Naval Infantry.

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Naval infantry. NOT to be confused with Marines. From Strategy Page:

"Morale: Sailors Serving As Soldiers Has Changed The Navy"

"Since September 11, 2001 over 78,000 U.S. Navy sailors have served as 'IAs,' (individual augmentees), overseas, mainly with the U.S. Army, in combat areas. Most (69 percent) served between 2001 and 2006, the periods of most intensive combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. While most IAs are glad to get back to their navy jobs many have grown nostalgic for what amounted to the most exciting, and often scary, time they have spent in uniform. Some had to stand guard duty on the perimeter of bases that were attacked from time to time. Others volunteered to do that, or the even riskier job of convoy security. While IAs served as support personnel, and had a much lower casualty rate than combat troops (like marines or army infantry) there was no mistaking that they were in a combat zone."

The American sailor picking up a rifle and going ashore to fight as infantry if called upon. In these particular cases performing guard duty or convoy protection. NOT necessarily combat arms personnel but pretty close.

Sailor in olden times [days of sail] expected at an instant to be able to repel boarders, fight at close-quarters-combat, fists, boots, cutlass, pistol, etc.

Those days gone for quite a while, that modern sailor seen as an artificer, a technician, a heavy machine operator.

Personnel [the IA] I might think too highly motivated individuals with some guts and a willingness to perform yeoman work regardless of the task. Even dangerous tasks. Good for them.

coolbert.