Builder (BU): Navy Reserve (2025)

Ted Kingston•March 12, 2025

This guide provides helpful information for those considering to enlist in the Navy Reserve as a Builder (BU) during Fiscal Year 2025.

If it stands, you build it. If it breaks, you fix it. As a Builder (BU) in the Navy Reserve, you take raw materials and turn them into mission-ready structures.

One day, you’re framing a barracks. The next, you’re laying concrete for a runway. When the Navy needs construction done right, you make it happen—anywhere in the world.

Keep reading if you’re interested.

Job Role and Responsibilities

Job Description

Navy Reserve Builders (BU) build and maintain important Navy facilities including barracks and airstrips. They convert basic materials into operational infrastructure which maintains seamless Navy operations. Seabees complete construction projects when speed and reliability are essential requirements.

Daily Tasks

Lay the foundation—literally—for missions worldwide.
Read blueprints, draft plans, and make sure everything lines up.
Frame walls, pour concrete, and set the bones of critical infrastructure.
Install flooring, drywall, paneling, and trim—everything that makes a structure complete.
Operate heavy machinery, power tools, and construction equipment.
Estimate material, labor, and equipment needs before the first nail is driven.
Support combat engineering, disaster recovery, and forward-deployed operations.

Specific Roles

Primary Rating: Builder (BU)
Senior Enlisted Roles:
- CUCS (Senior Chief Constructionman): At E-8, Builders merge with Engineering Aides (EA) and Steelworkers (SW).
- CBCM (Master Chief Seabee): At E-9, they merge with all other construction ratings.

Mission Contribution

A mission without infrastructure is just a plan on paper. Builders make it real. Bases, bridges, runways—if the Navy needs it standing, the Seabees make it happen.

Whether reinforcing a forward operating base or rebuilding after a natural disaster, they ensure the Navy and Marine Corps have what they need to operate, anywhere in the world.

Technology and Equipment

Framing & Masonry: Hammers, saws, drills, levels, trowels.
Concrete & Foundations: Mixers, rebar tools, screeds, finishing equipment.
Heavy Equipment: Bulldozers, excavators, loaders, cranes.
Surveying & Drafting: Laser levels, GPS surveying, CAD software.
Safety & Protection: Helmets, harnesses, eye/ear protection, respirators.

Navy Builders work with their hands, their heads, and the latest construction tech. Whether it’s a simple shelter or a full-scale base, their work stands strong.

Work Environment

Setting and Schedule

One drill weekend a month. Two weeks a year. But when you’re called up, you go where the mission needs you.

Navy Reserve Builders work on everything from stateside projects to overseas operations, in conditions that range from well-equipped workshops to remote construction sites.

You might be indoors, cutting lumber, or outdoors, pouring concrete in the rain.

When duty calls, you’re ready—whether it’s rebuilding after a hurricane or reinforcing a forward operating base.

Leadership and Communication

Everything starts with the plan. The chain of command runs from junior enlisted Builders up to senior Seabees and officers, with constant coordination between engineers, project managers, and boots-on-the-ground crews.

Orders come fast, but good construction takes skill—every Builder learns to work efficiently without cutting corners.

Feedback happens in real-time—if something’s off, you fix it on the spot.

Team Dynamics and Autonomy

Some jobs you handle solo—framing a door, setting tile, or running equipment. Other times, you’re working shoulder to shoulder, lifting heavy beams or setting foundation forms.

Builders work as a unit, but everyone is expected to know their role, pull their weight, and get the job done right.

Job Satisfaction and Retention

Seabees don’t just build structures—they build legacies. There’s pride in driving past a project years later and knowing it’s still standing because you built it.

Retention rates are strong, especially among those who thrive on hands-on work and seeing tangible results.

Whether staying in for a full career or using the skills in the civilian world, Builders leave the Navy with experience that lasts.

Training and Skill Development

Initial Training

Before you can build for the Navy, the Navy builds you. Every Builder starts with Boot Camp (9 weeks at Great Lakes, IL)—where soft hands turn into calloused ones, and routine life is replaced with discipline, teamwork, and pushing past limits you didn’t know you had.

Then it’s off to Builder “A” School (10 weeks at Gulfport, MS)—where the real work begins. Here, you trade textbooks for tool belts and learn how to:

Read blueprints – Because guessing doesn’t cut it.
Frame walls, install roofs, and lay flooring – Turning raw materials into structures that last.
Mix and pour concrete – Foundations that hold up under pressure, just like Seabees.
Operate power tools and heavy equipment – Learn to run everything from saws to skid steers.
Build to military specs – Because “good enough” isn’t good enough in the Navy.

