SONAR Technicians are responsible for operating SONAR systems, underwater fire control systems, and supporting equipment on surface ships such as destroyers and cruisers. STGs are also responsible for undersea surveillance, and aid in safe navigation and search-and-rescue operations. They use equipment to detect, analyze and locate targets of interest. YEARS OF SERVICE CAREER MILESTONES AVERAGE TIME TO ADVANCE COMMISSIONING OR OTHER SPECIAL PROGRAMS 25-30 STGCM 20.2 Yrs CSEL, ENLISTED COMM. MGR, ACINT 21-25 STGCM STGCS 18-21 STGCM STGCS STGC 15-18 STGCS STGC 20.2 Yrs 17.1 20.5 Yrs 17.1 14.4 17.1 Yrs 14.4 CSEL ACINT, ACADEMY CWO, CSEL, ACINT INSTRUCTOR, ACADEMY, ENLISTED COMM. MGR CWO, CSEL, ACINT, ACADEMY SEA/SHORE FLOW TYPICAL CAREER PATH DEVELOPMENT 36 4 th Shore Tour Billet: ECM, INSTRUCTOR Duty: BUPERS, NOPF, FLEASWTRA, UWDC, ATG, ONI. 36 4 th Sea Tour Billet: STAFF STG, ACINT, DLCPO. Duty: DESRON, ONI, CRUDES Qualification: ASWE, CSC, TAO, ACINT. 36 3 rd Shore Tour Billet: ECM, LEAD ANALYST, LEAD EVALUATOR, ACINT DLCPO, CURRICULUM DEV., SENIOR INST. Duty: UWDC, IUSS, CNET, FLEASWTRA, ATG, CSCS, TSC, CUS, ONI Qualification: ACINT. 48 3 rd Sea Tour Billet: LCPO, DLCPO ONI. Qualification: SONAR SUP., ASWE, SUWC, CSC, ACINT. 12-15 STGC STG1 9-12 STG1 STG2 14.4 Yrs 8.1 8.1 Yrs 3.6 LDO, CWO, ACINT, INSTRUCTOR, RDC, RECRUITER, DETAILER LDO, CWO, OCS, MECP, ACINT, 36 2 nd Shore Tour Billet: INSTRUCTOR, ACINT, RECRUITER, RDC, ACOUSTIC ANALYST. Duty: FLEASWTRA, CSCS, TSC, IUSS, CUS, NRD, RTC, ATG, NPC. Qualification: WATCH SUP., ACINT, MTS, ATS. 54 2 nd Sea Tour Billet: LPO, LCPO, SONAR SUP. CVN Qualification: CSOOW, SONAR SUP. ASWE, ASWC, SUWC. 1
YEARS OF SERVICE CAREER MILESTONES AVERAGE TIME TO ADVANCE COMMISSIONING OR OTHER SPECIAL PROGRAMS 6-9 STG2 3.6 Yrs. STA-21, OCS, MECP, Instructor, RDC, Recruiter SEA/SHORE FLOW TYPICAL CAREER PATH DEVELOPMENT 36 1 st Shore Tour Billet: Instructor, RDC, Recruiting, RMC/Tech Rep, IUSS. Duty: CSCS, TSC, RTC, NRD, ATG. Qualification: MTS, ATS, RINC. 2-6 STG2 STG3 1+/- STG3 STGSN STGSA Accession Training 3.6 Yrs 1.5 STA-21, Naval Academy, NROTC 54 1 st Sea Tour Billet: ASW Operator, ASW Technician. CVN. Qualification: WCS, Area Sup, CSMC. 9 Months Recruit A and C School. Notes: 1. A School is required. 2. FDNF Sea/Shore duty tours should be considered career enhancing. These are extremely arduous, with ship underway time and TAD from shore billets well above CONUS average. 3. Tours at NPC and BUPERS require special screening. 4. Tour at BUPERS 3 as an Enlisted Community Manager or Enlisted Community Manager Technical Adviser is a highly competitive tour requiring thorough understanding of the Rating and manning and manpower policies. ECMs handle multiple ratings affecting thousands of Sailors, adjudicate Career Waypoints applications, develop and present advancement, school quotas, accession and strength policies and initiatives for community health. 5. STGs serving at an IUSS site can complete the requirement to wear the IUSS breast insignia. 6. Integrated Under Sea Surveillance System (IUSS), Naval Ocean Processing Facility (NOPF), and Commander, Under Sea Surveillance (CUS) are considered career enhancing duties. 7. Acronyms a. SONAR- SOund NAvigation and Ranging b. IUSS Integrated Undersea Surveillance System c. NOPF Naval Ocean Processing Facility d. SURTASS- Surveillance Undersea Reconnaissance Towed Array SONAR System e. ACINT- Acoustic Intelligence 2
The CNO sponsored ACINT Specialist Program is comprised of one NEC, (ST-0416) with the following duties and responsibilities: ACINT Specialist (ST-0416) E6-E9. CNO sponsored, closed loop, special program within Naval Intelligence Community. ACINT Specialists serve as the primary ASW advisor to Commanding Officers of Surface Ships, Submarines, Strike Group ASW Commanders, and CTF staff they are responsible for providing operational tactical Acoustic Intelligence (ACINT) support. Through extensive training, experience, and knowledge of worldwide naval platform acoustics, tactics, and operational capabilities, ACINT Specialists are required to make sound tactical recommendations to Commanding Officers and supported Commanders during operations vital to national security. 1. The nature by which the ACINT Specialist Program recruits candidates at the E-6 or junior E-7 level often precludes them from serving as a LPO/LCPO at sea. The very fact that they completed required special screening and were selected as an ACINT Specialist candidate identifies them as exceptional leaders and technicians as directly observed by a seasoned ACINT Specialist under arduous real world at sea conditions. 