Is submarine sonar technician really that great of a job?

Question

I heard you have to be really intelligent to get a job in a sub and that its a great privilege. Is that true?

Answer 1

mmmmmmmmmmmmyea!! IF you like killing whales and whatnot.

Answer 2

its pretty much like listening to your wife talk..(ya turn her off and just hear the little pings...)

Answer 3

I am a Submarine Sonarman. For some people like me I love doing what I do at sea. Most people can be Sonarman, some people can be good Sonarman, but only a few people become Great Sonarman. We do the type of things books a writen about, but our stories are true. Our world is always changing. We get new equipment regurally. We have new stuff to learn all the time. The way we do things is always evolving.

Like I said, most people can push buttons, move a track ball, and do those type of things. Some people can handle the responsibility of having the lives of 140 men in their hands, and know the right answer to most of the questions asked. But it really takes someone with that something extra to know the answers to the questions before they are asked, know the answer to all the questions asked of you, and to know the answer to the problem (we call figuring out who and what the bad guy is doing a problem) almost instinctivley.

Being able to excel as a  Sonar Supervisor (Senior Sonarman) you need to be able to process vasts amount of information, most of it useless to the problem, pick out the important pieces (You might not even know what the pieces look like) and build a picture of what is going on in the ocean around you. Who is out their, what are they doing, and what is the best way to kill them if needed, and evade if required.

It is extremely challenging at the higher tiers. Keeping up to date with all the worlds navies (Subs, Ships, Support, Weapons and even aircraft), who has what, what can they do, what are looking for from them to classify them. What are they capable of, how can you beat them.

I love doing the job at sea. I am the Tactical, Operations, Employment, Intel type Sonarman. I am not really a tech person, though I do know how to keep my systems running and fix them. But I'm best with my system and using every asset I have to pull everypiece of info I need to accomplish the mission. I feel lucky that the people who make the assesment of who the best Sonarman are, have said I am, and have chosen me to join their world, so I can do even better things in Sonar!

Answer 4

I spent 6 years in the US Navy as a SONAR Technician on board submarines and it's 6 years I wouldn't trade for any amount of money.  Long story why I'm no longer in the Navy but that's for another time.  As an STS, you're the eyes and ears of an underway nuclear powered submarine.  You're responsible for the lives of 135 or so men.  It's a very exciting job (not as much as it used to be during the cold war) and it's very rewarding if you know what you're doing.  Yes, you have to be intelligent to even qualify to volunteer for submarine duty.  You have to be able to secure a Top Secret or above security clearance to be an STS.  Submariners are an elite combat force.  Only the top 1% of the Navy even qualifies for sub service.  If you decide you want to persue a career as an STS in the US Navy, I recommend it.