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Navy Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) Qualification
Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
Navy Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) Qualification Exam, covering eligibility, the Personnel Qualification
Standards (PQS), watchstation requirements, the qualification board process, and critical career
milestones. Use this resource as a primary study guide to navigate the regulations and prepare for
qualification.
Part 1: Summarized Exam Coverage – SWO Qualification
The SWO Qualification process is governed by a series of instructions, most notably OPNAVINST 1412.2
series (SWO Qualification Program) and NAVEDTRA 43100-1 series (PQS Manager's Guide),
administered by the Commander, Naval Surface Forces (COMNAVSURFOR).
Eligibility & Program Structure (Section 1)
• Who Can Qualify? Officers holding Designator 116X (including lateral transfers). Officers must
be permanently assigned to a commissioned or pre-commissioning U.S. Navy surface ship.
• Responsible Parties: COMNAVSURFOR establishes the policy, while the Commanding Officer
(CO) of Surface Warfare Schools Command (SWSC) serves as the executive agent for training
and PQS. Commanding Officers (COs) of ships are the final approval authority for qualification.
• Timeline: 116X officers must complete qualification before the Projected Rotation Date (PRD)
of their First Division Officer (DIVO) assignment. Failure to do so requires remaining on board
until qualified or designated as a "non-attain".
Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS) Program (Section 2)
• PQS Sections:
o 100 Series (Fundamentals): Basic knowledge of equipment or duties.
o 200 Series (Systems): Detailed breakdown of equipment.
o 300 Series (Watchstation): Tests readiness to perform a specific task.
• Qualifiers: PQS sign-offs are performed by petty officers (E-5 and above) who are already
qualified for that watchstation. The CO appoints qualifiers by name in writing.
• PQS Books: The standard PQS books required for SWO qualification include:
o Damage Control (DC)
o 3M (3M)
o DIVO Afloat
o Inport OOD
o SWO Engineering (or EOOW for nuc-trained officers/Steam Engineering for non-nuc)
o CICWO
o OOD Underway
o Maritime Warfare
• Interim Qualification: The CO may grant temporary "Interim Qualification" for a watch station
for up to 6 months.
Watchstation & Shipboard Competencies (Section 3 & 4)
• Officer of the Deck (OOD): The OOD exercises "safe and efficient command of the ship" when
the Captain is not on the bridge. SWOs qualify as OOD (Inport and Underway).
• Combat Information Center (CIC): CIC serves as the tactical nerve center; it is responsible for
gathering, processing, and displaying tactical information. CICWO is a required PQS.
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• Navigation & Rules of the Road (COLREGS):
o COLREGS: The primary purpose is to provide standardized rules to prevent collisions at
sea. Rules of the Road dictate vessel lights, shapes, sound signals, and steering/sailing
rules for all vessels.
o Restricted Waters: In restricted waters, "accurate position fixing and awareness of
surrounding hazards" is the most critical factor for safe navigation.
o International Date Line: When crossing the International Date Line eastward,
you subtract one day from the calendar.
o ECDIS: The Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) provides real-time
navigation and route planning using electronic charts.
Damage Control (DC), Engineering, & Safety
• Flooding & Stability: When reporting a flooding casualty, you must include "location, extent of
flooding, affected systems, and immediate risks". Shoring is the process of installing supports
to reinforce weakened structures.
• Engineering Systems: The ship's main propulsion system provides thrust for ship movement and
maneuvering. The Ballast System's main purpose is to maintain stability and proper draft.
• Environmental Ship & Regulations
o MARPOL: Regulations designed to prevent pollution of the marine environment by
ships. Discharge of plastics is prohibited; oil record books are used to monitor
compliance.
o Vessel General Permit (VGP): A permit issued by the EPA regulating incidental
discharges from vessels (e.g. deck runoff, bilge water) to ensure they meet specific
effluent limits.
