Description of the United States Navy

The United States Navy is the branch of the armed forces that is structured to maintain the freedom of the seas and national security. In peacetime, United States Navy ships patrol the seas. Some may lie at anchor in international harbors to support American foreign policy, especially where American interests are at stake. They are also used to transport emergency relief to disaster areas and supplies to United States troops stationed around the world.

In wartime, United States Navy ships seek to destroy enemy vessels and prevent enemy attacks by sea. These duties often require the support of ground and air forces. Therefore, the United States Navy maintains its own ground force (the United States Marine Corps) and air service. All of these activities and the people who engage in them make up the United States Navy.

How the United States Navy is Organized

The Department of the Navy is divided into three parts: the Navy Department, the Operating Forces, and the Shore Establishment.

The Navy Department is the executive and central administrative office of the Navy. It includes the office of the secretary of the Navy and his staff as well as the commandant of the Marine Corps and the chief of naval operations (CNO). The CNO is the highest ranking officer of the Navy. He is a member of the joint chiefs of staff and is responsible for all the activities of the Department of the Navy and the Operating Forces.

The Operating Forces of the Navy are responsible for carrying out such operations that are necessary to uphold the national policies and interests of the United States. The Operating Forces include the Pacific Fleet (which operates throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans); the Atlantic Fleet (which operates throughout the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Oceans); the Naval Forces Europe (which is made up of forces assigned by the CNO or from the Pacific or Atlantic Fleets); and the U.S. Military Sealift Command (which uses Government -owned or private vessels to transport cargo and personnel for the Department of Defense and other and other federal agencies). In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard becomes an operating force of the Navy in times of National emergency or whenever the president deems it necessary.

The Shore Establishment is made up of a varied group of organizations that function to support the Operating Forces. These organizations (called commands) include Space and Naval Warfare; Naval Sea, Air, and Supply systems; Medical; Education and Training; Legal Services; Facilities Engineering; Intelligence; Security Group Command; Telecommunications, Space, Oceanography and Data Automation commands; and the supporting establishment of the Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Reserve.

Women's Role in the Navy

Women began serving in the Navy in 1908, as nurses. In 1942 the Women's Reserve of the Navy was authorized. The women are called WAVES for Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. In 1948 laws were enacted to allow women to enlist and be appointed to the regular Navy and Navy Reserve. They were fully integrated in 1972, when the first woman achieved the rank of near admiral.

Women in the Navy are eligible for a wide variety of U.S. and overseas assignments, for senior service schools, and to command naval stations and some ships. They may also serve as aviators. They may not serve in any position that involves combat. They do, however, receive the same benefits as men in the Navy and are subject to the same requirements.

United States Navy

Major Events in the United States Navy's History

IMPORTANT DATES IN U.S. NAVAL HISTORY
1775	Continental Congress created the Continental Navy.
1779	The Bonhomme Richard defeated the British frigate Serapis.
1794	The U.S. Navy was formally established in a law providing for ship construction.
1798	Congress created the Department of Navy.
1812	The Constitution overwhelmed the British ship Guerriere in the War of 1812; Perry's victory on Lake Erie gave the United States control of the Northwest area.
1814	Steam first was usect to power a warship, the Demologos (rechristened the Fulton).
1845	The Naval School at Annapolis, Md., was founded (renamed United States Naval Academy).
1862	The first battle between the ironclads Monitor and Merrimac (Virginia) marked the end of wooden sailing vessels as warships.
1890	Publication of The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 by Captain Alfred T. Mahan.
1898	The United States fleet crushed the Spanish fleet in the Spanish-American War.
1909	President Theodore Roosevelt's "Great White Fleet," manned by 14,000 sailors and marines, end a 14-month around-the-world cruise that included twenty port calls on six continents.
1911	Naval aviation began: the Navy purchased its first airplane.
1917	The first naval convoy reached France during World War I.
1941	On December 7th the Japanese attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. The U.S. declared war on Japan the following day.
1942	The Pacific fleet turned back a Japanese fleet that threatened Midway island and Hawaii.
1944	In the Battle for Leyte Gulf the Pacific fleet destroyed the Japanese fleet as an effective fighting force.
1946	The Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron (called the Blue Angels) was established.
1947	Department of Defense was established.
1950	During the Korean War an amphibious landing by naval forces at Inchon helped reverse the course of the war.
1954	The USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, was commissioned.
1955	Operation Deep Freeze to Antarctica began.
1958	USS Nautilus, the first nuclear attack submarine, made the first submerged transit of the North Pole.
1960	USS Seadragon made the first submerged transit through the Northwest Passage.
1964	Operation Sea Orbit marked the first world cruise of a task force without refueling or resupplying.
1965	The Sealab II project proved that human beings can live underwater for extended periods.
1969	Navy Fighter Weapons School (called Top Gun) graduated its first class.
1971	First black rear admiral selected.
1972	First woman to achieve flag rank selected.
1976	Women were admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy.
1981	Two F-14 Tomcats from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz shot down two Libyan aircraft, followingan unprovoked attack.
1982	Battleship USS New Jersey recommissioned, followed by the USS Iowa, USS Missouri, and the USS Wisconsin.
1983	Naval and Marine Forces participated in the U.S. invasion of Grenada.
1986	The U.S. Navy conducted retaliatory operations against Libya in response to terrorist attacks.
1987	USS Stark sustained substantial damage and 37 people were killed when it was hit by two missiles while patrolling the Persian Gulf.