When A School’s over, you’re ready to put hammer to nail on real-world Navy projects.

Advanced Training

Seabees don’t stop learning. If you want to go further, the Navy gives you the tools. Advanced training includes:

“C” Schools for specialized skills – Carpentry, masonry, and project management.
Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) Training – If it moves dirt, you learn to drive it.
Expeditionary Warfare School – For those who build under fire, alongside Marines.
Disaster Recovery Training – When hurricanes hit or earthquakes strike, Seabees rebuild.

Skill Development and Career Growth

The skills you learn don’t just work in the Navy—they set you up for life. Builders can earn civilian certifications in construction, welding, masonry, and more.

Whether you stay in uniform or take your trade to the outside world, you walk away with experience that pays.

Physical Demands and Medical Evaluations

Physical Requirements

If you want easy, this isn’t it. Builders don’t just show up—they carry, climb, haul, and hammer until the job gets done.

The Navy’s Physical Readiness Test (PRT) is just the warm-up. Push-ups, planks, and a 1.5-mile run are required, but the real test is whether you can work long hours, in rough conditions, with heavy materials.

Here’s what that looks like in real life:

Lifting like it’s part of the job—because it is. Lumber, concrete, steel beams, equipment—if it needs moving, you’re the one moving it.
Climbing and balancing—because the work isn’t always on the ground. You’ll be on ladders, scaffolding, rooftops, or anywhere the job takes you.
Working in heat, cold, rain, and dust—because buildings don’t wait for perfect weather. If there’s a mission, you build, no matter the conditions.
Staying on your feet—because sitting down doesn’t get the job done. Power tools, heavy machinery, hand tools—you’ll be using all of them, often for hours at a time.

Medical Evaluations

Before you even touch a hammer, you go through MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). This is where the Navy makes sure you’re fit to serve—inside and out.

They check everything. Vision, hearing, mobility, medical history—it all gets reviewed. If something’s off, they’ll let you know.

Once you’re in, the checkups don’t stop. Regular medical screenings make sure you’re still good to go. If you get injured, you don’t just push through—it gets handled.

Sometimes that means treatment and rehab. Other times, it means reassignment.

What it never means? Cutting corners. Seabees don’t do that—not with buildings, not with safety, and not with their own health.

Deployment and Duty Stations

Deployment Details

One month, you’re at home. The next, you’re halfway across the world, tools in hand, building something that wasn’t there before.

Navy Reserve Builders deploy when needed, supporting active-duty Seabee units on missions that range from base construction to emergency disaster relief.

Deployments typically last 6 to 12 months, depending on the mission. Some are short-term humanitarian efforts, rebuilding after storms. Others involve long-term infrastructure projects in remote locations.
Most deployments are overseas, but stateside activations happen too. Seabees have built in the Pacific, the Middle East, and back home after natural disasters.
When deployed, you live where you build. That might be a tent city, a barracks, or something improvised. It’s not luxury—it’s mission-focused.

Location Flexibility

When you’re not deployed, you train. Most Reserve Builders drill at a Navy Reserve Center or with a Seabee Reserve Battalion.

Your duty location depends on where you live—but expect travel. If there’s a Seabee unit nearby, that’s where you drill. If not, you may need to travel for monthly drills and annual training.
Mobilizations aren’t guaranteed, but they’re always a possibility. Some Reserve Builders go years without activation, while others deploy multiple times. It all depends on military needs.
Seabees go where the work is. Whether it’s across the world or across the country, when they show up, they build what’s needed—no questions, no complaints, just results.

Career Progression and Advancement

navy-bu-insignia — *BU Insignia – Credit: U.S. Navy*

Career Path

Some people clock in and clock out. Builders don’t. Every project, every deployment, every structure built is another step forward.

Whether you stay in for a few years or make it a career, the Navy Reserve offers a clear path upward.

E-1 to E-3 (Apprentice to Seabee-in-Training): Learn the trade. Work under experienced Builders. Get your hands dirty.
E-4 to E-6 (Builder Third, Second, and First Class): More responsibility. More leadership. You’re not just swinging hammers—you’re running crews, planning jobs, and training the next wave of Seabees.
E-7 to E-9 (Chief Builder to Master Chief Seabee): At this level, you don’t just build structures—you build teams. Chiefs and Senior Chiefs oversee massive projects, mentor junior Builders, and ensure the Seabee legacy stays strong.

