Acoustic Intelligence Specialist

Acoustic Intelligence Specialists are an extremely rare breed. But if you have the skills, you could be one of the chosen few. This field of study began during the Cold War, when the United States needed to find ways to identify Russian naval vessels. Today, Acoustic Intelligence Specialists continue to contribute to the database of knowledge about existing ships and the signals they send out. This information allows naval personnel to identify friend from foe based on sonar information alone.

It’s sort of like the process of initially identifying the unique characteristics of every lighthouse up, down, and around the coastline so that Mariners could determine their location during a storm. As Acoustic Intelligence Specialist, you identify the unusual and unique sounds ships emit. With experience, you are able to distinguish warships and merchant ships from submarines based on engine noise, rattles, pitch, and other characteristics. Because of your skill, you can even identify not only the type of vessel, but also the actual make, model, and VIN number (in military terms, that would be the hull number).

In addition, you are a Consultant for all things sonar. You evaluate written and audio sonar information, make judgments, and advise commanding officers and sonar teams about what you find. These teams look to you because of your vast sonar experience. You’ve trained for this and worked many years to achieve your level of knowledge and insight. Nothing short of extensive experience will do.