Operations Specialist

Operations Specialist (abbrev OS) is an enlisted technical specialty or rating utilized by the Royal Manticoran Navy.

Description

Operations Specialists (OS) work in the Combat Information Center (CIC). They are responsible for the organized collection, processing, display, competent evaluation and rapid dissemination of pertinent tactical combat information to command and control stations, upon which sound tactical decisions may be made. They maintain Combat Information Center (CIC) displays of strategic and tactical information, including various plotting boards and tables depicting position and movement of ships, small craft and missiles, as well as holotanks containing data relevant to the tactical picture. They interpret and evaluate presentations and tactical situations and make recommendations to the Commanding Officer (CO), CIC Watch Officer, Officer Of The Deck (OOD), or any of their commissioned officer surrogates during watch conditions. They also operate and maintain identification friend or foe (IFF) systems and intra-ship communication equipment.

Historical Overview

The rating started within the United States Navy from the Radarman (RD) rating. When the Radarman rating was split up into OS, Electronics Technician (ET), and Electronic Warfare Technician (EW) ratings, the original RD rating badge continued to be used by the Operations Specialist. It symbolizes the radar scope (circle portion of symbol) oscilloscope radar (A-scope) used to determine a targets range from the radar antenna (the two spikes in the line drawn across the scope), and the arrow represents the ability to detect the azimuth or direction of the target. Operations Specialists aboard U.S. Navy combat vessels work in the Combat Information Center (CIC) or Combat Direction Center (CDC), aka: Combat, the tactical “nerve center” of the ship. Using a wide variety of assets available to them, they are responsible for the organized collection, processing, display, competent evaluation and rapid dissemination of pertinent tactical combat information to command and control stations, upon which sound tactical decisions may be made. Beginning training (called “A” school) for Operations Specialist’s was originally located at the Naval Training Center (NTC) in Great Lakes Illinois. In 1979 it was moved to Dam Neck in Virginia Beach, Virginia; the school has since moved back to Training Support Center (TSC) NAVSTA Great Lakes in Illinois. Intermediate and Advanced training are in locations like California, Virginia, and various locations throughout the United States Navy.

TRMN Training Information

Members desiring to qualify to serve at the different skill levels within the Operations Specialist's department must pass the following exams and prerequisites:

Bureau of Training Information for Operations Specialist
Course Name	Course Code	Prerequisite(s)
Operations Specialist "A" School	SIA-SRN-25A	SIA-RMN-0001	(Basic Enlisted)
"C" School	SIA-SRN-25C	SIA-RMN-0002	(Basic Non-Commissioned Officer)
		SIA-SRN-25A	(Operations Specialist "A" School)
Operations Specialist Warrant Officer "W" School	SIA-SRN-25W	SIA-RMN-0011	(Warrant Officer)
		SIA-SRN-25C	(Operations Specialist "C" School)
"D" School	SIA-SRN-25D	SIA-RMN-0101	(Ensign)
		SIA-SRN-25C	(Operations Specialist "C" School)

Notes

RMN Technical Specialties
Command:	Boatswain - Master-at-Arms - Operations Specialist - Intelligence Specialist
Admin:	Personnelman - Navy Counselor - Yeoman
Logistics:	Steward - Storekeeper - Disbursing Clerk - Ship's Serviceman
Tactical:	Fire Control - Electronic Warfare - Tracking Specialist - Missiles - Beam Weapons - Gunner
Engineering:	Impeller - Power - Gravitics - Environment - Hydroponics - Damage Control
Communications:	Data Systems - Electronics - Communications - Sensors
Astrogation:	Helmsman - Plotting Specialist
Flight Operations:	Coxswain
Medical:	Corpsman - Sick Berth Attendant