A diver a member of the NBP?

[labattblue]

Sorry to bring this up as I have seen the subject has been brought up many times, and Ex-Dragoon has said on many occasions any trade in the Navy can aplly for the Naval boarding party, but can a Diver be a member too? I'm sorry, I know this subject has been discussed to death, all Im looking for is  a Yes/No. Thanks for the help.

 

[SweetNavyJustice]

The answer is unfortunately yes and no.  Let me explain and give background. 
When I was on the ships I was a ships team diver, and acted as one of the boarding party divers in the Gulf. 

Most of the ships are suffering from a lack of qualified divers and there continue to be shortages.  If you take the course, pass, and are one of the ships divers it's not likely that you will be granted a slot on the NBP course.  It's not that you can't ask for it it's just that the ship won't likely let you go on it.  They paid for you to be a diver, so that's what they want you to do.  Never say never though. 

ipso proc ergo proc You are involved with the boarding party as a diver.  Each time the party goes out in the RHIB, they need a diver with them incase one of them tries to go for a swim with all their kit on - but you won't board any vessels with them. 

Hope that answers your question.

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Don't forget anyone can apply but you still must have departmental approval.

 

[Rhibwolf]

Labbattblue, despite the above mentioned proclivities of departments/ships to make the best use of your diving skills (once attained) if you happen to be in a ship with a plethora of divers and a shortage of NBP pers, it is quite possible to do both courses and actually get to be used in both areas.  It depends strictly on circumstance (which ship, which mission, what pers shortfalls, etc) but it is not unheard of. 
One thing to be worried about is the resentment of some of your bosses.  Sometimes they don't like it if you appear to be "playing around" instead of fixing things, shooting things with radar, etc.
btw, as a 031'er, what is your interest? looking for an OT to the jammy half?
Good luck.

 

[Navy_Blue]

I don't know if you realize diver is also a secondary duty??  You can be trained to be both.  So as long as the long divers don't have you in the RHIB and your boss doesn't mind you on the team you can be both just not at the same time.  Flippers make it hard to climb ladders 

 

[SweetNavyJustice]

Just a question for the others out there in the fleet.  It has been said on this board that someone can be both a member of the BP and a STD (man I hate the acronym), and I agree that this is possible based on the fact that there isn't a reg that restricts it; but let me ask this.  Do any of you know someone who was first a qualified diver and was then allowed to do the NBP course? 

I know people who've been on the NBP and then become divers, but NEVER the other way around.  Once a diver you're more or less going to be a diver.  I think this would largely be based on the general shortage of divers in the fleet and the fact that it cost some pretty serious $$ to train you up.  More so then running a NBP course. 

So again, has anyone ever heard of a diver going over to the NBP?

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

I know of 2 guys that are qualified divers that are on the teams.

 

[Rhibwolf]

Sure, one of my Dive Supervisors did it, and as he had rank, he was B1 on the team.  In fact, on that particular dive team, three of my divers were double hatted as NPB members.  It is usually a function of how willing the immediate chain of command (i.e. your POs) is to let you spend lots of time playing.  Trades like Bosn are generally more open to the idea, but tech trades are more difficult to convince.  I cant give you an unbiased opinion on the Log point of view, as I personally am active in this sort of thing and readily support all such requests. My brethren on on other ships may not....
Yours, Aye
Rhibwolf