What character traits are critical be a successful submarine crewmember?

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:36:12 -0400

What character traits are critical for a person to be a successful submarine crewmember? Why?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jul 28 at 2015 1:37 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:37:09 -0400

The ability to work well in small spaces.

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made Jul 28 at 2015 1:37 PM

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:37:36 -0400

Some advice from those who know??

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jul 28 at 2015 1:41 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:41:02 -0400

Keeping farting to a minimum should count for something.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 1:43 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:43:12 -0400

Not being claustrophobic!

In all seriousness I would think it is very critical to be able to be a good team member as well as everything that goes along with it, including creative thinking, good listening skills, compassion, understanding, etc.

I personally feel that being a leader on a submarine would be easier in some senses (captive audience) and MUCH harder in others (having no outlet for disagreements, restlessness, etc.)

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Jul 28 at 2015 1:58 PM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 13:58:20 -0400

I would think claustrophobic is definitely NOT one!

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Jul 28 at 2015 3:56 PM

CDR Michael Goldschmidt — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 15:56:21 -0400

Why? Are you considering submarine duty?

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 5:55 PM

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:55:24 -0400

Granted I am still in training and I believe the key characteristics for success are common to all jobs in the military, I would emphasize vigilance and discernment. You have to be able to watch and monitor both inside and outside the boat. Then you have to be able to understand what is going on and know the appropriate actions that should take place.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 6:34 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 18:34:45 -0400

No claustrophobia!!!

Response by PO1 Jason Taylor made Jul 28 at 2015 7:12 PM

PO1 Jason Taylor — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:12:37 -0400

Have a sense of humor, it makes the days under water far more tolerable!

Response by CWO3 Randy Weston made Jul 29 at 2015 12:23 AM

CWO3 Randy Weston — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 00:23:36 -0400

Some of the key traits have been said: NOT claustrophobic (a torpedoe tube is very small when you are inside withe the Muzzle door closed), team player (being closed up that long with these guys, you either play on the same team or you will be ostracized), thick skin (if not they will find your weaknesses and exploit them!), Hi IQ (you are dealing with the best of the best and nucs too!), Sarcastic (the primary sense of humor), quick witted (you need this to act quickly to casualty situations and for self defense on a verbal basis). These are the essentials, now for the recommended traits: Optimist (this helps on those long underway periods because you know you are going to surface at some point in time!), Inventive (how can you eb green ((tape)) someone to the overhead or their rack so that it can not be duplicated!), conniving sense of humor (lets put tdu weights in your buddy's bunk pan to make him think he is getting weaker).

Seriously, those are good collection, but what you end up with are life long friends as many of you have experienced when placed in harms way together. As a 3rd generation submareeeener and having devoted 21 years to the submarine force, I would not trade for anything. BTW, Submarine Warfare (SS) was the first warfare pin. Brothers of the Phin. Oh, I forgot ego! Must have one and not be afraid to show it!

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jul 29 at 2015 6:07 AM

PO3 David Fries — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 06:07:01 -0400

Ones I could never have. I went to Groton every summer growing up and have been on the Nautilus more times than some. I have always been fascinated by subs, but I would not have been able to be a Bubblehead. The cramped quarters wouldn't have been the issue, my issue was worrying about sinking. A ship sinks and you have life boats and vests. A sub sinks, and you have to rely on a DSRV. No thank you.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 1 at 2015 1:30 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 01:30:59 -0400

Knowing how to work with a team!

Response by PO1 Donald Hammond made Sep 3 at 2015 3:54 PM

PO1 Donald Hammond — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 15:54:33 -0400

Now days? Who knows. Back when I was in you had to have a great sense of humor and very thick skin. And be crazy. Why? Because you are locked in a tube with many other people who you depend on to survive. You are underwater for long periods of time, don't see the sun, little fresh air, food that comes out of a can or is frozen since the Crusades.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 3:05 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 15:05:30 -0400

Dedication to always perform at your best without holding anything back. A submarine doesn't have a crew member so much as it has family and new people. When the new people can be trusted and have been properly trained and educated, they then become family.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 22 at 2015 10:14 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 22:14:37 -0400

Diminished height, blocked nasal passages/inability to smell, and not an ounce of claustrophobia.

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made Feb 10 at 2016 12:00 PM

SCPO Jason McLaughlin — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 12:00:11 -0500

You have to be batsh*t crazy! Anyone who serves on a ship that purposely sinks itself has to be certifiable. (I know, I know....the crazy ones call it "submerging", but I know sinking when I see it!)
This coupled with an incredible ability to become nose blind are the most critical traits of a submariner.