This guide provides helpful information for those looking to join the Navy as an Engineering Aide (EA) during the Fiscal Year 2025.
Engineering doesn’t start with construction—it starts with planning. As an Engineering Aide (EA) in the Seabees, you lay the groundwork. You’ll work alongside Construction Engineers, learning firsthand how to survey sites, draft blueprints, and calculate materials. Precision matters.
Get it right, and you help build runways, bridges, military bases—structures that stand the test of time. Get it wrong? That’s not an option. This is where engineering careers begin, with hands-on experience that can take you anywhere.
Job Description
Seabees don’t just build—they plan, measure, and test before anything goes up. Engineering Aides (EAs) are the ones making sure every foundation is solid, every road is level, and every structure is built to last.
What They Do
EAs work directly with Construction Engineers, handling everything from site surveys to material testing and construction planning. Before anything gets built, they make sure it’s done right.
- Survey & Map – Establish control points, run traverses, use GNSS to create topographic maps.
- Blueprint & Design – Draft construction plans, stake out projects, and generate technical drawings.
- Test & Analyze – Conduct soil, concrete, and asphalt tests to ensure materials meet quality standards.
- Calculate & Estimate – Determine the volume of materials, estimate labor and equipment needs.
- Support Combat & Disaster Relief – Assist in humanitarian missions and military operations worldwide.
Blueprints. Maps. Tests. Measurements. One mistake can cost time, money—even lives. That’s why EAs are trained to think ahead, double-check, and never cut corners.
Where They Work
- Navy bases & ports worldwide – Building and maintaining military infrastructure.
- Disaster zones – Rebuilding communities after hurricanes, earthquakes, and other crises.
- Land-based commands – Unlike many Navy roles, EAs rarely serve at sea.
Only about 300 Engineering Aides serve in the Navy. Some work alone. Others work in large teams. But every project depends on them getting it right.
Engineering Aide Roles: Planning, Measuring, Building
Engineering Aides (EAs) make sure every build starts right—before the first shovel hits the ground. They handle surveying, drafting, testing, and project management to keep construction on track.
Key Responsibilities
- Survey & Mapping – Set control points, run traverses, create topographic maps using GNSS and conventional systems.
- Blueprints & Drafting – Prepare, edit, and refine construction drawings for roads, airfields, drainage, and more.
- Material Testing & Quality Control – Test soils, concrete, asphalt; design aggregate mixes to meet project needs.
- Project Management – Estimate materials, plan schedules, control costs, and solve on-site problems.
- Leadership & Training – Supervise projects, mentor junior Sailors, and ensure teams are mission-ready.
Before anything gets built, EAs lay the foundation—literally and strategically.
Rank Structure
Pay Grade | Rank | Abbreviation |
---|---|---|
E-1 | Constructionman Recruit | CR |
E-2 | Constructionman Apprentice | CA |
E-3 | Constructionman | CN |
E-4 | Engineering Aide Third Class | EA3 |
E-5 | Engineering Aide Second Class | EA2 |
E-6 | Engineering Aide First Class | EA1 |
E-7 | Chief Engineering Aide | EAC |
E-8 | Senior Chief Constructionman | CUCS |
E-9 | Seabee Master Chief | CBCM |
Notes:
E-8: Senior Chief Constructionman (CUCS) – At this level, Engineering Aides merge with Builder and Steelworker ratings. Responsibilities expand to overseeing large-scale construction projects, training junior personnel, and managing operations at a senior level.
E-9: Seabee Master Chief (CBCM) – The highest enlisted rank in Seabee construction. All construction ratings merge under this title. Master Chiefs provide top-level leadership, strategic planning, and mission execution across the Seabees’ global operations.
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 Grade | Less than 2 Years | Over 2 Years | Over 3 Years | Over 4 Years | Over 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 Promotion Opportunities
Boot Camp & “A” School
- Start at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes (Boot Camp).
- Class “A” Technical School – Fort Leonard Wood, MO | 15-20 weeks
- Learn basic construction skills and theories.
- Train in combat skills to prepare for real-world operations.
First Assignments
After training, Engineering Aides are assigned to:
- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) – Based in Port Hueneme, CA or Gulfport, MS.
- Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) – Located in San Diego, CA or Little Creek, VA.
- Rotations between homeport and overseas locations like Spain, Okinawa, or Guam.
- Additional combat and construction skills training at homeport.
Career Progression
- Promotions are competitive and based on performance.
- Advanced training opportunities in construction, management, and leadership.
Post-Service Opportunities
- Civilian careers in surveying, drafting, construction management, and engineering support.
- Credentialing and certifications translate directly to jobs in the private sector.
- Seabees gain real-world experience in construction, logistics, and disaster relief—valuable in both government and private industry.
Qualifications to Join
Basic Requirements
- Must be a U.S. citizen. No exceptions.
- High school diploma or GED.
- 5-year enlistment. You’re in for the long haul.
ASVAB Score Needed
- AR + 2MK + GS = 207 – If math isn’t your thing, this isn’t your job.
Skills & Qualifications
- Trigonometry – At least half a year in high school or a quarter in college. Must pass with a C or better.
- Math & record-keeping – You’ll be calculating materials, drawing up plans, and tracking every detail.
- Manual dexterity – Hands-on work with tools, equipment, and precision instruments.
- Strong memory – You’ll need to learn fast and remember everything—no room for guessing.
- Speaking & writing skills – Clear reports, accurate project plans, solid communication.
- Curiosity & resourcefulness – Figuring things out on the fly. Problems happen. Fix them.
- Physical fitness – If you can’t handle the workload, you won’t last.
- Hearing must be normal. No exceptions.
Bonus but Not Required
- College-level engineering coursework – It helps but isn’t a dealbreaker.
- Repetitive tasks? Attention to detail? You’ll be doing a lot of both.
This isn’t just about knowing math or using tools. It’s about being sharp, staying focused, and getting things done right. Mess up? That could mean wasted materials, failed projects, or worse. Precision matters.
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 an Engineering Aide (EA), 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: