Coast Guard
AVIATION
Subspecialty
Officer Subspecialty
CG-OAF12
Ice Operations
An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.
Description
Ice Operations Subspecialty Officers perform Deck Watch Officer (DWO) duties on polar icebreakers, domestic icebreakers, and buoy tenders assigned to domestic icebreaking operations. DWOs are responsible for ship control/navigation, administration of Coast Guard policies, and completion of all assigned missions.
Core Skills
- ship control
- ice navigation
- bridge watchstanding
- polar operations
- maritime risk management
- radar and ecdis operation
- crew coordination
- navigation rule compliance
- mission planning
Common Certifications
- Merchant Mariner Credential
- STCW Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch
- STCW Basic Training
- Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Operator Certificate
- Dynamic Positioning Operator Certificate
- Polar Code Training
Civilian Career Paths
- COMMERCIAL AVIATION
- TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT
- FLEET MANAGEMENT
- PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Training & Development
Getting Started
- STCW Basic Training
- Merchant Mariner Credential
- Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Operator Certificate
- Radar Observer Unlimited
Career Growth
- STCW Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch
- Polar Code Training
- Dynamic Positioning Operator Certificate
- Master Mariner Credential
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Data sourced from official Coast Guard publications and public military occupational references. Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.