Interviewing Dr. Lazor

Dr. Lazor is a teacher at JC that teaches psychology and AP psychology. His specialty is in psychology, and he has served in the Navy as a psychologist for sailors. Yesterday I interviewed Mr. Lazor with 5 questions about terminology, since certain terminology such as a phalanx and formations make themselves redundant when compared to Navy, as a phalanx is a type of a formation. Therefore, in an instance about formations I asked him about what types of formations the sailors followed, instead of then asking again about if they had something such as a phalanx formation.

1. In the Roman army, the Legion was the heavy infantry that served as the basic military unit. They were armed with large shields, spears (which were their primary method of combat), and short swords (made short in order to prevent injury to other fellow legionaires). What was the basic soldier the Navy used, and what do you know about them (name, uniform color, how they were dressed)?

First of all, soldiers in the military were not called soldiers, but were called sailors. Most enlisted sailors would wear dungarees and denim shirts. At times, depending on their billet, they might wear khakis or whites. Officers would wear whites, khakis or dark blue, depending on the time of the year or the geographical position.



2. Artillery were units that would discharge missiles across the battlefield in order to combat enemy armies from far away. Roman armies generally used archers and spear throwers to launch missiles against the enemy, but they also designed apparatus that would be more efficient as well, such as the ballista. What were some different types of artillery weapons that were involved in the navy that you know of?

Navy units have a lot of artillary, but this varies depending on submarine, surface or air. Submarines still carry ballistic nuclear weapons which were big in the cold war era. Surface ships could have anti-submarine artillary, anti-air artillary, etc. Navy air had many functions.



3. The Infantry of the Roman armies were characterized by the legions divided into different auxiliaries. Different Soldiers supplied different functions on the battlefield, and were organized into different formations (cohorts). Nowadays infantry has become mechanized to defend more vulnerable soldiers moving about. Do soldiers in the Navy ever have to get organized into cohorts such as the Roman army did, and can you give an example of a formation?

I don't think there was anything in the Navy like a Roman cohort, nor was there calvary. Navy air squadrons might be the closest, and these could be based on land (Naval Air Station) or at sea (aircraft carrier).



4. Cavalry were an essential part in the Roman army as well. Mounted on horses, these soldiers were designed to sweep up the remaining enemy soldiers left and to flank them from the back by riding from behind their positions. Are there any examples of heavy vehicles today that serve as cavalry would? Perhaps any vehicles nicknamed cavalry?

Like all services, the Navy was divided into enlisted and officers. Junior enlisted were E1--E6. Senior enlisted are chief petty officers, and these are the guys who really run the navy.



5. The Roman legion displayed a ranking system to distinguish the leaders among the army from everyone else, and so that everyone else has a determined role in the army. For example, the Legatus Legionis was the overall legion commander, being the top of the Military under Julius Caesar. The Munifex was the lowest rank, comparable to the basic private in modern military. What was the ranking system organized like in the Navy, and where would you fit in?

Navy SEALS, who are special forces types, are probably one of the most important parts of the Navy today.