The BU Rating
In 1948, the Navy Builder rating became an off-shoot of the original Carpenter's Mate rating. The Carpenter's Mate rating was one of the original, official Navy ratings, as it was first established in 1797.
Navy Builders make up the largest segment of the Naval Construction Force, the SeaBees. They work as carpenters, plasters, roofers, concrete finishers, masons, painters, bricklayers, and cabinet makers. Opportunities to enter the BU rating are good for qualified applicants. About 2,380 men and women work as Builders in the Navy. This is a 5 year enlistment program.
Builder (BU)
The duties performed by Navy Builders include building and repairing wood, masonry concrete, steel structures, and installing interior finish work, including installing sheet rock, paneling or ceramic tile walls and installing ceiling and floor tile, millwork and trim.
BUs operate carpentry, cabinet-making, and tool and equipment repair shops, and build forms for concrete construction; mix, place and finish concrete, and operat concrete batch plants, portable concrete mixers and other concrete finishing equipment and tools. BUs build wharves, bridges and other heavy timber structures.
They read and interpret blueprints and prepare sketches for projects, and make estimates of material, labor, and equipment requirements.
Qualifications, Interests, and Working Environment
For success in the builder rating, people should be oriented toward the use of tools, equipment and machines and have a high degree of manual dexterity. Knowledge of algebra and arithmetic with mixed fractions is important. Helpful qualities are a good memory, curiosity, and an ability to get along with people and the ability to express ideas orally and in writing. Also helpful is resourcefulness, the ability to keep records, do detailed work and perform repetitive tasks. Good physical condition is also necessary. Normal hearing is required.
BU's may work in a variety of conditions, independently or as members of a large team. Their many different duties may be performed in climates ranging from tropical to arctic. Builder ASVAB Test requirement.
Credit Recommendations
The American Council on Education recommends the following semester hour credits in the associate and vocational degree programs, 3 semester hours for both construction materials and interior finish, 4 semester hours in framing and exterior finish, 1 semester hour in technical mathmatics, and 2 semester hours in applied mathmatics. An AA in Construction Technology and an AAS in Building Studies can be earned from Coastline Community College and Thomas Edison State College, respectively.