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History
The rate, Hull Maintenance Technician (HT), has only existed in the United States Navy since 1972. Prior to that the rate HT was split into four different rates including Plumber, Shipfitter, Metalsmith, and Pipefitter. The history of these different rates is shown through the current rating badge of the HT. It consists of a maul; (consistent with the shipfitters and metalsmiths), an axe; (showing an in depth knowledge of firefighting and damage control), and the carpenters square; (which displays an ability to design as well as construct anything the ship may need). During the 1960’s to 1980’s Treasure Island was home to the Navy’s damage control (DC) school as well as the Nuclear, Biological, Radiological, and Chemical Warfare (CBRD) school, both primary schools of new HT’s. Treasure Island is off the coast of California, near San Francisco. Treasure Island continued to train new sailors in the art of damage control until the base was decommissioned in 1996. As of 2015, Damage Control school is in Great Lakes, IL, and is on the same base as BECC; (Basic Engineering Common Core), and other A schools. From 1972 to 1988 HT’s assumed all the duties and responsibilities of the Damage Controlman rating. Even though the names merged into just HT, the responsibilities to the Navy did not lessen. HT’s now had to go to their primary A school in Philadelphia to learn the HT side, and then onto Treasure Island to learn the DC and CBRD side, then onto San Diego to learn the welding, brazing, and sheet metal work. By 1988 the Navy realized that damage control is such a large responsibility, they needed a rating specifically tasked with its’ duties, hence the reemergence of the Damage Controlman in 1988.

A-Schools
The following are all the prerequisites needed to select HT as your rating. An ASVAB score of 150 or higher, normal color perception, normal hearing, US citizenship, and the ability to obtain a security clearance background check. The background security clearance is only required because as an HT one might be required to work in “secured” spaces. Once the prerequisites have been met the first step is boot camp in Great Lakes, IL. Immediately following boot camp, new sailors start their A school’s. All engineering sailors go through a 10 week Basic Engineering Common Core (BECC), which is also in Great Lakes, IL. At BECC students will learn the basic’s of engineering in the US Navy. Here sailors will learn damage control, piping systems, valves, basic engines, and much more. After BECC HT’s will head to their HT A school, which is on the same base as BECC, and is 6 weeks in length. Here sailors learn drafting, blueprint reading, quality assurance, hand tools, sheet metal work, welding, brazing, pipefitting, cutting, metal identification, piping systems, measurements, shop safety, and shipboard sanitation systems.

Everyday Life of an HT
An HT’s job in the Navy is usually very broad and sometimes challenging. An HT is the “jack of all trades” and must be willing to learn new skills and adapt to the situation. An HT is expected to keep the sewage system in perfect working condition, conduct metal work/fabrication/welding, be able to fix/repair/replace any equipment on the ship, as well as be an integral part of the ship’s damage control efforts. According to Navy Personnel Command an HT’s duties include, but are not limited to, installing, maintaining and repairing valves, piping, plumbing system fittings and fixtures, and marine sanitation systems. In an interview, Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd class Jeremy Witt, from Resxeville, Michigan, “"If someone would get as dirty as we do, it may be one of the worst days of their life, but for us, it's just a typical Tuesday. We don't enjoy working on some of the nastier plumbing, but we're not bothered by it the way we used to be.". HT’s have to be prepared to get dirty, solve out of the ordinary problems, and be willing to learn new things in order to get the mission accomplished. One of the ships that an HT may be assigned to is the USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53). The JPJ is currently stationed in San Diego,CA, on 32nd Street Naval Base. Picture taken during the holidays by Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class David Chase, from Omaha, Nebraska.