Is MN (Mineman) a Good Rating?

AIT / Training

12 weeks

Training Location

Great Lakes, IL

Career Field

Expeditionary Warfare

What the Recruiter Says

As a Mineman, you'll prepare, maintain, and deploy naval mines and mine countermeasure systems — controlling the undersea battlespace with precision weapons that shape entire theaters of operations. You'll become an expert in explosive ordnance handling, underwater weapons systems, and mine warfare tactics that are increasingly vital to national defense.

What It's Actually Like

You are a Mineman, which means you work with naval mines — both laying them and sweeping them — and your job exists at the intersection of 'nobody thinks about this' and 'this could end a war.' Mine warfare is the oldest form of naval warfare and the most neglected, which means your community is small, underfunded, and absolutely critical when the balloon goes up. You'll maintain, deploy, and counter mines with equipment that ranges from cutting-edge to Cold War vintage. Your expertise is rare and your civilian career in ordnance or defense is well-paved because not many people know what you know. The mine warfare community is tight because there aren't enough of you, and everyone who's in it knows why it matters.