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SPECIAL WARFARE BOAT OPERATOR (SWCC) (SB)

The U.S. Navy naval special warfare and EOD special warfare boat operator (swcc) rating — SB.

Rating Badge

Rating Code

Community

Special Warfare & EOD

Paygrade Range

E-1 to E-9

ASVAB Minimum

GS+MC+EI=170 or VE+MK+MC+CS=220

A-School

Basic Crewman Training (BCT) and Crewman Qualification Training (CQT), Naval Special Warfare Center, Coronado CA · ~37 weeks (BCT + CQT)

Clearance

Standard

Obligation

6 years

OVERVIEW

Special Warfare Boat Operator (SB), or SWCC (Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman), is the enlisted rating of the U.S. Navy's special-operations boat community. SWCC operate the high-performance Combatant Craft Assault, Combatant Craft Medium, and Combatant Craft Heavy that insert and extract Naval Special Warfare forces and conduct maritime special operations.

The Naval Special Warfare community is the U.S. Navy's special-operations force, including Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Teams, Special Boat Teams, and supporting cadres. Sailors must complete the most demanding selection and assessment pipelines in the U.S. military and operate under U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for direct action, special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and counter-terrorism missions.

A-school for the rating runs ~37 weeks (BCT + CQT) at Basic Crewman Training (BCT) and Crewman Qualification Training (CQT), Naval Special Warfare Center, Coronado CA, where Sailors complete the technical foundation needed to report to their first fleet command. Entry requires the ASVAB line score GS+MC+EI=170 or VE+MK+MC+CS=220 and an enlistment obligation of 6–6 years. SBs 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 SBs 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, SB 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 SBs DO

SWCC operate the Combatant Craft Assault (CCA), Combatant Craft Medium (CCM), and Combatant Craft Heavy (CCH); insert/extract SEALs and other special-operations forces; conduct over-the-horizon riverine and maritime patrols; and provide direct fire support for boat-based assaults.

RESPONSIBILITIES

SWCC operate the Combatant Craft Assault (CCA), Combatant Craft Medium (CCM), and Combatant Craft Heavy (CCH); insert/extract SEALs and other special-operations forces; conduct over-the-horizon riverine and maritime patrols; and provide direct fire support for boat-based assaults.
Stand watches and qualify on the rating's Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS), maintain training jackets, and mentor junior SBs as required by the chain of command.
Lead the SB 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.

HISTORY

SWCC traces to the PT-Boat sailors of World War II and the riverine forces of Vietnam. The modern Special Boat Teams were re-established under Naval Special Warfare Command in 1987, and the SB source rating was created in 2006.

The Naval Special Warfare community traces to the World War II Naval Combat Demolition Units (NCDUs), Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs), and Scouts and Raiders. The modern SEAL Teams were established 1 January 1962 by President John F. Kennedy. Special Warfare Operator (SO) and Special Warfare Boat Operator (SB) ratings were formally established in 2006 to give NSW its own enlisted source pipelines.

Today the Special Warfare Boat Operator (SWCC) (SB) rating is overseen by the Enlisted Community Management (ECM) office at My Navy HR and the Center for Personal and Professional Development. Modern SBs 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 SBs remain central to the warfighting mission.

TRAINING PIPELINE

1. Recruit Training (Boot Camp)~10 weeks
Naval Station Great Lakes, IL
Initial entry training for all U.S. Navy enlisted Sailors at the Navy's only boot camp.
2. Special Warfare Boat Operator (SWCC) A-School~37 weeks (BCT + CQT)
Basic Crewman Training (BCT) and Crewman Qualification Training (CQT), Naval Special Warfare Center, Coronado CA
Special-operations selection and qualification pipeline
3. Fleet / Operational TourFirst sea or operational tour
Combatant Craft Assault (CCA)
On-the-job training and qualifications in the SB rating with a fleet unit.

TYPICAL CAREER PATH

E-1/E-3
Apprentice SB
A-school in the special-warfare pipeline; first tour with a fleet unit.
E-4/E-6
Petty Officer SB
Lead a Special Warfare Boat Operator (SWCC) work-center, qualify in core watchstations and platform-specific tasks.
E-7+
Chief Special Warfare Boat Operator (SWCC)
Senior enlisted leader of the rating in the command; instructor, detailer, or department leading chief assignments.

TYPICAL PLATFORMS & UNITS

Combatant Craft Assault (CCA)
Combatant Craft Medium (CCM)
Combatant Craft Heavy (CCH)
Special Boat Teams 12, 20, and 22

EXAMPLE NECs

SB-5352 Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman

How to address

As an enlisted Sailor by paygrade and last name (e.g. "Petty Officer Smith" for E-4–E-6, "Chief Smith" for E-7+). The rating abbreviation "SB" is appended to the paygrade in writing — e.g., SB1 Smith for SB Petty Officer First Class.

Prerequisites

U.S. citizenship and minimum ASVAB GS+MC+EI=170 or VE+MK+MC+CS=220
High school diploma or equivalent
Pass the Navy physical and medical screening

Common assignments

Combatant Craft Assault (CCA)
Combatant Craft Medium (CCM)
Combatant Craft Heavy (CCH)
Special Boat Teams 12, 20, and 22

RELATED RATINGS

RELATED BASES

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Special Warfare Boat Operator (SWCC) A-school is at Basic Crewman Training (BCT) and Crewman Qualification Training (CQT), Naval Special Warfare Center, Coronado CA and runs ~37 weeks (BCT + CQT).

The Special Warfare Boat Operator (SWCC) (SB) rating requires GS+MC+EI=170 or VE+MK+MC+CS=220.

SOURCES

Last updated 2026-05-03

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