Retreat "Camp David" or Air Force or Army. Believe me, I've been there. THe Seabees is the way to go. Plus, you be serving your country and you can get your SEABEE COMBAT WARFARE PIN. Not many Navy Folks know about that. Also, I work for the government now at a Navy Base do electrical maintenance and training ship board electricians about the NEC code. Just because alot of them are retired navy chiefs, they think they now everything. Believe me, they always come to me for help. Only thing an EM (ship board electrician is good at) is pulling wiring, changing a light bulb, or drinking a cup of coffee.
 
#64 ·
THe only electricians the U.S. President or a U.S. Embassy staff trust is a U.S. Navy SEABEE. You will not find a Navy "Electricians Mate" (Ship Board electricia Only thing an EM (ship board electrician is good at) is pulling wiring, changing a light bulb, or drinking a cup of coffee. Well you teach navy electricians in school and you do maintance at the same time . I was a Em3 in the nuke program schooled electrician spent 4 years at sea cvn-68 nimitz we worked 12 hours a day 7 days a week no time off and every 3 days stood watch for 4 hours on the 40 below zero cold & windy flight deck never changed a bulb that much but worked on some interesting electrical , think you better think more on who you are refering too or what you think you know about the work in the navy . comments
 
#49 ·
Nice way to come to the board and slam a snipe. If you think all we are good for is pulling wire, you are sadly mistaken. We have to cover all aspects from wire to generators/ motors, M/G's, controllers, switchboards and computer systems that control all those systems, hence my 4707 NEC. Granted we are not taught the National Electric Code but the smart ones will learn it.

Besides I can work in the marine industry or land based. I get a kick out of watching land based sparkies trying to adapt to marine wiring.

I usually don't go on the offensive but you hit a nerve saying we are only as good as a 1st year apprentise.
 
#51 ·
Yes to industrial/commercial...but that all depends on what the Navy WANTS/NEEDS you to do as to what you get experienced doing.
I ended up running a 5MW power plant with 4-750 KW MUSE units and 10-350 KW Fairbanks Morse 2 cycle diesels for 18 months
 
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