About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, U.S. Navy (Military & Defense).

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Overview

Master-at-Arms (MA) Sailors provide core security, antiterrorism, and law enforcement capability to protect people, installations, ships, and strategic assets. This role includes force protection, physical security, and policing assignments at shore installations, aboard ships, and in expeditionary environments. Candidates with prior law enforcement, corrections, parole, or security experience may qualify for advanced enlistment grades depending on screening.

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Key Responsibilities

• Conduct antiterrorism and force-protection patrols on installations, piers, and waterfronts.
• Stand sentry and manage access control to secure areas.
• Perform vehicle, personnel, and baggage inspections to detect weapons, contraband, or unauthorized items.
• Enforce traffic and parking regulations; respond to calls for service; investigate incidents and traffic accidents.
• Collect and preserve evidence, prepare reports, and maintain case files.
• Provide law-enforcement presence and crowd control during events and emergencies.
• Operate and maintain small arms, crew-served weapons, non-lethal weapons, and security vehicles or boats.
• Support harbor/waterside security, high-value escorts, and expeditionary security missions.
• Supervise and train junior security personnel in watchstanding, weapons, and security procedures.

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What to Expect

Work is safety-critical and often armed; attention to detail, sound judgment, and professionalism are essential. Expect rotating shifts (including nights, weekends, and holidays) to provide 24/7 coverage. You will face stressful or emergency situations that require calm decision-making and strong communication. Ongoing qualification and re‑qualification in weapons, use-of-force, tactical skills, and physical fitness are required. Career progression can lead to roles such as patrol supervisor, watch commander, kennel master, or investigator.

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Work Environment

Assignments may include U.S. and overseas Navy installations, aircraft carriers and other ships, expeditionary security units, and strategic facilities. Typical work locations include bases, piers, flight lines, patrol vehicles, kennels, armories, and security operations centers. Some tours are overseas or dependent-restricted and may count as sea duty. Work often involves close integration with other security forces, Marine units, investigative services, and joint or host-nation partners.

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Pathways, Training & Advancement

• Recruit Training followed by Master-at-Arms “A” School where you learn law enforcement fundamentals, weapons handling, antiterrorism, and security operations.
• On-the-job qualification via Personnel Qualification Standards, watchstations, and unit training.
• Advanced schools and Navy Enlisted Classifications (NECs) such as Military Working Dog Handler, Kennel Master, Harbor Security Coxswain, Corrections Specialist, Small Arms Instructor, Crew-Served Weapons Instructor, Protective Service Specialist, and Criminal Investigator.
• Career-long leadership development, warfare qualifications, and senior-enlisted programs available as you advance.

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Minimum Qualifications

All enlistment programs require meeting general service standards; additional screening and requirements apply for law-enforcement duties:

• Eligibility to serve in the United States Navy (citizenship or legal residency/work status as allowed by current policy).
• High school diploma or equivalent for enlisted positions.
• Meet age, medical, vision, dental, body composition, and physical fitness standards.
• Meet character and conduct standards, including background screening suitable for armed law-enforcement duties.
• Achieve required test scores (e.g., ASVAB for enlisted programs).
• Eligibility for a security clearance when required by the billet.

Additional role-specific qualifications: clean legal history appropriate for armed law enforcement, ability to qualify with small arms and other weapons, comfort working in uniformed policing roles, willingness to work rotating shifts, deploy, and accept sea-duty or overseas assignments when required.

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Education, Pay & Benefits

Education benefits are available through standard Navy programs such as Tuition Assistance, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, ACE-recommended college credit for training, Navy COOL certifications, and apprenticeship programs — specific options depend on status and policy.

Pay, benefits, and service commitments follow standard Navy active-duty and reserve policies and include basic pay, allowances (when eligible), health coverage, and retirement options. Exact entitlements, special pays, and service obligations vary by component, rank, years of service, and current law or guidance.

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Incentives

Bonuses, special pays, and loan repayment programs may be available for specific ratings or at certain times. Incentives change frequently and are not guaranteed. Confirm current incentives and eligibility with an official recruiter or authoritative source.

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Notes & Legal/Policy Disclaimers

This description is an overview of typical duties, training, and opportunities and does not replace official instructions, policies, or contracts. It does not guarantee specific assignments, training, incentives, or outcomes. Actual opportunities depend on organizational needs, individual performance, screening results, and current law and policy. This position requires military service.

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.