Coast Guard Officer Subspecialty · Logistics
CG-OAF12 Ice Operations
An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.
Overview
Ice Operations officers perform Deck Watch Officer duties aboard polar icebreakers, domestic icebreakers, and buoy tenders assigned to domestic icebreaking operations. They control and navigate ships, administer Coast Guard policies, and complete 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
Civilian Software & Tools
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft Project
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
Civilian Career Paths
- Transportation Management
- Fleet Management
- Project Management
Training & Development
Getting Started
- STCW: RFPNW · Funded
- STCW Able Seafarer Deck · Funded
- STCW: V/4-1 Basic Polar Code · Funded
Career Growth
- STCW: V/4-2 Advanced Polar Code · Funded
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP) · Funded
- Project Management Professional (PMP) · Funded
What the Work Involves
- Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
- Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
- Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
- Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
- Perform or participate in emergency drills, as required.
Related Occupations
- Logisticians
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Project Management Specialists
Typical preparation for these civilian roles: a four-year degree or equivalent experience.
Equivalent Roles in Other Branches
Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.
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