Thousands of Americans each year choose to serve U.S. Navy, which has recruited 35,000 new members in 2009. If you wish to choose Navy as a career and become one of the over 300,000 American team, you need to know the U.S Navy joining requirements and procedure.

Apart from a marvelous career and good salary, each member is eligible for 30 days of vacation or paid leaves. Housing allowance, medical benefits, life insurance and educational allowance are the key benefits. Few recruits also get an opportunity to travel different locations around the world, which could be a good experience to explore different cultures and geographical areas. Recruits have freedom to complete their education through online studies as the job might require travelling.

Here are few initial steps to serve US Navy:

Visit the Local Recruiting Office

One you have chosen to serve Navy, the most direct method is to visit your local recruiting center, which is often a centralized branch of military. Military representatives in this office are assigned to guide interested candidates for serving Navy.  Visiting Navy recruiter does not place the visitor into the obligation to joining Navy. It provides the related enlistments and chance to ask all the job related questions. Few questions you must ask the recruiter are:

• What kind of Navy job will be the best for you?
• What is the duration of enlistment commitments?
• Whether you are eligible for the signing bonus?
• What is the structure of the basic training?

Navy Application Form

Once you have determined to get enlisted in the US Navy, the initial step is to fill up the application form which normally requires:

• High school Diploma or any other equivalent.
• Previous address.
• Work history.
• A copy of present medical records.
• Character references.
• Birth Certificate.
• Citizenship Certificate or Social Security Card.
• Document of Law Enforcement or Arrest, if applicable.

Once the application form is completed, it needs to be reviewed and the candidate who fulfills the medical and other requirements are sent to the MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station), which finalizes the candidate through physical examination, interview and other tests. Each candidate is scaled on ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) score which will determine what Navy job profile he is eligible for.

Once all the formalities are completed, the recruit is then scheduled take the Oath of Enlistment, which is a swearing ceremony for the finalized candidates.