2. The degree of responsibility given to a qualified independent duty ACINT Specialist is extraordinary. The ACINT Specialist is a direct advisor to the Commanding Officer, Commodore, or Flag ASW Commander on all matters relating to ship s/force positioning/posture to optimize acoustic collection and detection. Additionally, the ACINT Specialist provides real-time analysis of acoustic signatures to provide the commander with the most accurate tactical assessment of the contact s operations and tactics. ACOUSTIC INTELLIGENCE (ACINT) SPECIALIST PROGRAM SELECTION BOARD INFORMATION SHEET Key Points: 1. ACINT Specialists are handpicked from only the top performing Fleet Sonar Technicians. This CNO special program requires that only the most knowledgeable and competent individuals be accepted. 2. ACINT Specialist duty is voluntary and conducted under extremely arduous conditions. 3. Upon completion of a highly rigorous and intense 18-24 month qualification program, an individual is qualified for independent duty as an ACINT Specialist. 4. ACINT Specialists are the recognized experts throughout the Navy in all facets of ASW operations. 5. Commodores and Commanding Officers continually cite ACINT Specialist s ability to provide mentoring and a strong example of leadership to all levels of their crew, along with being the integral component in successful ASW operations. 6. ACINT Specialists are managed as a community, but advance within their source rating. 7. Effective ACINT Specialist Program Sea/Shore rotation computes to 72/36. 8. ACINT Specialists comprise a very small elite community (<25 Surface Sonarmen). Consequently, members may be detailed involuntarily because of the needs of the program. The result: Career paths may not fit standard Sea/Shore rotation. In addition to the above career path, an STG is advanced due to their proven leadership, performance, and qualifications. Considerations for advancement from E6 to E7 Qualified (I/P) OOD, CSOOW, Duty Dept. Head; (U/W) ASWC,CSOOW, SONAR SUP COND II, QUAL CERT Advanced Qualifications (I/P) ATTWO; (U/W) ASWE, SUWC At least one warfare qualification (duty station dependent) Training Team member (Primary CSTT Technical and Tactical) (ATTT, VBSS, and ITT) SURTASS Tactical Coordinator 3
Asst. Command Collateral for major program (ie: DAPA, CFL, ESWS) First Class Mess involvement CPO 365 Phase I involvement and leading a committee Assistant Watch Bill Coordinator, Assistant Duty Section Leader DESRON (I/P) SDO, (U/W) Staff Tactical Watch Assistant/Officer STG A or C School/ Instructor Duty (MTS after 1 year) IUSS/CUS (qualified IUSS Tactical Coordinator, ACINT Analyst) ATG (qualified ATS) NPC (Detailer) RDC (MTS at all levels) Enlisted Recruiter (Silver and Gold wreaths) FCPOA involved/community CPO 365 Phase I involvement and leading a committee Off duty education/pme/jpme Qualified CDO/SDO Considerations for advancement from E7 to E8 Complete a Divisional LCPO tour at sea. (LCPO/ASW Specialist) Multiple warfare qualifications (duty station dependent) Qualified (I/P) Section Leader; (U/W) ASWE, SUWC, ASWC Advanced Qualifications (I/P) ATTWO; (U/W) CICWO, CSC,OOD U/W Training Team Member/Lead (Primary CSTT Technical and Tactical) (ATTT, VBSS, and ITT) Command Collateral with documented impact Active CPO Mess involvement CPO 365 Phase I/II involvement, preferably leading a committee DESRON (I/P) SDO/ACDO, (U/W) Staff Tactical Watch Officer/ASWE Course Supervisor/Instructor/Curriculum Development at STG A or C School (MTS after 1 year) IUSS/CUS/NOPF (Quality Assurance LCPO, Training LCPO) Waterfront Trainer and Assessor ATG/CSCS (qualified ATS/MTS within 1 year, Team Lead) UWDC (Qualified Trainer/Assessor) NSMWDC (Team Lead) RMC Maintenance Technician and Trainer NPC (Detailer) RDC (MTS in 1 year) Active CPO Mess involvement CPO 365 Phase I/II involvement, preferably leading a committee. Military Education-SPME/SJPME Continuing Civilian Education Qualified CDO/SDO 4
Consideration for advancement from E8 to E9 Successfully complete a Departmental LCPO tour at sea. Completed SEA or service equivalent academy Multiple warfare qualifications (duty station dependent) Qualified (I/P) Section Leader; (U/W) CICWO Advanced Qualifications (I/P) CDO, Senior Enlisted Watch Bill Coordinator; (U/W) TAO, OOD U/W, CSC, CSRO Major Command Collateral with documented impact Active CPO Mess (leadership and involvement) CPO 365 Phase I/II involvement and Phase II Leader/Coordinator SURTASS Mission Commander DESRON (Lead Acoustic Advisor/OPS Manager) (I/P) SDO/ACDO, (U/W) Staff Tactical Watch Officer/ASWE Designated SEL/SEA or acting for a meaningful length of time with command impact. Curriculum Development/ Lead Instructor/ Maintenance Lead at STG A or C School (MTS after 1 year)(code LCPO, Assistant Director of Training ADOT) IUSS/CUS/NOPF (DLCPO) Waterfront Trainer and Assessor ATG/CSCS (MTS/ATS Program Coordinator, Team Lead, qualified ATS/MTS within 1 year) UWDC (Qualified Trainer/Assessor)(Team Lead/NUWTAC Coordinator, DLCPO) NSMWDC (Team Lead) BUPERS (ECM/ TECHAD) NPC (Lead Detailer) RDC (MTS at all levels) Qualified CDO/SDO/AOIC. Designated SEL/SEA or acting for a meaningful length of time with command impact. 5