To some people, comfort is a warm spot under the covers. To Special Operations Officers, it’s parachuting 500 feet into the frigid ocean or overseeing the disposal of an ocean-borne mine. Only the most physically fit, strategically thinking team players qualify to orchestrate operations among this elite community. Special Operations Officers are the experts and leaders in unconventional warfare. They quietly and efficiently destroy enemy targets and recover and dispose of explosives.

What Will You Do?

As an Officer in the Special Operations community, you may be called upon at a moment’s notice to clear land mines in the far corners of the globe or even train dolphins to utilize their sonar capabilities. Special Operations Officers may be trained to jump from airplanes with high-altitude parachutes or operate stealthy watercraft, inflatable boats, or scuba gear. As an Officer in Special Operations, you might:

• Perform underwater location and identification of foreign and domestic ordnance, as well as rending safe, disposing of, or recovering ordnance
• Conduct reconnaissance and demolition of natural or man-made underwater obstacles prior to amphibious landings

Earn While You Learn

You might learn the fundamentals of explosive ordnance disposal through formal Navy schooling. Or you may learn about chemical/biological warfare, military tactics, deep-sea diving, or a number of other tactical military procedures.

The courses in this field are demanding, but individuals who accept these challenges are rewarded with extra pay and extraordinary duty assignments.

Special Pay/Bonuses

Special Operations Officers assigned to diving duty are eligible to receive dive pay. Demolition Duty Pay is payable to Officers working with explosives and demolitions during training.

Special Operations (SPECOPS) Officers Training

The Special Operations Officer training pipeline is determined by whether the officer is being assigned to Diving Operations or the Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

Career Outlook

Although the Officer careers in Special Operations have few civilian counterparts outside of medical emergency and law enforcement, the leadership, tenacity, and combat strategy skills you will acquire are highly respected by any employer.