The SB Rating
The Special Warfare Boat Operator rating was established on October 1, 2006.
The Naval Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman (SWCC) program evolved from the PT boats Sailors of WWII and the "Brown Water Navy" of Vietnam. They are specially trained to conduct and support Special Operations missions in a maritime environment and work primarily with Naval Special Warfare Sea, Air, and Land Teams (SEAL).
Special Warfare Boat Operator class "A" school is broken into three phases and is in total approximately 22 weeks in duration. Phase One is two weeks of Special Warfare Combatant-craft crewman indoctrination; Phase Two is 5 weeks of Basic Crewmember Training; Phase Three is 15 weeks of Crewman Qualification training. All three phases of training are completed at Coronado, California.
Special Warfare Boat Operator (SB)
Special Warfare Boat Operators support and perform maritime Special Operations in open ocean, littoral, and riverine environments. They provide maritime insertion and extraction of Special Operations Forces (SOF) and others.
SBs possess unique skills in the operation, maintenance, and repair of specially configured combatant craft, and they operate small arms and crew-served weapons. They operate, maintain and repair tactical communications equipment, and use paradrop techniques to insert combatant craft.
Other skills include small boat tactics, tactical ground mobility, trauma care, intelligence gathering and interpretation, and chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear defense measures.
The Special Warfare Boat Operators also conduct direct action raids against enemy shipping and waterborne traffic.
Career Sea - Shore Rotation Chart
| Rating | SEA1 | SHR1 | SEA2 | SHR2 | SEA3 | SHR3 | SEA4 | SHR4 | SEA/SHR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB | 60 | 36 | 60 | 36 | 48 | 36 | 48 | 36 | 36/36 |
The Naval Special Warfare community is a sea-intensive community. Due to the unique nature of the special warfare mission, Sailors in the elite rating of Naval Special Warfare Boat Operator (SB) should expect to serve back-to-back sea tours prior to assignment ashore. Sailors in this rating can expect their initial back-to-back sea tours to be within the same geographic location, contingent upon the needs of the Navy and NSW.
Qualifications, Interests, and Working Environment
Qualifying for SWCC (SB Rating) in Delayed Entry Program is preferred and accounts for the majority of SWCC applicants in the training pipeline. Candidates may also volunteer for SWCC during basic training at Recruit Training Center (RTC), or at any time during their enlistment prior to their 31st birthday. NSW/NSO "Dive" Motivators, at RTC, give presentations on the Navy's NSW/NSO programs, conduct the physical training screening tests, and assist interested Recruits with their applications at RTC. A more stringent physical examination and medical screening is conducted at RTC. Recruit's entrance medical examinations will be reviewed and further physical screening tests will be given at RTC and at the Naval Special Warfare Center (SWCC School).
SWCC training is physically and mentally demanding. SWCCs receive extra pay for special duty assignment. Some SWCCs are selected for parachute training in both Static Line and Military Free Fall. SWCC candidates should be motivated, self-assured and self-confident, willing to follow orders and able to work under stressful and hazardous conditions. They should be in excellent physical conditions and motivated to withstand the rigorous physiological demands imposed by the maritime environment.
The ability to swim and withstand fatigue is a major factor in successful completion of the Basic SWCC training. Other necessary characteristics needed are good aptitude for mechanical skills, study habits, knowledge of arithmetic and basic algebra, and manual dexterity.
SWCC candidates must be U.S. citizens eligible for security clearance. Adversely adjudicated drug abuse offenses will not receive waiver consideration. Normal color perception is required. Uncorrected vision can be no worse than 20/40 in best eye and 20/70 in worst eye. Corrected vision must be 20/25 worst eye. No color deficiency waivers authorized. SWCC ASVAB Test score requirements.
SWCCs perform Special Operations missions from high speed small boats, fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, and Navy ships. They may be exposed to arctic, desert or jungle environments, including survival in enemy controlled areas. They may also perform administrative and foreign training missions in a wide variety of climates throughout the world.
Credit Recommendations
The American Council on Education recommends that semester hour credits be awarded in the vocational certificate and lower-division bachelor's/associate's degree categories for courses taken in this rating.
