I figured I'd give this thread a day or so to see what the general consensus would be. Not surprisingly, there is none. As typical in AW fashion, the lack of knowledge does not prevent folks from hitting the submit button. Without anything better to say, one line witty (but not so witty) comments quickly fill the thread. Hey, I do it too. I understand to post SOMETHING, even if it's not helpful, can sometimes be to overwhelming.
Cwyx, I'll try to answer your question as best as I can. Robav8r had a couple good nuggets of info for you. He's right in some respects, wrong in others and I'll explain. Cwyx, keep in mind when you ask what a SWO does on a primarily aviation centric board, you are going to get replies based on various aviators' observations and not actual experiences of being a SWO. There's only one aviator that I know of on this board that I would say has a solid understanding of what a SWO does. The rest are just assuming they know based on what they've seen or heard, whether firsthand or otherwise.
Flash was pretty much spot on even though I know he was trying to be funny. I frequently have people ask me since getting out what I did in the navy. Trying to avoid a complicated conversation that I know they aren't going to understand, I simply tell them I was a naval officer. The real curious ones ask me what I did as an officer, so I tell them I was a surface warfare officer. Usually I get the deer in the headlights look, their eyes glazed over in utter confusion. Then after the predictable, "What is that?", I tell them I served on the ships that shoot the Tomahawk missiles. That usually "takes care" of their confusion even though I didn't tell them anything that I actually did. Unless they have some naval experience, they simply wouldn't understand if I did.
So what the hell does a SWO actually do? There are really two primary functions of a SWO. One is to lead people in various divisions and departments of the ship and manage its systems, equipment, and programs. This is what you do when you're not on watch (and even sometimes when you are). The other is to safely navigate the ship from point A to point B and to use the ship's weapon systems to accomplish the assigned mission. You do this while you're on watch as part of an entire watch team.
What types of watches can/will you stand? Typically you'll start out as a Conning Officer (i.e. "Left full rudder, steer course 265" or "All ahead two-thirds for 15 knots). Then you'll move up to JOOD (Junior Officer of the Deck) or OOD U/I (under instruction), and then ultimately qualify as OOD U/W (underway). At some point during your qual as OOD, you'll also stand watches down in Combat and qualify as CICWO (Combat Information Center Watch Officer). You'll also qualify as a Small Boat Officer or as we simply call it, Boat O. With the exception of Boat O, any of these watches can be 4 or 5 hours each with you standing on average of two per day while underway. At some point during your qual process, you’ll need to get your SWO engineering qual. This is not the same as an EOOW qual which I’ll describe in a minute. It is a basic qual that ensures you have the big picture understanding of how the engineering systems work, how they affect other parts of the ship. Specifically, it’s to ensure that you know what to do when standing OOD or CICWO when the EOOW calls up, for example, and says they just lost the #2 Chill Water pump or there are high vibes in the #1 MRG (main reduction gear). Once you get your OOD qual, then it’s time to bring all the knowledge together and get your SWO qual, which once complete, you’ll be designated a SWO and authorized to wear the warfare pin.
Another watch that you can stand is EOOW (Engineering Officer of the Watch). The EOOW is responsible for managing the safe operation of the engineering plant. This could mean bringing up the plant to full power, or taking an engine offline for maintenance or switching the electrical plant around. There are a plethora of things the EOOW is responsible for.
Of course, all these watches are just that….watches. You still have a day job that must be done which usually means juggling the workload of running your division and keeping on top of your collateral duties. Based on what I have read here, many of what would be described as collateral duties for SWO’s are the day jobs for aviators. The exception to this would be those aviators that have divisions. But how many actually do at any given time?
Ok, that’s the end of this part. I have more to say, just now right now.
Cwyx, I'll try to answer your question as best as I can. Robav8r had a couple good nuggets of info for you. He's right in some respects, wrong in others and I'll explain. Cwyx, keep in mind when you ask what a SWO does on a primarily aviation centric board, you are going to get replies based on various aviators' observations and not actual experiences of being a SWO. There's only one aviator that I know of on this board that I would say has a solid understanding of what a SWO does. The rest are just assuming they know based on what they've seen or heard, whether firsthand or otherwise.
Flash was pretty much spot on even though I know he was trying to be funny. I frequently have people ask me since getting out what I did in the navy. Trying to avoid a complicated conversation that I know they aren't going to understand, I simply tell them I was a naval officer. The real curious ones ask me what I did as an officer, so I tell them I was a surface warfare officer. Usually I get the deer in the headlights look, their eyes glazed over in utter confusion. Then after the predictable, "What is that?", I tell them I served on the ships that shoot the Tomahawk missiles. That usually "takes care" of their confusion even though I didn't tell them anything that I actually did. Unless they have some naval experience, they simply wouldn't understand if I did.
So what the hell does a SWO actually do? There are really two primary functions of a SWO. One is to lead people in various divisions and departments of the ship and manage its systems, equipment, and programs. This is what you do when you're not on watch (and even sometimes when you are). The other is to safely navigate the ship from point A to point B and to use the ship's weapon systems to accomplish the assigned mission. You do this while you're on watch as part of an entire watch team.
What types of watches can/will you stand? Typically you'll start out as a Conning Officer (i.e. "Left full rudder, steer course 265" or "All ahead two-thirds for 15 knots). Then you'll move up to JOOD (Junior Officer of the Deck) or OOD U/I (under instruction), and then ultimately qualify as OOD U/W (underway). At some point during your qual as OOD, you'll also stand watches down in Combat and qualify as CICWO (Combat Information Center Watch Officer). You'll also qualify as a Small Boat Officer or as we simply call it, Boat O. With the exception of Boat O, any of these watches can be 4 or 5 hours each with you standing on average of two per day while underway. At some point during your qual process, you’ll need to get your SWO engineering qual. This is not the same as an EOOW qual which I’ll describe in a minute. It is a basic qual that ensures you have the big picture understanding of how the engineering systems work, how they affect other parts of the ship. Specifically, it’s to ensure that you know what to do when standing OOD or CICWO when the EOOW calls up, for example, and says they just lost the #2 Chill Water pump or there are high vibes in the #1 MRG (main reduction gear). Once you get your OOD qual, then it’s time to bring all the knowledge together and get your SWO qual, which once complete, you’ll be designated a SWO and authorized to wear the warfare pin.
Another watch that you can stand is EOOW (Engineering Officer of the Watch). The EOOW is responsible for managing the safe operation of the engineering plant. This could mean bringing up the plant to full power, or taking an engine offline for maintenance or switching the electrical plant around. There are a plethora of things the EOOW is responsible for.
Of course, all these watches are just that….watches. You still have a day job that must be done which usually means juggling the workload of running your division and keeping on top of your collateral duties. Based on what I have read here, many of what would be described as collateral duties for SWO’s are the day jobs for aviators. The exception to this would be those aviators that have divisions. But how many actually do at any given time?
Ok, that’s the end of this part. I have more to say, just now right now.
