The Steve Wilkins Memorial Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) Thread

[HeyJoe]

Write your own caption

The people who I've seen commission into each community haven't been brighter than one another, but they are almost strikingly different.

Except for some similarities

090409-N-8907D-233 NORFOLK, Va. (April 9, 2009) Lt. j.g. Matt Johnson, from the guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72), holds his wife in his arms during homecoming celebrations at Naval Station Norfolk April 9. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) David Danals/Released)

 

[phrogpilot73]

Is part of the difference between the two communities that, as a group, the people in the SWO community are not as talented as the people in the aviation community? That seems like the elephant in the room no one wants to talk about.

I don't know, you decide:

 

[oconnorb]

Questions about Surface Warfare Officer

Hello everyone I have a couple questions and I would GREATLY appreciate some good advice. I am taking my ASTB next thursday and I am thinking about applying for naval aviation or SWO-surface warfare officer. the problem is I am 6'5" and i heard that there are "height limits" for pilots? Also if anyone knows what the job description is for an SWO? The Navy website is pretty vague. PLEASE help me!! Thanks Much, Brandon

 

[torpedo0126]

There are "height limits," but whats more important are your anthros. These are measurements of distance from different points of your body to make sure you are able to fit into the various aircraft. You might be qualified for some aircraft but disqualified for others based on your dimensions. You are pretty big, and while I don't know the specific measurements, I imagine you would be cutting it close on some of them (especially ejection seat aircraft). However, there are several larger pilots on this website who I am sure will offer their advice.

A SWO starts out as basically a division officer on a ship somewhere (non-nuclear). You will lead a division of 15-40 individuals. However, this will come why qualifying for your surface warfare pin. It is a essentially a bunch of different quals that you have 18 months to complete (otherwise you fail, are transferred out of the SWO community, and an appropriate note made in your service record).

The hardest of these quals will be your Officer of the Deck qualification. Think of the OOD as the Captain's representative when he is not physically on the bridge of a ship. You will be responsible for the safe and efficient navigation of the ship, all while minding your division and working on your other quals.

I'm sure a bunch of people will pick on the SWO community in this thread, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for them. It is a hard job to come into with little experience, but you grow up fast. I have a friend in Japan right who is loving it and hating it at the same time. He gets to do some really cool things, but it is stressful because of the various demands (long hours, high expectations).

You will definitely go to some really cool places....i didn't proofread this so sorry if its just a bunch of babbling.

Btw, there are few gentlemen here who either are SWOs, lateral transferred from SWO to aviation, or earned their SWO pin while on a small boy (essentially non carrier ships) or disassociated sea tour (an aviation tour where you are at sea but not flying).

Lastly, if you are of the smarter type, I recommend seeing if you can get SWO nuke ( SWO(N) ). If accepted you will earn your SWO pin at your first ship before heading to nuke power school. After school you will serve a tour on an aircraft carrier. LOTS of money for a similar job (minus the reator stuff).

 

[picklesuit]

Hello everyone I have a couple questions and I would GREATLY appreciate some good advice. I am taking my ASTB next thursday and I am thinking about applying for naval aviation or SWO-surface warfare officer. the problem is I am 6'5" and i heard that there are "height limits" for pilots? Also if anyone knows what the job description is for an SWO? The Navy website is pretty vague. PLEASE help me!! Thanks Much, Brandon

Sounds like another candidate for P-3's and a callsign of "Tree"...

 

[HAL Pilot]

http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148450

Do a search of the site. There are plenty of similar threads.

Nuke SWOs make more money but they are even more anal retentive.

Your height might keep you out of jets, but P-3s and helos should not be a problem.

I believe in being in a community that has a combat mission / warfare specialty. I hate the thought of playing a support role. So if you can't get accepted as either a NFO or pilot, then I'd go SWO.