Promotion and Specialization

Advancement is competitive. You move up through performance evaluations, Navy-wide advancement exams, and Performance Mark Averages.
At E-8, Builders merge with Engineering Aides (EA) and Steelworkers (SW) to become Senior Chief Constructionmen (CUCS).
At E-9, all construction ratings merge into Master Chief Seabee (CBCM).
Specialization options include:
- BU-6012 (Advanced Masonry) – Complex stone and brickwork.
- BU-6015 (Concrete Construction) – Large-scale concrete and formwork.
- BU-6018 (Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist) – Combat construction operations.

Role Flexibility and Transfers

Want to specialize? You can. Builders can train in heavy equipment operation, structural welding, or project management.
Want a new challenge? Lateral transfers are possible. Many Seabees transition into Steelworker (SW), Equipment Operator (EO), or Engineering Aide (EA) roles. Some even commission as Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officers.

Performance Evaluation

Promotions in the Navy aren’t automatic—you earn them. Every Builder is evaluated on their technical skills, leadership ability, and overall performance. If you want to move up, you have to prove you’re ready.

How You’re Evaluated

Evaluations (EVALs): Every year, you get a performance report that rates your work ethic, teamwork, and leadership potential. Strong evaluations mean stronger chances for promotion.
Advancement Exams: To move from E-4 to E-7, you take Navy-wide exams that test your knowledge of construction, leadership, and Navy regulations. High scores improve your chances.
Performance Mark Average (PMA): Your evaluation scores help determine your final ranking for promotions. The better your PMA, the better your shot at moving up.
Seabee Combat Warfare (SCW) Qualification: Earning this pin isn’t required, but it sets you apart. It proves you understand combat engineering, construction ops, and Seabee history—giving you an edge in promotions.
Leadership & Job Performance: Chiefs and officers look at how you work under pressure, how well you lead a crew, and whether you take initiative. Hard work and reliability go a long way.

How to Stand Out for Promotion

Know your trade. The more you master your job, the better you perform on exams and evaluations.
Step up as a leader. Even as a junior Builder, showing leadership and taking responsibility gets noticed.
Pass the PRT with ease. Good fitness scores help your overall evaluation.
Earn extra qualifications. Specialized NECs (like Advanced Masonry or Concrete Construction) or additional training make you more valuable.
Get your SCW pin. It’s not just a badge—it shows commitment to the Seabee way of life.

Hard work gets noticed, and Seabees take care of their own. If you want to move up, the Navy gives you the path—you just have to build it.

Compensation, Benefits, and Lifestyle

Financial Benefits

You won’t get rich, but you’ll get paid. Navy Reserve Builders earn a steady paycheck for drill weekends, annual training, and any deployments or activations.

Pay is based on rank and time in service, with extra for certain duties.

Basic Pay (Drill Pay) – 2025 Estimates

Paygrade	Monthly Drill Pay (2 Days)	Annual Training Pay (2 Weeks)
E-1	$280 – $311	$1,122 – $1,244
E-3	$335 – $406	$1,341 – $1,626
E-5	$468 – $673	$1,870 – $2,691
E-7	$651 – $992	$2,606 – $3,969

Additional Pay & Bonuses:

Hazardous Duty & Deployment Pay – Extra for dangerous assignments.
Seabee Readiness Pay (SRP) – Incentive for skilled Seabees.
Reenlistment Bonuses – Can range from a few thousand to over $20,000, depending on demand.

Additional Benefits

The paycheck is just part of it. Reserve Builders also get:

Tricare Reserve Select (Affordable Healthcare) – Low-cost medical and dental coverage.
Tuition Assistance & GI Bill – Pays for college or trade school.
VA Home Loans – Buy a house with no down payment.
Retirement Pay – Earn a pension after 20 years of qualifying service.

Work-Life Balance

Drill Weekends – One weekend per month, usually at a Navy Reserve Center or Seabee Battalion.
Annual Training – Two weeks per year, often on a construction project.
Deployments – Not guaranteed but always a possibility. Seabees go where they’re needed.

When you’re off duty, you live your life. Most Reserve Builders hold full-time civilian jobs, using their Seabee training in the construction industry.

Others use their benefits to finish school or start businesses. The Navy Reserve fits into your life—not the other way around.

Risk, Safety, and Legal Considerations

Job Hazards

It’s construction, not paper pushing. You’re working with power tools, heavy equipment, and raw materials in environments that don’t always play nice.

