Navy Construction Mechanic (CM): Definitive Guide (2025)

This guide provides helpful information for those looking to join the Navy as a Construction Mechanic (CM) during the Fiscal Year 2025.

Fix it. Keep it running. Do it anywhere. As a Construction Mechanic in the Seabees, you work on everything—trucks, cranes, bulldozers, tactical gear. If it’s got an engine, you make sure it moves.

No shop walls holding you in. You’ll be out there, turning wrenches on job sites, in disaster zones, wherever the Navy needs power on the ground.

And while you’re keeping the fleet rolling, you’ll pick up the skills to set yourself up for life.

Ready to get to work?

Job Description

navy-cm-insignia
CM Insignia – Credit: U.S. Navy

Construction Mechanics (CM) are Navy Seabees who keep the fleet moving. They maintain, diagnose, and repair everything from trucks and bulldozers to cranes and small boats. Whether it’s an engine overhaul, hydraulic system repair, or electrical troubleshooting, CMs make sure equipment is running in top shape.

They also handle parts requisition, manage maintenance records, train personnel, and ensure both crews and equipment are mission-ready—whether for combat or Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Recovery (HADR) operations.

Seabees mostly operate on shore-based commands. They work in garages, machine shops, and out in the field, sometimes in extreme conditions. Assignments can take them anywhere, from Navy bases to disaster zones.

There are roughly 1,700 Construction Mechanics in the Navy, working in teams under close supervision, balancing physical labor with technical problem-solving.


Specific Responsibilities

  • Diagnose and repair diesel and gasoline engines.
  • Maintain electrical, fuel, hydraulic, steering, and ignition systems.
  • Repair and adjust brakes, tires, batteries, and cooling systems.
  • Weld, fabricate, and repair chassis, frames, and bodies.
  • Operate hoisting and jacking equipment, power tools, and precision instruments.
  • Manage maintenance schedules and shop operations.
  • Support combat readiness and disaster recovery operations.

Leadership & Shop Supervision

Senior CMs take on more responsibility, overseeing maintenance shops and multiple work centers. They plan projects, allocate manpower, control costs, and ensure compliance with regulations and safety codes. They also train junior mechanics and lead teams in the field.

Rank Structure

Pay GradeRateAbbreviationTitle
E-1Constructionman RecruitCRConstructionman Recruit
E-2Constructionman ApprenticeCAConstructionman Apprentice
E-3ConstructionmanCNConstructionman
E-4Construction Mechanic Third ClassCM3Petty Officer Third Class
E-5Construction Mechanic Second ClassCM2Petty Officer Second Class
E-6Construction Mechanic First ClassCM1Petty Officer First Class
E-7Chief Construction MechanicCMCChief Petty Officer
E-8Senior Chief Construction MechanicCMCSSenior Chief Petty Officer
E-9Master Chief SeabeeCBCMMaster Chief Petty Officer

Note: At the Master Chief Petty Officer level (E-9), the Construction Mechanic (CM) rating merges with other construction ratings into the Master Chief Seabee (CBCM) rating. This change, implemented under NAVADMIN 054/21, replaced the previous Master Chief Equipmentman (EQCM) and other construction-related master chief ratings with CBCM.

Salary and Benefits

Salary for the First 6 Years

Monthly pay for Navy enlisted Sailors (E-1 to E-6) in the first six years is laid out in the January  2025 Active Duty Pay chart:

Pay GradeLess than 2 YearsOver 2 YearsOver 3 YearsOver 4 YearsOver 6 Years
E-1$2,108.10$2,108.10$2,108.10$2,108.10$2,108.10
E-2$2,362.80$2,362.80$2,362.80$2,362.80$2,362.80
E-3$2,484.60$2,640.60$2,800.80$2,800.80$2,800.80
E-4$2,752.20$2,892.90$3,049.80$3,204.30$3,341.40
E-5$3,001.50$3,203.70$3,358.80$3,517.20$3,763.80
E-6$3,276.60$3,606.00$3,765.00$3,919.80$4,080.60

Extra Pays and Allowances

Housing Allowance (BAH):
For members living off-base. Covers rent, based on rank, location, and if they have dependents.

Subsistence Allowance (BAS):
Enlisted get $465.77 monthly for food.

