SEAL Officer

The intricate machinery aboard a nuclear-powered submarine is complex-but managing the intricacies between the people demands just as much expertise. Submarine Officers hold leadership roles in every department on a submarine. Whether you are managing the nuclear reactor plant aboard or driving the vessel through the depths of the sea, you're always leading by example. Every decision is a reflection of your judgement, so you must have the courage to trust it.

Ultimately, it is your job to manage your team and help keep your missions on track.

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What to Expect

Submarine Officer

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Responsibilities

Submarine Officers are involved in all aspects of submarine operations from supervising the reactor plant to running the ship both in port and  could be in charge of any of the following:

Operating a nuclear reactor, power generation and propulsion systems Maintaining onboard weapons systems Managing all life support systems Driving the ship and charting its position Operating sonar, radar, fire control, communications and specialized mission equipment

Work Environment

Submarine Officers are exposed to a variety of different work environments, from academic classroom settings, to training on prototype units, to sea tours and shore assignments. Deployments on Navy submarines last a few to several months and include conducting missions vital to national security. Learn more about life on a sub.

Training & Advancement

Upon graduation from college, the formal training process of becoming an officer in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion program is officially underway. For those going the Submarine Officer route, the first step is Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Newport, RI. OCS is a program that provides a comprehensive and intense introduction to the responsibilities of Navy Officers over the course of approximately three months.

Upon completion of OCS, newly commissioned Ensigns move on to receive the advanced training that is at the core of Navy Nuclear Propulsion, starting with

Naval Nuclear Power School (NNPS)

in Charleston, SC. This 24-week graduate-level course of intensive study covers a variety of science and technology-based subjects from calculus, to thermodynamics to electrical engineering to reactor dynamics. NNPS provides the foundational knowledge necessary for a theoretical understanding of nuclear propulsion.

From there, Submarine Officers attend

Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) , often referred to as Prototype, in either Charleston, SC, or Ballston Spa, NY. This 26-week course of instruction involves hands-on training with several operational reactor prototypes. Here, officers apply the concepts learned at Nuclear Power School - studying systems and components of a nuclear propulsion plant and working with all the associated systems of a full-scale operating plant.

The training culminates with qualification as Engineering Officer of the Watch.

Next comes the

Submarine Officer Basic Course (SOBC) , a 12-week course of instruction located in Groton, CT. There, officers learn all about submarine operations, including safety, damage control, seamanship and sonar systems along with the responsibilities of leading an advanced submarine crew as a division officer before reporting to an assigned submarine.

The roughly 15 months of shore-based training ends with an assignment as a Division Officer on a submarine, managing a team of highly trained Enlisted Submariners. Officers work toward a rigorous submarine qualification program that culminates in being designated as "Qualified in Submarines," earning the right to wear the coveted Gold Dolphins insignia and take on all the responsibilities that go with it.

Typically, this is a 32-month tour alternating between deployments, patrols, various ports of call around the world, as well as periods of time at home port conducting maintenance, training, local operations or taking leave.

After the Division Officer/Junior Officer sea tour comes a shore assignment lasting approximately two years. During this period, Officers fill positions anywhere from Nuclear Power School to Prototype to Submarine School. They may be selected to serve on high-level staffs or strategic projects, or further their education by taking advantage of the many graduate school opportunities the Navy has to offer.

The ultimate goal for many is to one day command their own submarine.

In addition, Submarine Officers who choose to continue their time as a submariner can earn up to an additional $40,000/year as a Department Head.

As a Submarine Officer, you will also earn eventual qualification as Prospective Nuclear Engineering Officer (PNEO) - a Department of Energy certification recognized by the civilian nuclear power industry and an impressive item for your résumé following your time in the Navy.

Post-Service Opportunities

With a career as a Submarine Officer, you will have incredible post-service prospects. The highly-selective nature of the…