One wrong move with a saw, one misstep on scaffolding, and things can go south fast. Then there’s the bigger picture—Seabees don’t just build in safe, controlled spaces.

Sometimes, you’re laying concrete in a disaster zone. Sometimes, you’re fortifying a base in a conflict area. Either way, risk comes with the job.

Expect hazards like:

Lifting what feels like half a lumber yard—again and again. Strains, sprains, and back injuries happen if you’re not careful.
Climbing ladders, scaffolding, or rooftops with zero room for error. A bad step doesn’t get a redo.
Power tools that don’t forgive mistakes. Saws, drills, nail guns—you respect the tools, or they remind you why you should.
Extreme conditions, because buildings don’t wait for perfect weather. Heat, cold, dust, and wind don’t care if you’re tired.
Deployments where construction meets combat. Seabees build under pressure, and sometimes that means under fire.

Safety Protocols

Seabees don’t cut corners. That’s how things collapse, and that’s how people get hurt. Safety is drilled into every job, every tool, every move you make.

Here’s how:

PPE is non-negotiable. Hard hats, gloves, steel-toe boots, eye protection—if you need it, you wear it.
Fall protection isn’t a suggestion. Harnesses, guardrails, and safety nets keep you off the ground—literally.
Tools and machinery come with training. You don’t pick up a saw or jump in a bulldozer without knowing what you’re doing.
Heat and cold stress protocols exist for a reason. Water breaks, shade, proper gear—because exhaustion sneaks up fast.

Security and Legal Requirements

Most of the time, Builders don’t need a security clearance. But if you’re working on classified projects or deploying with special units, expect background checks.

The uniform also comes with obligations.

Your contract is your word. Enlistments range from 3 to 8 years, and when activated, you go.
Military law applies, even as a Reservist. The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) is the rulebook, and breaking it isn’t an option.
Your civilian job is protected. Under USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act), employers can’t penalize you for military service.

Seabees handle risk because they’re trained for it. You follow the rules, watch your crew’s back, and get the job done—safely.

Impact on Family and Personal Life

Family Considerations

The Navy Reserve is a part-time commitment—until it isn’t. Most of the time, you’re home, working your civilian job, living your life.

Then the orders come, and everything changes. Deployments, activations, disaster relief—when the Navy calls, Seabees go.

Drill weekends take time away, but they’re predictable. One weekend a month, two weeks a year—easy to plan around.
Deployments are the wildcard. You might go years without one, or you might get activated with little notice. A six-month deployment can turn into a year.
Spouses and kids have to be on board. Being gone for weeks or months at a time isn’t easy, and it takes a strong support system at home.
Military family resources exist—but they don’t replace you. The Navy offers support networks, childcare assistance, and counseling, but at the end of the day, you’re the one who’s gone.

Relocation and Flexibility

Reservists don’t PCS (Permanent Change of Station) like active-duty sailors, but where you live affects your career.

If there’s a Seabee Reserve unit nearby, you’re in luck. Your drill weekends are local, and you can train close to home.
If not, expect to travel. Some Seabees commute several hours for drill, others fly across states. It’s part of the deal.
Deployments mean relocation—temporarily. One year, you’re framing houses in Mississippi. The next, you’re laying concrete in the Pacific. The job moves, and you move with it.

The Seabee motto is “Can Do.” That applies to family life too. Balancing home, work, and service isn’t always easy, but it’s what Reservists do.

Post-Service Opportunities

Transition to Civilian Life

When you leave the Navy Reserve, your skills don’t stay behind.

A Builder walks out with years of hands-on experience in construction, project management, and heavy equipment operation.

That’s a direct pipeline into well-paying civilian jobs.

Carpentry, masonry, and concrete work translate instantly—from union jobs to private contractors, Builders step into the workforce with real-world experience.
Heavy equipment operators are always in demand—Seabees who train on bulldozers, cranes, and loaders find opportunities in construction, transportation, and public works.
Project management skills make Builders stand out—supervising crews, reading blueprints, estimating costs—these skills open doors to roles like site foreman, construction manager, and facilities coordinator.
Entrepreneurship is an option. Many former Seabees start their own contracting or construction businesses.

Military-to-Civilian Certifications

The Navy doesn’t just train you—it certifies you. Many Builder skills align with civilian licenses and credentials.

