Also called: Navy OS rating, Combat Information Center (CIC) Watchstander
Runs radar and tracking displays in a ship's combat center to build the picture of everything nearby.
OSs track aircraft and ships on radar, talk to pilots, and help navigate. On warships they work in a dark Combat Information Center. Civilian paths include air traffic control, vessel traffic services, and dispatch.
Regular military compensation (RMC = base pay + housing and food allowances + their tax advantage) for typical E-1 to E-6 ranks, 2026 estimate. Cash in hand is lower early on because junior troops often live in free barracks and eat in dining halls. Enlistment bonuses can add thousands.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0.5 years after high school. High school diploma, then ~2-3 months of A-School. Free-college benefits: Tuition Assistance (up to $4,500/yr) while serving, the Post-9/11 GI Bill (36 months of tuition + housing stipend) afterward, and SkillBridge internships before separating.
Ways in: Military, On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Air Traffic Management, Emergency Management.
Growing about average. Military specialties are not in BLS projections. The services recruit for this job every year and openings track force size and retention rather than market growth.
Medium risk for 10 years. Combat systems now auto-track most contacts; operators manage the picture and talk to pilots.
Classes: Geography, Computer applications, Speech.
Official data: O*NET occupation 55-3015.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.