Operations & Maintenance (3M & ISM)
• 3M System: The ship's planned maintenance system (PMS) is crucial for ensuring equipment
material condition.
• SLQ-32: The primary electronic warfare (EW) suite used for detection, identification, and
direction finding of electromagnetic emissions for threat warning and countermeasures.
1. Who is responsible for establishing SWO qualification policy and providing oversight of the
overall qualification process?
A) Commander, Naval Surface Forces (COMNAVSURFOR)
B) Chief of Naval Personnel (PERS-41)
C) Surface Warfare Schools Command (SWSC)
D) Commanding Officer (CO)
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Answer: A — COMNAVSURFOR is the senior authority responsible for establishing policy and
providing oversight for the entire SWO qualification program.
2. Which officer designator is eligible to pursue SWO qualification?
A) 110X
B) 111X
C) 116X
D) 181X
Answer: C — Only officers with Designator 116X (including lateral transfers into the community)
are eligible to pursue SWO qualification.
3. What is the primary responsibility of the Officer of the Deck (OOD)?
A) To control the ship's main propulsion plant.
B) To exercise safe and efficient command of the ship while the Captain is not on the bridge.
C) To manage the Combat Information Center.
D) To coordinate weapons systems targeting.
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Answer: B — The OOD maintains operational control, ensuring safety of navigation and
adherence to the Captain's orders when the Commanding Officer is not present on the bridge.
4. What is the main purpose of a ship’s ballast system?
A) To provide drinking water storage.
B) To control the ship's pitch and roll during heavy seas.
C) To maintain stability and proper draft.
D) To supply water to the firemain.
Answer: C — The ballast system adjusts the ship's weight distribution and waterplane area,
which is crucial for maintaining vessel stability, trim, and draft for safe operations.
5. What is the primary purpose of a ship’s sonar system?
A) To measure water depth under the keel.
B) To detect and track underwater objects and submarines.
C) To communicate with other ships underwater.
D) To navigate in restricted visibility.
Navy Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) Qualification
Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
Navy Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) Qualification Exam, covering eligibility, the Personnel Qualification
Standards (PQS), watchstation requirements, the qualification board process, and critical career
milestones. Use this resource as a primary study guide to navigate the regulations and prepare for
qualification.
Part 1: Summarized Exam Coverage – SWO Qualification
The SWO Qualification process is governed by a series of instructions, most notably OPNAVINST 1412.2
series (SWO Qualification Program) and NAVEDTRA 43100-1 series (PQS Manager's Guide),
administered by the Commander, Naval Surface Forces (COMNAVSURFOR).
Eligibility & Program Structure (Section 1)
• Who Can Qualify? Officers holding Designator 116X (including lateral transfers). Officers must
be permanently assigned to a commissioned or pre-commissioning U.S. Navy surface ship.
• Responsible Parties: COMNAVSURFOR establishes the policy, while the Commanding Officer
(CO) of Surface Warfare Schools Command (SWSC) serves as the executive agent for training
and PQS. Commanding Officers (COs) of ships are the final approval authority for qualification.
• Timeline: 116X officers must complete qualification before the Projected Rotation Date (PRD)
of their First Division Officer (DIVO) assignment. Failure to do so requires remaining on board
until qualified or designated as a "non-attain".
Personnel Qualification Standards (PQS) Program (Section 2)
• PQS Sections:
o 100 Series (Fundamentals): Basic knowledge of equipment or duties.
o 200 Series (Systems): Detailed breakdown of equipment.
o 300 Series (Watchstation): Tests readiness to perform a specific task.
• Qualifiers: PQS sign-offs are performed by petty officers (E-5 and above) who are already
qualified for that watchstation. The CO appoints qualifiers by name in writing.
• PQS Books: The standard PQS books required for SWO qualification include:
o Damage Control (DC)
o 3M (3M)
o DIVO Afloat
o Inport OOD
o SWO Engineering (or EOOW for nuc-trained officers/Steam Engineering for non-nuc)
o CICWO
o OOD Underway
o Maritime Warfare
• Interim Qualification: The CO may grant temporary "Interim Qualification" for a watch station
for up to 6 months.