National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) Certification – Recognized in commercial and residential construction.
OSHA Safety Certifications – Required for many construction and industrial jobs.
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Training – If you operate heavy equipment, this helps land driving jobs.
Apprenticeship & College Credit Programs – Through American Council on Education (ACE) credits, military training can count toward trade school or college degrees.

Veteran Support & Job Placement

Seabees take care of their own, and so does the Navy. Veterans get access to programs that make the transition smoother.

DOD SkillBridge – Work with civilian companies before leaving the military.
GI Bill & Tuition Assistance – Pays for college, trade schools, or certifications.
VA Home Loans – No down payment, competitive rates, easier approvals.
Hiring Preference – Veterans get priority for federal and state construction jobs.

A Seabee’s career doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. Whether it’s running heavy equipment, managing multimillion-dollar builds, or launching your own contracting business, the skills stay with you.

Qualifications, Requirements, and Application Process

Basic Qualifications

Not everyone gets to wear the Seabee patch. You need to meet the Navy’s standards—physically, mentally, and legally—before you ever pick up a hammer.

Age: Between 18 and 39 at the time of enlistment.
Citizenship: U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.
Education: High school diploma or GED.
ASVAB Score: AR+MC+AS=140 (Arithmetic Reasoning, Mechanical Comprehension, and Auto & Shop scores combined). Recruiters always have the latest requirements.
Physical Fitness: Must pass the Navy PRT—push-ups, planks, and a 1.5-mile run.
Commitment: Six-year drilling obligation, plus two years in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).

Application Process

Want to wear the uniform? Here’s how you get there:

Talk to a Navy Recruiter. They break down your options, check your eligibility, and answer your questions.
Take the ASVAB. Your scores determine if Builder is on the table.
Pass MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). Full-body medical check, background screening, and paperwork. No red flags, no problems.
Swear In & Pick Your Job. If Builder has open slots, you lock it in.
Ship to Boot Camp. Nine weeks at Great Lakes, IL, followed by Builder “A” School in Gulfport, MS.

Selection Criteria and Competitiveness

Builder isn’t always the hardest job to get, but spots aren’t unlimited. Some years, there are plenty. Other years, they’re gone fast.
Stronger ASVAB scores and solid fitness help. If Builder slots fill up, the Navy picks the best-qualified. Check this prep course to ace it.
No construction experience? No problem. The Navy trains you from scratch, but knowing your way around tools can give you an edge.
Serious legal or financial issues can stop you. If you’ve got a criminal record or excessive debt, it can be a dealbreaker.

If you meet the requirements and commit to the process, the Navy Reserve will teach you everything else. After that, it’s on you to prove you can build.

Is This a Good Job for You? The Right (and Wrong) Fit

Ideal Candidate Profile

Some people sit behind a desk. Others build the desk. If you’d rather be outside, tools in hand, turning raw materials into something solid, you’re in the right place.

You’ll thrive as a Builder if you:

Like working with your hands. If you were the kid who took things apart just to see how they worked, this is your kind of job.
Can handle the grind. Lifting, hauling, hammering, climbing—if that sounds like a workout, that’s because it is.
See the bigger picture. Buildings don’t just appear. You need to read blueprints, measure twice, and cut once.
Work well with a crew. Seabees don’t build alone. Everyone has a role, and nobody carries the load by themselves.
Don’t crack under pressure. Some days are smooth. Some days are a mess. Either way, the job gets done.

Potential Challenges

This job isn’t for everyone. Some people struggle with the physical side, others with the commitment. Some just aren’t cut out for the unpredictability of military life.

You might hate being a Builder if:

You like routine. No two projects are the same, and plans change fast. If you need predictability, look elsewhere.
You don’t like taking orders. The military runs on discipline. If you can’t handle structure, this won’t work for you.
You want to stay close to home. Deployments, mobilizations, disaster relief—when the Navy calls, Seabees go.
You’re not built for the elements. Rain, heat, cold, dust—if you need climate control, this isn’t your place.

Career and Lifestyle Alignment

Seabees build things that last. If you want real skills, real experience, and a career that follows you long after the uniform comes off, this job delivers.

But if you’re looking for easy money and a soft schedule? Look somewhere else.

More Information

If you wish to learn more about becoming an Builder (BU) in the Navy Reserve, contact your local Navy Enlisted Recruiter. They will provide you with more detailed information you’re unlikely to find online.

You may also be interested in the following related Navy Reserve Enlisted Seabee jobs:

Construction Electrician (CE)
Utilitiesman (UT)