What character traits are critical be a successful submarine crewmember?

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.

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!

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

Keeping farting to a minimum should count for something.

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

No claustrophobia!!!

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.

Why? Are you considering submarine duty?

I would think claustrophobic is definitely NOT one!

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.)