Military Service - U.S. Navy, Culinary Specialist
Full-Time

United States Navy
New York, NY


Posted March 10, 2026

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Overview
Culinary Specialists operate and manage Navy dining and lodging services, planning menus, preparing meals, managing inventories and records, and contributing directly to crew morale and readiness at sea and ashore, including support to high visibility executive food service when selected.
Key Responsibilities
Plan menus and order subsistence; prepare and serve meals in galleys, mess decks, and wardrooms; manage storerooms, inventories, and financial records; operate and maintain kitchen and dining spaces; lead food production teams and supervise sanitation and food safety; support executive dining services and protocol events and perform in flight food service duties when assigned.
What to Expect
Fast paced food service operations with strict sanitation, safety, and quality standards; team focused environment with rotating schedules that align to ship and base operations; hands on culinary production and customer service with periods of high volume and special events; opportunities to work in both large cafeteria style operations and small executive dining venues.
Work Environment
Work in galleys and dining facilities aboard surface ships and submarines and in shore based dining facilities and lodging operations; operate across a range of venues from large mess decks to small wardrooms and executive dining spaces; deploy worldwide with ships and units and support food service in both afloat and ashore environments.
Pathways, Training & Advancement
Recruit Training followed by accession training and on the job qualification in galley operations, food preparation, baking, serving, and records management; Culinary Specialist A School may be waived based on pipeline needs, with Sailors qualifying through unit training and formal courses as available; progressive advancement through roles such as watch captain, leading Culinary Specialist, and opportunities for special programs such as Executive Services, Enlisted Aide, and Instructor duty.
Enlist as a Culinary Specialist and complete accession training, with rating assignment and formal schooling sequenced based on service needs; compete for special duty programs, including Executive Services and Instructor tours, after gaining fleet food service experience and strong performance marks.
Qualifications
All Navy jobs require meeting general enlistment or commissioning standards, which typically include:
Eligibility to serve in the United States Navy, which may involve United States citizenship or other legal residency and work status, depending on the program and current law and policy
A high school diploma or equivalent for enlisted positions, and a bachelor’s or qualifying professional degree for officer positions
Meeting age limits that vary by program and are set in law and Navy policy. Some communities have more restrictive age ranges
Meeting medical, vision, and dental standards, including body composition and physical fitness requirements, with some jobs requiring more demanding standards
Meeting character and conduct standards, including background screening
Achieving required test scores for your program, such as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery for enlisted roles or officer qualification tests for officer programs
Eligibility for a security clearance when required for your rating or designator
Additional qualifications can include specific skills, education, licensure, or experience that are unique to a job or community and will be reviewed with you by a recruiter.
Additional qualifications for this job may include:
Team orientation with good communication and customer service skills; solid arithmetic and record keeping ability for inventory and financial management; interest in culinary arts, nutrition, and food safety; attention to detail and ability to follow recipes, portioning, and sanitation procedures; ability to meet Navy enlistment standards and work safely in hot and fast paced galley environments.
Education
Education benefits are available through standard Navy programs such as Tuition Assistance, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, ACE-recommended college credit for Navy training, Navy COOL-funded certifications, USMAP apprenticeships, and other Navy College Program opportunities. Specific options depend on the Sailor’s status, training, and current Navy policy.
Pay, Benefits & Service
Pay, benefits, and service commitments follow standard Navy Active and/or Reserve policies for this type of role, including basic pay, allowances when eligible, health coverage, and retirement options. Exact entitlements, special pays, and service obligations depend on program, component, years of service, and current law and Navy guidance.
Incentives
Incentives such as bonuses, special pays, and loan repayment may be available at times for specific ratings or communities, but they change frequently and cannot be guaranteed. Applicants must confirm current incentives and eligibility with an official Navy recruiter or authoritative Navy source.
Notes and Disclaimers
This description is a general overview of typical duties, training, and opportunities in this community. It does not replace official Navy instructions, policies, or contracts and does not guarantee specific assignments, training, incentives, or outcomes. Actual opportunities depend on Navy needs, individual performance, screening results, and current law and policy.

This job requires military service with a contract as a commissioned officer in the Navy. The application is for a specific position within the Navy.

United States Navy

WHAT IS THE NAVY? Since 1775, America’s Navy has maintained freedom of the seas. Not only for our nation, but for our allies and strategic partners. We are the most powerful Navy in the world. We are here to preserve the peace, respond in crisis and win decisively in war. We operate around the world, from seabed to space, in cyberspace and the information environment to secure our nation. But what does that really mean? As the threats to our nation grow, we are tasked with defending our homeland. We’re here to deliver decisive combat power when necessary to win at war. It means our ships are here to keep shipping lanes open, so packages can across the ocean without interruption. Our submarines defend the fiber-optic cables on the sea floor, so your internet connection remains strong. Naval aviators keep the skies clear and deliver critical strikes when needed. In cyberspace, our teams defend our nation’s networks, developing new strategies to win in the online battlefield. Most importantly, we train the best and brightest warfighters to serve as Sailors aboard our vessels and on bases around the world. In America’s Navy, we’re always on watch so you never have to be. A U.S. Navy patrol boat from Coastal Riverine Squadron (CRS) 1 transfers supplies to the USS Texas (SSN 775), a Virginia-class fast-attack submarine. OUR LEGACY The United States Navy was officially authorized by the Continental Congress on October 13, 1775 in the midst of the American Revolution. Despite having just a small fleet of 27 ships and enduring overwhelming odds, the Navy had success in defending our shores for freedom. Two hundred and fifty years later, we have developed into the world’s largest and most powerful naval force. The modern Navy of today is made up of hundreds of ships, including aircraft carriers, submarines, and a variety of surface ships and thousands of aircraft. The USS Constitution, the U.S. Navy's oldest commissioned warship sails during a heritage event. We continue to lead the world in technological advancements, with many of our Sailors being responsible for inventions in computer coding, engineering, nuclear propulsion, radar, sonar and even the beginnings of the modern internet. Sailors have explored and mapped every corner of the planet, from the Antarctic coastline to the deepest parts of the sea — a U.S. Navy Sailor was even the first person to walk on the moon. WHO CAN YOU BECOME? Every Sailor in the U.S. Navy lives by the core values of “Honor, Courage and Commitment.” As an all-volunteer force, we are made up of men and women who represent America. Earning your place among us takes strength, skill and determination to become a better version of yourself. Becoming a Sailor in the Navy means becoming one of our technicians, nuclear engineers, aviators, logistics managers, construction specialists and special operators. Each of our Navy communities is trained to accomplish a specific important role that is part of our larger Navy mission. These communities foster a sense of teamwork and camaraderie that you won’t find anywhere else — Sailors up and down the chain of command always have each other’s backs whether they’re on or off duty. A U.S. Navy Sailor directs an aircraft on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The jobs that we offer can also easily translate to the civilian world after service, with roles in nuclear engineering, STEM, mechanics and even computer science and IT. You can gain certifications in the role of your choice and even come away with security clearances, money for college and leadership skills that few in the civilian world can claim. Most importantly, serving as this team of men and women can help make you the strongest version of yourself.
Address New York, NY 10007
Property Type Regional Office
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