Is It an Advantage to Be an Experienced Rescue/deep-Water Diver Before Going Into the Military?
How much would it help to have extensive diving experience and certifications, including rescue and paramedic-level diving medicine experience, along with undersea caving and shipwreck recovery experience?
Would this be of any use at all?
This would include formal training in underwater welding, too.
As far as the Navy is concerned, not a damn thing. Qualifications in the civilian world does not count toward qualifications in the Navy. You can have all of the qualifications in the world; but once you get to Dive School, you start out like everyone else. Also, rebreather is, generally, not used in the civilian.
People with diving experience tend to do one of two things (or both): 1) brag about it and annoy the $hit out of the instructors (and they will ride you harder) and everyone else, or 2) excel during dive training/job. Also, people with experience tend to have habits that can either be good or bad for the job in the military (habits die hard).
It could really only help in the navy if you went to Seal school, or Navy rescue diver training.
You will be useful in Search & Rescue.
I know they go anywhere and anytime.