submarine officer or surface warfare officer?

Question

I'm thinking about joining NROTC in one of those specialties. Does anyone have any experience in either of them?

If so what's it like?

Answer 1

While you can join NROTC, you will not be guaranteed a particular duty station before joining.

And Navy Submarine Officers are chosen after exhaustive interviews after they have completed 2 years of course work
( engineering or physics ) for the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program (NUPOC).

Answer 2

There's a reason submarine duty pay is so high. It's because sub duty sucks. The sub force is undermanned, so the personnel are stretched thin, and therefore conditions are not-so-good ( in terms of duty rotation, being able to take leave, divisional manning, etc) Because conditions are so bad, fewer people volunteer for sub duty, so it's a self-perpetuating vicious cycle.

Even as an officer, you would be standing 3 section duty and be treated like crap. You'll have only a year to earn your dolphins (sub wafare pin) while concurrently working on watchstanding qualifications as well. Go surface. Sub duty is NOT worth it, even with the financial incentives.

Another person said you don't necessarily get the specialty you want. that's true, but the sub force is all-volunteer. If you don't volunteer, they won't stick you there against your will.

Answer 3

one does not enter ROTC with a specialty.. one TRIES to choose their specialty in their Senior Year.. emphasis on TRY.. ultimately, you will get put where they need you.

SWOs eat their young. A JO in the SWO communtiy can expect at least 2 back to back sea tours, and must be Qual'd(get their SWO Pin) before leaving their first command... typically in under 2 years.

Submariners.. purposely go aboard vessels that are designed to sink. There is a great need for Nuke Submariners.

Answer 4

It just depends on what you want. Those are totally different MOS'; do you mind being in a closed space for long periods of time versus being on a surface ship? Subs have great food and are usually deployed for smaller periods of time than surface ships.

Its all up to want you want in the job, do a little research or contact a recruiter.

Answer 5

it relatively is incredibly worry-unfastened between enlisted. they do in comparison to 2 conflict pins on one uniform. yet I even have seen extremely some FBM patrol pins worn below floor conflict pin. it might additionally be possibly for LDOs, who have been past sub enlisted. Submariners many times placed on dolphins on their belt buckle, so they are in a position to placed on something on the chest, in this manner they consistently placed on the dolphins. My dolphins have been tattooed.

Answer 6

If you like stepping outside for a smoke, I'd suggest staying away from submarines.

Answer 7

Go subs. Yes, the boats are designed to sink. More importantly, they are designed to come back up! ;-)