Hazard Duty Pay:
For dangerous jobs. Pays $150-$250 per month, depending on the job.

Sea Pay:
For those assigned to ships or deployed units. Depends on rank and time at sea, from $50 to $750 a month.

Special and Incentive Pays:
Bonuses for certain roles, like air traffic control or unique skills. These can be a few hundred to thousands per year.

Source: Figures are from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

Benefits

  • Healthcare: Active-duty personnel are eligible for free complete medical and dental treatment. Tricare programs are inexpensive for families to use.
  • Housing Accomodation: Depending on location, rank, and family size, free on-base accommodation or a tax-free housing allowance (BAH) for off-base living are available.
  • Food: Monthly Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) for food costs is known as the “food allowance.”
  • Blended Retirement System (BRS): Conventional pensions are no longer available to active-duty personnel. Rather:
    • Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Up to 5% in government matching and automatic contributions.
    • Retirement Pay: After 20 years of service, you’re eligible for monthly payments according on the BRS formula, which combines TSP savings with a calculated pension.
  • Education:
    • Availability of tuition assistance programs that pay for all or part of college tuition.
    • Support for higher education under the post-9/11 GI Bill.
    • Navy College Program to support education while on service.
  • Life Insurance: Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) provides coverage up to $500,000.
  • Vacation: ten or more federal holidays plus thirty days of paid vacation each year.
  • Extra Benefits:
    • Exchanges and commissaries provide tax-free purchasing.
    • Discounted travel via military resorts, access to fitness centers, and leisure amenities.

Training and Career Opportunities

Initial Training

After Boot Camp at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Construction Mechanics (CMs) report to Class “A” Technical School in Port Hueneme, CA for 16 weeks. Here, they develop a working knowledge of construction mechanics, equipment repair, and basic combat skills.

SchoolLocationTraining TimeSubjectsMethods
Class “A” Technical SchoolPort Hueneme, CA16 WeeksConstruction mechanics, equipment repair, combat skillsGroup & Individual Instruction

Post-Training Assignments

Upon graduation, CMs may be assigned to:

  • Naval Mobile Construction Battalions (NMCB) – Based in Port Hueneme, CA, or Gulfport, MS, rotating between homeport and overseas locations (Spain, Okinawa, Guam).
  • Amphibious Construction Battalions (ACB) – Based in San Diego, CA, or Little Creek, VA.

Seabees in these units provide construction support, disaster relief, and combat engineering for the Navy and Marine Corps worldwide.

Advancement & Specialization

  • Promotion opportunities are available but competitive, based on performance and qualifications.
  • Advanced training in heavy equipment operations, diesel mechanics, and leadership roles is offered throughout a Seabee’s career.

Post-Service Opportunities

Skills learned as a Construction Mechanic translate directly into civilian careers in:

  • Automotive & Heavy Equipment Repair
  • Construction & Engineering Fields
  • Emergency & Disaster Response Teams

Qualifications to Join

Basic Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent. Must be a U.S. citizen.

What You Need

  • Work with your hands – Tools, machines, engines, heavy equipment. You fix it, keep it running.
  • Good with numbers – Gotta do arithmetic, track records, follow blueprints.
  • Strong communicator – Write reports, give updates, explain what’s broken and how to fix it.
  • Physically ready – Some of this work is tough. Gotta be in good shape to handle it.

Traits That Help

  • Problem solver – If it’s busted, you figure it out.
  • Resourceful – Work with what you got. Get the job done.
  • Team player – Seabees don’t work alone.

Testing Requirements

  • ASVAB Score: AR + MC + AS = 162

The enlistment qualification requirements above are current as of Fiscal Year 2025, per the Navy Personnel Command. This information is not readily available to the public.

So, contact your local Navy Enlisted Recruiter for the most current requirements to join the Navy as an enlisted Sailor.

More Information

If you wish to learn more about becoming a Construction Mechanic (CM), 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 Enlisted jobs:

Ted Kingston
I’m a Navy veteran who used to serve as a Navy recruiter. This website is the most reliable source of information for all Enlisted Navy Sailor aspirants. In coordination with a network of current and former Navy recruiters, my goal is to make reliable information easily available to you so you can make informed career decisions.

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