What's the difference between a Seaman Apprentice and a Fireman Apprentice, and is it significant????

FAs and FNs are naval engineering. SA and SN are deck and admin. either way your still a non rate.

Breeze through the pages of posts here and I think I've answered something similar. In a nutshell, macmac is correct though both have their share of logkeeping.

Engineers, by and large, stand their watches making rounds on the machinery that powers anything and everything on the ship, including the screws (propellers). They do this in port and underway. In port they also perform light and medium maintenance on this machinery.

Deck personnel stand their watches on the bridge underway and on the quarterdeck in port. Underway they are lookout, helm (steering), lee helm (engine order controls) and, on some vessels, messengers. In port they are the messenger of the watch, roving security watch and quarterdeck watch. Some of those positions depend on ship size and manning levels.

Both are critical in port as their hourly rounds are to ensure the ship is not taking on water (i.e. sinking), on fire and everything is properly secured. Same goes for underway but the Seaman's roving function is performed by the Boatswains Mate of the Watch (BMOW). These types of continuous (24/7/365) hourly rounds start from the day the ship is put into Commission Special until the ship is decomissioned anywhere from 30-60 years later.

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Last Edited : 10/25/2007 4:18:37 PM GMT

I always look at Seaman is on the deck, Fireman below the deck.

So if my husband is graduating as a Fireman Apprentice, what does that mean? Laymans terms lol. We will be stationed at Tahoe City, so I'm wondering if being a FA means anything significant as far as what kind of job he'll be doing there.

do they get to choose which one they want, or do they just assign it?

Another ? How do you get to be an airman. My son want to go to an air station. Is that harder and does that take longer.

to be be an airman you must complete 4 months of training, then you can go to AST A-school, AMT A-school, or AET A-school

GunzmanM- your husband will be working under people who are in the hull & engineering group. maybe as a damage controlman, machinery tech., etc. something along those lines.

Warning to all ye asking questions. macmac has no military experience at all. in fact he has yet to step one foot into boot camp so take his answers with a grain of salt. Just a friendly warning to all who follow his endless wisdom.

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correct i do not have military experience yet. however, if i see a post that i feel that i can answer i do, and my responses arent answers that are fabricated in anyway. my information comes from people in the CG or online research.

We're all here to share what we learn as we move forward.

I was in 22 years (now retired) and I'm by no means an expert (evidence my disclaimer below).

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_{Disclaimer:  I'm not a doctor or a recruiter, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Though I strive to ensure accuracy, my information can be dated at times. Please verify all info with a recruiter or your command.}

correct a seaman could be working as a cook, i apologize for not stating that. GMs and OSs fall under the deck & ordanance group.

my oldest son is a SA and hes already had a variety of jobs on his ship...says hes painted ALOT and various deck jobs and his least favorite was mess cook.....lots and lots of dishes but he made it through it. These are all jobs that make ship life run and you just do what you have to do when you are the new guy and a non-rate.