If you are interested in looking into opportunities for employment in navy yards, you naturally want to know about the different occupations and something about the conditions under which they are carried on. The following descriptions of the more important kinds of work will give you a general idea of the different jobs and if you wish to secure further details about any particular line of work you can get them through your vocational adviser.
A navy yard operates a number of shops in which different trades are carried on. These “shop” trades are carried on in the same general way as in the same sort of shops anywhere. The same processes, tools, and machines are used.
In addition to the “shop” trades there are a number of occupations that are carried on outside of the shops and are shipbuilding trades, engaged in building ships and repairing them.
There are, speaking in a rough way, “shop” trades and “yard” trades. There are also, of course, certain office occupations as in any business, and a number of special occupations such as those of timekeepers, truck drivers, and tool-room keepers.
In addition to the trades and occupations mentioned above, navy yards employ a number of men in general maintenance and construction work, and in keeping up the plant and equipment, such as tracklayers, pile drivers, masons, and bricklayers.
PLAN No. 1028. SHOP TRADES
The Drafting Room
Drawings and blue prints are prepared here. Drafting rooms are usually well lighted and heated. The work is carried on at drawing tables and men can either sit or stand. As a rule work in the drafting room does not require a great deal of walking or standing at the work. The force usually consists of draftsmen of various grades, tracers, detail draftsmen. A blue-print room is usually connected with the drafting room where attendants on the blue-printing machine are employed. A few stenographers and clerks may be employed in connection with the work of this department.
PLAN No. 1029. POWER PLANT
Here steam and electrical power are developed for the general use of the yard. Work in a navy-yard power plant is no different from work in any power plant. Among the men employed are engineers of different grades, switchboard attendants, dynamo tenders, firemen, and water tenders. Engine and dynamo rooms are usually well lighted and heated and give comfortable working conditions. The fireroom is usually very hot, and the work is more or less hard and uncomfortable. Steam engineers are highly trained men and usually have to hold a license. They usually have served an apprenticeship in the fireroom.