An affinity group is a group of people who have a natural attraction to one another, know one another's strengths and weaknesses, provide support to each other, and often work in the same field or organization. Many affinity groups exist in the Navy and are helpful in enabling service members to adjust more quickly to the Navy and have successful military careers. The Navy supports participation in affinity groups and has endorsed several over the past decades.

Service members electing to join affinity groups frequently do so because they share common background, cultural or formative experiences. Affinity groups have the inherent ability to invoke trust, openness, and a sense of responsibility in their members. For example, membership in an affinity group can provide a neutral forum for Sailors to receive guidance in issues such as career difficulties, choices that may impact advancement, and decisions concerning life-work balance. Affinity groups provide opportunities to develop mentoring relationships with someone of a similar background, or with specific concerns related to the affinity group’s focus. They also provide a means for Sailors to conduct outreach, engage in professional development activities, and develop a richer sense of esprit de corps.

There are many affinity groups around the country with respected charters. The pages listed on the left have links to a number of them, but do not contain an exhaustive list. There are also some you can find here.