 

[dreambrat18]

Ok guys just a few questions for you.
First off what are my chances of actually making SWO?
Just graduated college with a 3.0, ASTB score of 50, I'm 21, female, I've got some really great references from Army O6s.
Whats the verdict? I've read most of the posts and think that the high stress would be addictive but is there alot of political nonsense? I mean am I going to have to work with bunch of glory grabbers or people who actually care about their work?
These posts are very informative but seem to skirt right around that point...

 

[Uncle Fester]

Ok guys just a few questions for you. First off what are my chances of actually making SWO?...Whats the verdict?...

No way to answer that, really, since it depends more on the other candidates' qualifications and how you stack up. 3.0 from where? What was your major?

I've read most of the posts and think that the high stress would be addictive but is there alot of political nonsense? I mean am I going to have to work with bunch of glory grabbers or people who actually care about their work?
These posts are very informative but seem to skirt right around that point...

I've heard SWO life described as many things, but "addictive" isn't one of them. It's not the stress of "doing great things under pressure," like say, Naval Aviation, but the stress of "working for asshats doing mindless nonsense repeatedly far away from home under pressure."

I'm also not sure what you mean by "political nonsense" and "glory grabbers".

This is a great Naval Air resource and there are some SWO's and ex-SWO's here, but if SWO is your only interest, go to sailorbob.com. I hear we're all a bunch of asshole, late sleepin', Shoe-hatin' aviators here. :icon_wink

 

[eddie]

I'm also not sure what you mean by "political nonsense" and "glory grabbers".

Where does "look, stab, stab" come from? Or is it just one of those things?

 

[nittany03]

Where does "look, stab, stab" come from? Or is it just one of those things?

I guess you look so that someone ELSE doesn't stab YOU in the back while you're stabbing your intended target in the back. Though I admit I don't have much experience in this area. Thankfully. :icon_tong

 

[Uncle Fester]

Where does "look, stab, stab" come from? Or is it just one of those things?

You mean what is it referring to? "Stab stab look stab" is a play on the "shoot shoot look shoot" air-engagement mantra (two birds, evaluate, shoot again). It was big for frigates shooting SM-1's; I'm not sure if the Aegis guys do it or not.

I like nittany's take on it... stab the back in front of you twice, check behind you, stab again. :icon_tong

 

[CAMike]

You mean what is it referring to? "Stab stab look stab" is a play on the "shoot shoot look shoot" air-engagement mantra (two birds, evaluate, shoot again). It was big for frigates shooting SM-1's; I'm not sure if the Aegis guys do it or not.

I like nittany's take on it... stab the back in front of you twice, check behind you, stab again. :icon_tong

The SM-1MR's we shot(during excersises)- I seemd like half of them either turned into submerged rocket projectiles during the first couple miles of flight or they lost the referenece beam and wandered off somewhere in the box. Maybe that's where the shoot -shoot -look -shoot procedure came from on FFG's?

Did I ever thell you the time we fired a torpedo(again-excersice) and the aft lookout called the bridge a couple of minutes later screaming- "Aft Lookout reporting a torpedo's jumpin out of the water and's chasin' us". Gotta love 80's technology.

 

[dreambrat18]

No way to answer that, really, since it depends more on the other candidates' qualifications and how you stack up. 3.0 from where? What was your major?

I'm also not sure what you mean by "political nonsense" and "glory grabbers".

University of New England for Marine Biology and a minor in Chem. With the political nonsense I mean will people be more interested in making sure they are noticed by their superiors than getting the job done the best way possible? In the world of marine sciences your peers are more concerned about looking good for grants in order to bring in more grants than actually accomplishing anything. Sorry if that's kinda confusing...

 

[HAL Pilot]

When I taught TAO school 1990-1991, "Shoot shoot look shoot" was the standard for SM1s and SM2s regardless of platform. There was talk of changing Aegis/newer SM2 blocks to "Shoot look shoot" but the powers that be were leaning toward leaving it alone. Don't know what it is now.

 

[navybronxbomber]

Ship selection SWO

Hey all,
Quick question... typically for ship's selection which is the highest requested platform and which platform is at the bottom?

Thanks,