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Navy Rating · Engineering

BU Builder

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

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Overview

Builders construct and repair wood, metal, concrete, and masonry structures, perform carpentry and finishing work, place concrete, and maintain carpentry shops. They also build and repair airfields and waterfront structures, demolish or erect structures, estimate labor and materials, and perform construction tasks during combat and humanitarian assistance and disaster recovery operations.

Minimum ASVAB: AR+MC+AS 145 or VE+AR+MK+AO 209

ASVAB policy: Not policy-reviewed · coverage unknown · as of 2026-10-19

Program scope has not been reviewed.

Policy applicability and coverage of the program's score routes have not been reviewed. Shown-route arithmetic is not an eligibility decision.

Source: milpersman-1306-618-rating-list-2026-04 (source date 2026-04). Policy applicability has not been established.

See if you would hit this score: free ASVAB practice test

Core Skills

  • Airfield and waterfront structure repair
  • Construction material and labor estimating
  • Concrete formwork, placement, and finishing
  • Carpentry shop operation and maintenance

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Carpenters

BU experience in rough and finished carpentry, wood structure repair, and carpentry shop operations directly overlaps civilian carpentry work.

How to prepare: Prepare a work portfolio showing framing, finish carpentry, and material estimates for review with a prospective employer.

What the civilian work involves
  • Assemble and fasten materials to make frameworks or props, using hand tools and wood screws, nails, dowel pins, or glue.
  • Study specifications in blueprints, sketches, or building plans to prepare project layout and determine dimensions and materials required.
  • Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Craftsman CD Estimator

Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

BU duties include building and placing forms and mixing, placing, and finishing concrete, closely matching civilian concrete work.

How to prepare: Arrange a hands-on skills assessment with a concrete contractor covering form alignment, placement, and surface finishing.

What the civilian work involves
  • Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
  • Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.
  • Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.

Brickmasons and Blockmasons

BU experience building and repairing masonry structures provides a direct foundation for civilian brick and block construction.

How to prepare: Arrange a practical assessment with a masonry contractor to identify gaps in brick and block layout, mortar application, and course alignment.

What the civilian work involves
  • Measure distance from reference points and mark guidelines to lay out work, using plumb bobs and levels.
  • Apply and smooth mortar or other mixture over work surface.
  • Calculate angles and courses and determine vertical and horizontal alignment of courses.

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (4 documents)
  1. NAVPERS 18068F Vol I (NEOCS, Jan 2026 edition): BUILDER (BU)

    [1] Rating chapter "SCOPE OF RATING"; cached text line 19347; NAVPERS 18068F Vol I, 2026-01 edition

    Supports: Airfield and waterfront structure repair, Construction material and labor estimating, Concrete formwork, placement, and finishing, Carpentry shop operation and maintenance, Carpenters (O*NET 47-2031.00), Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (O*NET 47-2051.00), Brickmasons and Blockmasons (O*NET 47-2021.00)

  2. O*NET: Carpenters

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Carpenters (O*NET 47-2031.00)

  3. O*NET: Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers

    [3] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers (O*NET 47-2051.00)

  4. O*NET: Brickmasons and Blockmasons

    [4] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Brickmasons and Blockmasons (O*NET 47-2021.00)

Defense contractor jobs for BU

Predecessor codes

Historical codes with documented links to BU. Each history page explains the change.

CM(CBB)Carpenter's Mate (CB) (Builders)

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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