Watchstation & Shipboard Competencies (Section 3 & 4)
• Officer of the Deck (OOD): The OOD exercises "safe and efficient command of the ship" when
the Captain is not on the bridge. SWOs qualify as OOD (Inport and Underway).
• Combat Information Center (CIC): CIC serves as the tactical nerve center; it is responsible for
gathering, processing, and displaying tactical information. CICWO is a required PQS.
, Page 2 of 133
• Navigation & Rules of the Road (COLREGS):
o COLREGS: The primary purpose is to provide standardized rules to prevent collisions at
sea. Rules of the Road dictate vessel lights, shapes, sound signals, and steering/sailing
rules for all vessels.
o Restricted Waters: In restricted waters, "accurate position fixing and awareness of
surrounding hazards" is the most critical factor for safe navigation.
o International Date Line: When crossing the International Date Line eastward,
you subtract one day from the calendar.
o ECDIS: The Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) provides real-time
navigation and route planning using electronic charts.
Damage Control (DC), Engineering, & Safety
• Flooding & Stability: When reporting a flooding casualty, you must include "location, extent of
flooding, affected systems, and immediate risks". Shoring is the process of installing supports
to reinforce weakened structures.
• Engineering Systems: The ship's main propulsion system provides thrust for ship movement and
maneuvering. The Ballast System's main purpose is to maintain stability and proper draft.
• Environmental Ship & Regulations
o MARPOL: Regulations designed to prevent pollution of the marine environment by
ships. Discharge of plastics is prohibited; oil record books are used to monitor
compliance.
o Vessel General Permit (VGP): A permit issued by the EPA regulating incidental
discharges from vessels (e.g. deck runoff, bilge water) to ensure they meet specific
effluent limits.
Operations & Maintenance (3M & ISM)
• 3M System: The ship's planned maintenance system (PMS) is crucial for ensuring equipment
material condition.
• SLQ-32: The primary electronic warfare (EW) suite used for detection, identification, and
direction finding of electromagnetic emissions for threat warning and countermeasures.
1. Who is responsible for establishing SWO qualification policy and providing oversight of the
overall qualification process?
A) Commander, Naval Surface Forces (COMNAVSURFOR)
B) Chief of Naval Personnel (PERS-41)
C) Surface Warfare Schools Command (SWSC)
D) Commanding Officer (CO)
, Page 3 of 133
Answer: A — COMNAVSURFOR is the senior authority responsible for establishing policy and
providing oversight for the entire SWO qualification program.
2. Which officer designator is eligible to pursue SWO qualification?
A) 110X
B) 111X
C) 116X
D) 181X
Answer: C — Only officers with Designator 116X (including lateral transfers into the community)
are eligible to pursue SWO qualification.
3. What is the primary responsibility of the Officer of the Deck (OOD)?
A) To control the ship's main propulsion plant.
B) To exercise safe and efficient command of the ship while the Captain is not on the bridge.
C) To manage the Combat Information Center.
D) To coordinate weapons systems targeting.
, Page 4 of 133
Answer: B — The OOD maintains operational control, ensuring safety of navigation and
adherence to the Captain's orders when the Commanding Officer is not present on the bridge.
4. What is the main purpose of a ship’s ballast system?
A) To provide drinking water storage.
B) To control the ship's pitch and roll during heavy seas.
C) To maintain stability and proper draft.
D) To supply water to the firemain.
Answer: C — The ballast system adjusts the ship's weight distribution and waterplane area,
which is crucial for maintaining vessel stability, trim, and draft for safe operations.
5. What is the primary purpose of a ship’s sonar system?
A) To measure water depth under the keel.
B) To detect and track underwater objects and submarines.
C) To communicate with other ships underwater.
D) To navigate in restricted visibility.
