Two Lieutenant Junior Grades conduct “Battle Management” operations.

Two Navy officers conduct “Battle Management” operations during recent flight operations aboard an E-2C “Hawkeye” assigned to the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One One Three (VAW-113) "Black Eagles"


Information Warfare

Job Overview:

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Classification:
√ Enlisted
√ Officer
Available in:
√ Active Duty
√ Navy Reserve

Navy Information Warfare plays a vital role in supporting our national defense. These specialists analyze transmissions and other forms of communication, decipher codes, and interpret what these messages mean to our military forces and national security.

Pay:

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Job Description:

Navy Information Warfare Officers are directly involved in every aspect of Navy operations, and are expected to deploy worldwide, to support Navy and joint war-fighting requirements. They provide critical information to tactical-, theater-, and national-level decision makers, serving from sea, air, and shore commands around the world.

What Will You Do?

Following graduation from the five-week Navy Information Warfare Officer Basic Course at Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida, you will report to your first duty assignment that begins your final qualification as an Information Warfare Officer. Most of the Information Warfare Officers are located at the National Security Agency, Regional Security Operations Centers, the Naval Information Warfare Activity, the Fleet Information Warfare Center and on ships (carriers, cruisers, destroyers, amphibious ships). They also provide direct support on submarines and reconnaissance aircraft. Duties can include:

  • Deploying as part of a direct support team on board surface combatants, submarines, operational staffs, or joint task forces
  • Deploying on board specially configured aircraft conducting aerial reconnaissance in support of tactical, theater and national missions
  • Qualifying as an Operations Watch Officer, responsible for the collection, processing, analysis, and reporting of real-time signal intelligence
  • Computer network operations
  • Development and acquisition of cutting-edge exploitation and defense systems that directly support our core mission areas

Earn While You Learn

Officers must complete the minimum requirements of one year of calculus and calculus-based physics. From there, they can apply for postgraduate education through the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California or participate in the Junior Officer Cryptologic Career Program (JOCCP) at the National Security Agency in Fort Meade, Maryland.

The NPS’s emphasis is on education and research programs that are relevant to the Navy, defense, and our national and international security interests. NPS offers Information Warfare Officers three master’s degree programs: Electrical Engineering, Information Warfare, and Computer Science. Doctoral programs are also available in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science, depending on openings within the Navy and the Information Warfare community.

JOCCP is a three-year program that requires Information Warfare Officers to complete class work at the National Cryptologic School and practical experience in relevant work centers in Information Warfare. These Officers are also encouraged to earn a master’s degree in Information Systems and Technology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Special Pay and Bonuses

Navy Information Warfare Officers receive special bonuses for the performance of duty such as Sea and Flight pay. These bonuses are consummate with their assigned duties.

Skills and Training

Most prospective Information Warfare Officers attend Officer Candidate School (OCS), a 12-week Navy orientation school in Newport, Rhode Island. OCS prepares you for the roles and responsibilities expected of, and afforded to, U.S. Navy Officers through academic and military courses and physical fitness training. Course subjects include Naval operations, orientation, and administration; Navy history; strategic deterrence and sea control; shipboard management; combat systems; ship control; and surface ship fundamentals.

After successful completion of OCS, you will attend the Navy Information Warfare Basic Course in Pensacola, Florida. This course teaches new Navy Information Warfare Officers the fundamentals of Information Warfare and includes topics such as: U.S. Security, the U.S. Cryptologic System, Electromagnetic Theory, RADAR, Satellite Fundamentals, Signals Intelligence and Fundamentals of Information Warfare.

Career Outlook

Being a Navy Information Warfare Officer offers a rewarding career with a corps of enlisted and officer professionals. You will serve at the forefront of Naval operations worldwide and be on the cutting-edge of information warfare technologies. Your potential for advancement and continuing education opportunities are the same or better than other Navy positions. Career Officers often enjoy the increased responsibility and challenges that can include major staff duty. The specialized knowledge and expertise you gain as an Information Warfare Officer, coupled with your security clearance may prepare you for future employment with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or National Security Agency (NSA) should you decide to return to the civilian sector when your obligated service is finished.