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Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. (January 9, 2025): Most people do not realize the sheer number of engineering jobs available in a massive organization like the U.S. Navy. With approximately 450,000 Sailors manning three hundred ships and submarines and flying 3,700 aircraft, the Navy needs enlisted engineers. In this photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matt Hall, Sailors practice installing a flange shield on a valve, one of many engineering tasks they will encounter once aboard ship. The Navy’s Surface Warfare Engineering School offers a variety of engineering courses that provide both technical and on-the-job experience in nearly every field of engineering.
The road to a Navy engineering career begins with the Basic Engineering Common Core, a ten-week program on mechanical theory, piping systems, the Navy’s Maintenance Material Management System, and essential safety precautions. From there, the majority of students advance to the Engineering Professional Apprenticeship Career Track. This 34-day course delves deeper into various engineering skills students will need as they start their careers.
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Pacific Ocean. (January 11, 2025): In the Navy, there are little-known heroes who deliver power to the ship, and the entire crew depends on them. In this photo by MC3 Brianna Walker, Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) Fireman Manuel Gutierrez trains Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Robbie Zepponi on how to note readings on an air compressor aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett. They are responsible for keeping giant turbine engines running around the clock and the survival of the ship is literally in their hands.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are powered by two General Electric LM2500 turbines that generate 33,600 shaft horsepower allowing the ship to achieve speeds of thirty-one knots. These LM2500 turbines drive ninety five percent of all current U.S. Navy ships.
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Okinawa, Japan. (January 8, 2025): Acrophobia sounds like a terrible disease, but it is really quite common. Fear of Heights. In this photo by Sergeant Noah Masog, Sergeant Brian Evans supervises Marines rappelling down a steep cliff during a company exercise at the Jungle Warfare Training Center here. All troopers experience, to varying degrees, some level of acrophobia while learning to rappel.
Symptoms of this irrational fear are intense anxiety, trembling, and shortness of breath. For many, even thinking of heights or being in a high place can be debilitating. To conquer these fears, troops must have confidence in their rappelling skills and the quality of their equipment.
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Fort Moore, Georgia. (January 16, 2025): With slogans like "Death from Above", it is obvious that “Going Airborne” is no picnic. In this photo by Staff Sergeant Keith Thornburgh, a prospective trooper jumps from a tower wearing full combat gear at the Army’s Basic Airborne Course (BAC). Operated by the 1st Battalion, 507th Infantry, the course is open to servicemembers from all branches of the military, ROTC cadets, and allied military personnel.
From the D-Day invasion of Normandy to Operation Northern Delay in Iraq, American Airborne forces are widely admired by allies and feared by enemies. Joining this group is understandably difficult, right from the beginning. To qualify for Airborne training, candidates must pass the Army Physical Fitness Test using the standards for the 17-21 age group, regardless of their actual age. If they meet these requirements, cadets will undergo a three-week intensive program divided into three phases; Ground, Tower, and Jump Weeks.
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Cheyenne, Wyoming. (January 10, 2025): The Air National Guard has joined local California authorities battling wildfires that have devastated Los Angeles. In this photo by Senior Airman Zachary Herold, Airmen from the 153rd Airlift Wing load and install a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) onto a C-130H Hercules aircraft. The Air National Guard has activated all eight of its firefighting units to support local efforts.
Earlier this month, multiple wildfires broke out in Los Angeles County, the largest one encompassing almost 3,000 acres in Pacific Palisades. Local officials have ordered the evacuation of about 150,000 residents and opened nine shelters to house displaced families. As of this writing, the fires have killed at least twenty-six people and the death toll is likely to grow. Experts estimate the economic losses of this event to be in the range of $135 to $150 billion dollars, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.
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Atlantic Ocean. (January 11, 2025): The Ukrainians used them to nearly destroy the mighty Russian Black Sea fleet yet they don’t even have a navy. They accomplished this amazing feat using unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) in the emerging new battlefield beneath the waves. In this photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Justin E. Yarborough, a Mission Specialist Defender Mark IV UUV is put through its paces during exercises with our Australian allies. As drones are dominating the skies, so too will their underwater cousins play a decisive role in future naval battles.
Undersea submersibles enjoy several advantages over human piloted craft that can be critical to success on the battlefield. The primary advantage of UUVs is their ability to operate for extended durations without the need for human-present logistical support or maintenance. Today’s Navy fields dozens of UUVs dedicated to various tactical purposes. UUVs conduct surveillance and gather intelligence in ways that are impossible for a crewed vessel. Their stealthy design allows them to approach and observe an enemy undetected. Even if discovered, many UUVs can simply drop to severe depths to avoid countermeasures.