Do Army SM ever serve on USN ships?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 15:25:19 -0500

I'm curious and maybe a little ignorant, but it seems like the US Army has rarely used ships to transport Army personnel, well except in cases like Normandy of course, and even Vietnam...but why is this? If you were Army and did some time on a USS, try to explain what made your case unique or different. Seems a huge waste of resources is all.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2015 3:24 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 15:24:22 -0500

army has ships supposedly more than the navy, and you can get a sea service ribbon. now on a navy ship, I don't know but I am sure it happens

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2015 3:32 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 15:32:52 -0500

Certain MOS's, like MI, MIGHT end up someplace like a Submarine if the mission warrants it. I was on Submarines and I think I might've seen some folks from other services (Army, Air Force) onboard from time to time, or not, I can't really say, lol...

I'm sure that IF this were to occur, they'd probably be called Riders and IF they were onboard different vessels for more than 2 year cumulative time, they'd probably earn the Army Sea Service Ribbon.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 3 at 2015 3:34 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 15:34:26 -0500

Certainly. I have a cumulative two years at sea and every time I was out there were Soldiers aboard, generally Rangers, SF, or SFOD..

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jan 3 at 2015 3:36 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 15:36:11 -0500

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member, this Wikipedia article indicates that the Army currently operates 50 ships.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ships_of_the_United_States_Army

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jan 3 at 2015 3:39 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 15:39:02 -0500

I know AF pilots can serve on Navy ships who are part of the officer exchange program. The AF also maintains a small fleet of boats.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Jan 4 at 2015 1:14 AM

SSG Tim Everett — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 01:14:10 -0500

I didn't "serve" on a USN ship or boat. But in the course of servING, I've been on ships with my gear.

Response by SPC Salvatore De Angelis made May 8 at 2017 8:48 PM

SPC Salvatore De Angelis — Mon, 08 May 2017 20:48:49 -0400

Army sent me stateside fro Germany on the USS ROSE in 1963.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2017 10:52 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 May 2017 22:52:22 -0400

The Army uses LCU 2000s here in the Pacific to transport equipment and supplies both from Oahu to the Big Island (PTA) for training events since there is not a lot of real estate here to train on, and from Hawaii to other islands in the Pacific for logistic support. Believe it or not, we have a lot of assets spread out here. Its cheaper than airlifting, and since we use them almost exclusively for army equipment we don't have to use Navy resources.

Response by SFC Rick Lewis made May 11 at 2017 1:21 PM

SFC Rick Lewis — Thu, 11 May 2017 13:21:05 -0400

I was on the LaJolla for a sub rescue exercise off of S.Korea. I was preceded by many Soldiers who may have used her for water insertion. Nothing like fling under water.

Response by CPT Robert Boshears made Aug 3 at 2017 12:18 PM

CPT Robert Boshears — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 12:18:48 -0400

The Army has (or used to) has more vessels than the US Navy... most are transfer or tugs. But, we do have boats/ships.

Response by CPT Robert Boshears made Jan 27 at 2019 1:03 AM

CPT Robert Boshears — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 01:03:47 -0500

The US Army did/have more water craft than the US Navy and more aircraft than the US Air Force (these stats are old... like my MACV time). I commanded a large detatchment; Army, Navy, Marines and two Seals. We had two transfer tugs... Army tugs.