Sonar A school in San Diego

[Jerry Peer]

What can anyone tell me about Sonar A school in San Diego? My son will be going there after boot.

[Rob Jones]

Well, I attend Sonar 'A' school in SandyEggo (!) in 1973.  Things have probably changed quite a bit since then, but here's what I remember:

• There are two sonar A schools - one for submarines and one for surface ships, AKA targets (I was a sonar tech on submarines; we refer to all surface ships as targets).
• My A school was 26 weeks long.  I think I had to stand watches maybe twice during my time there - not bad at all.
• The school itself was heavy on:  Electronics and underwater sound theory.
• I went to this school after having been on a boat for a year, so I already had my dolphins.  This made me the automatic class leader as everyone else was fresh out of boot camp.  It was nice...

Anything else?

Rob

[NavyDads Admin (Paul)]

attached some info about surface sonar tech rating.....this is a PDF file....

[Jerry Peer]

Thanks Rob, I also am an x-Sub. sailor, (diesel boat) SS424, got out in 71. and yes all surface boats are targets, and all maned by skimmers. LOL From what I can find out so far the surface school is only about 16 weeks long, and yes my son plains on being a Skimmer. :-(

Rob Jones said:

Well, I attend Sonar 'A' school in SandyEggo (!) in 1973.  Things have probably changed quite a bit since then, but here's what I remember:

• There are two sonar A schools - one for submarines and one for surface ships, AKA targets (I was a sonar tech on submarines; we refer to all surface ships as targets).
• My A school was 26 weeks long.  I think I had to stand watches maybe twice during my time there - not bad at all.
• The school itself was heavy on:  Electronics and underwater sound theory.
• I went to this school after having been on a boat for a year, so I already had my dolphins.  This made me the automatic class leader as everyone else was fresh out of boot camp.  It was nice...

Anything else?

Rob