SONAR TECHNICIAN (STRIKER) (ST)

OVERVIEW

Sonar Technician (ST) is the U.S. Navy's parent rating identifier for striker-tier Sailors entering the sonar community before being designated into Sonar Technician (Surface) — STG — or Sonar Technician (Submarine) — STS. The ST designator is used during the platform-assignment screening phase before A-school routing.

The general community covers the U.S. Navy's traditional shipboard ratings — deck, engineering, weapons, and combat-systems Sailors who keep surface combatants and amphibious ships in the fight. Sailors in this community typically rotate between sea and shore tours and are eligible for a wide range of NECs, instructor billets, and enlisted commissioning programs.

A-school for the rating runs Sub-rating A-school 26 weeks after ST designation at Center for Surface Combat Systems, Dam Neck, VA (STG) or Naval Submarine School, Groton CT (STS) after sub-rating designation., where Sailors complete the technical foundation needed to report to their first fleet command. Entry requires the ASVAB line score AR+MK+EI+GS=222 and an enlistment obligation of 5–6 years. STs advance through the standard enlisted paygrade structure (E-1 through E-9), competing in the Navy-Wide Advancement Examination (NWAE) at E-4 through E-6 and via the Selection Board at E-7 through E-9. Senior STs typically serve as Leading Petty Officer (LPO), Work Center Supervisor, Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO), or Command Master Chief (CMC), and may pursue Limited Duty Officer (LDO), Chief Warrant Officer (CWO), or commissioning programs such as STA-21, MECP, or OCS.

Across the active force, ST Sailors are essential to the Navy's mission readiness, and the rating remains an in-demand career field with strong reenlistment bonuses (SRB), advancement opportunities, and pathways into Navy Reserve, civilian DoD, and industry careers after service.

WHAT STs DO

ST-strikers complete platform-screening, submarine medical (if STS), and basic acoustic-signal instruction before designation into STG or STS A-school. After designation they attend the platform-specific sonar A-school.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• ST-strikers complete platform-screening, submarine medical (if STS), and basic acoustic-signal instruction before designation into STG or STS A-school. After designation they attend the platform-specific sonar A-school.
• Stand watches and qualify on the rating's Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS), maintain training jackets, and mentor junior STs as required by the chain of command.
• Lead the ST work center as Leading Petty Officer or Work Center Supervisor — managing maintenance documentation in 3M/MFOM, parts ordering, and personnel qualifications.
• Support general military training (GMT), damage control, force protection, and watch-bill assignments common to every Sailor regardless of rating.

THIS RATING ABSORBED

The ST rating's mission today includes work that flowed from the following decommissioned U.S. Navy ratings:

• 
  OT · Decom 1998

  Ocean Systems Technician

HISTORY

The Sonar Technician rating was established in 1964 by splitting Sonarman into surface (STG) and submarine (STS) sub-ratings. The ST parent identifier persists for striker-tier accession tracking before sub-rating designation.

Like all surface-Navy general ratings, the rating evolved alongside the U.S. Navy's transition from sail to steam, then steam to gas-turbine and electric-drive propulsion, and continues to adapt to today's distributed maritime operations and integrated combat systems.

Today the Sonar Technician (Striker) (ST) rating is overseen by the Enlisted Community Management (ECM) office at My Navy HR and the Center for Personal and Professional Development. Modern STs benefit from the Sailor 2025 personnel-system reforms, the Ready Relevant Learning (RRL) training continuum, and credentialing through the Navy COOL program — turning rating qualifications into industry-recognized certifications and licenses.

The rating's structure, training pipeline, and operational employment continue to evolve alongside the Navy's transition to Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO), Project Overmatch, and the Force Design 2045 fleet architecture, ensuring STs remain central to the warfighting mission.

TRAINING PIPELINE

1. 1. Recruit Training (Boot Camp)~10 weeks
   Naval Station Great Lakes, IL
   Initial entry training for all U.S. Navy enlisted Sailors.
2. 2. Sonar Technician (Striker) PipelineSub-rating A-school 26 weeks after ST designation
   Center for Surface Combat Systems, Dam Neck, VA (STG) or Naval Submarine School, Groton CT (STS) after sub-rating designation.
   Apprentice/striker training in the general accession pipeline before sub-rating designation.

TYPICAL CAREER PATH

1. E-1/E-3
   Sonar Technician (Striker)
   Entry tier; sonar technician (striker) accession track in the general community.
2. E-4
   Designated Petty Officer (sub-rating)
   Designation into a target rating with full A-/C-school qualification.
3. E-7+
   Chief Petty Officer (sub-rating)
   Senior enlisted leader of the designated rating in the command.

TYPICAL PLATFORMS & UNITS

• Center for Surface Combat Systems, Dam Neck VA (STG track)
• Naval Submarine School, Groton CT (STS track)

EXAMPLE NECs

• No NECs assigned at striker tier; NECs accrue after sub-rating designation

RELATED RATINGS

• STG · General Surface & Combat
  Sonar Technician (Surface)
• STS · Submarine Force
  Sonar Technician (Submarine)

RELATED BASES

• Navy Base · VA
  Naval Station Norfolk
• Navy Base · CT
  Naval Submarine Base New London

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SOURCES

• Navy Sonar Technician (Striker) (navy.com)
• My Navy HR — Enlisted Community Management
• Navy COOL — Rating Detail