Qualification Books

Submarine Qualification Notebooks

Serving aboard a submarine in the USN is a vastly different experience than on any other warship. All warships require teamwork, but on a submarine the unique nature of what you are doing requires a level of technical and mental competency unlike any other. A mistake made during one unthinking act can kill the entire crew. Thus, every crewman, from the youngest Seaman Recruit to the Commanding Officer, is required to learn every valve, switch, lever, and button. They must know what its function is and understand how it operates. They must understand the system and its complex interactions with other systems. This new sailor must be thoroughly trained and drilled in emergency procedures so that they can not only save themselves but save the lives of their brothers. In addition, their character must be tested, so that the rest of their brothers can trust that he will not fold under pressure.

This process is called "qualifying". From the moment that a new sailors crosses the brow for the first time the clock is ticking. The time period they are given can vary, most often it is one year. During that time the sailor will spend nearly all of his off-duty time studying, learning the systems, taking notes, and studying diagrams to the point of being able to hand draw them from memory. His accumulated knowledge is collected in his Qualification Notebook. When he thinks he is ready, a board of experienced and Qualified shipmates is put together and he is put through an excruciating, hours long oral board. If he passes, he is passed on to the Commanding Officer, for the Captain is ultimately responsible for this man and the quality of his training. On some boats it was the Captain's discretion to walk him through the boat, asking questions and ensuring that the board did their jobs thoroughly. Either way, once satisfied with this sailor he will sign off on his qualification.

There is only one step left. The crew is gathered together at quarters, and the new sailor stands in front of them. The Captain will review the man's efforts, praising his hard work and dedication. He then reads the words on the printed citation, words the young man has been longing to hear, that bring him into the elite Brotherhood of Submariners. He is proclaimed to be Qualified in Submarines. The young sailor beams, his shipmates roar with approval, and the highly coveted Submarine Warfare Insignia, i.e. "Dolphins" badge (Gold for officers, Silver for enlisted) is pinned to his chest, leaving a figurative mark that will last to the end of his days.

Historical note: in the Pigboat days, the Silver Dolphins metal breast badge for enlisted sailors was not yet in use. Enlisted sailors wore a white embroidered version on their left sleeve. It was no less distinctive, valued, or coveted.

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Running across these notebooks is a pretty rare thing. PigBoats is fortunate in having acquired copies of three Qualification Notebooks. Please peruse the links below to get an understanding of what needed to be learned to earn your Dolphins. We will add more as we get them.

The USS F-2 (SS-21)
The USS O-1 (SS-62)
The USS R-14 (SS-91)

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