How to Become a Submariner
Serving aboard a submarine is one of the most demanding and elite careers in any military. It requires exceptional technical skill, psychological resilience, and the ability to live and work in a sealed steel tube beneath the ocean for months at a time. Here is everything you need to know about becoming a submariner in the world's leading navies.
Is Submarine Service Right for You?
Submarine service is not for everyone — and that is by design. Every major navy selects submariners through a rigorous screening process that evaluates not just physical fitness, but psychological resilience, technical aptitude, and the ability to function under extreme stress in confined spaces.
The rewards are significant: submarine duty is among the highest-paid military assignments, the camaraderie is unmatched, and submariners are part of an elite community with traditions stretching back over a century. But the sacrifices are real: months away from family with no communication, no sunlight, no fresh air, and the constant knowledge that you are hundreds of meters beneath the surface in one of the most hostile environments on Earth.
3-6 months
12-18 months
~30% of applicants
Navy Career Paths
US Navy (United States)
Qualification: Submarine Warfare Insignia ("Dolphins")Requirements
- • US citizen, age 17-34 (enlisted) or up to 29 (officer)
- • ASVAB score: minimum 252 combined (higher for nuclear field)
- • Pass submarine physical: vision, hearing, psychological screening, claustrophobia assessment
- • No history of claustrophobia, panic disorder, or severe asthma
- • Security clearance (Secret or Top Secret depending on rate)
- • Volunteer basis only — all US submariners are volunteers
Training Pipeline
Basic training (10 weeks, Great Lakes, IL) followed by "A" School for rating training. Nuclear field candidates attend 6 months of Nuclear Power School in Charleston, SC, followed by 6 months at Nuclear Power Training Unit (prototype reactor). Then Basic Enlisted Submarine School (BESS) at Groton, CT. Total pipeline: 1-2 years before first submarine assignment.
Qualification Process
Once aboard, new submariners must complete a rigorous qualification process to "earn their dolphins." This involves learning every system, valve, and pipe on the submarine — typically taking 12-18 months. The qualification board is an oral exam conducted by the submarine's officers and senior enlisted. Failure means transfer off submarines. The gold (officer) or silver (enlisted) dolphin insignia is the most respected warfare qualification in the Navy.
Pay & Benefits
Base pay + submarine duty incentive pay ($75-$425/month depending on rank) + sea pay + nuclear field bonus (up to $100,000 for nuclear-trained enlisted). Officers receive submarine officer continuation pay. Total compensation for a senior nuclear-trained submariner can exceed $120,000/year.
Royal Navy (United Kingdom)
Qualification: Submarine Service DolphinsRequirements
- • British citizen or eligible Commonwealth citizen
- • Age 16-36 depending on branch and specialization
- • Pass submarine medical and psychological assessment
- • Meet fitness requirements (Royal Navy fitness test)
- • Enhanced security clearance (Developed Vetting for nuclear)
- • Volunteer basis — Royal Navy submariners are all volunteers
Training Pipeline
Phase 1 basic training at HMS Raleigh (10 weeks). Phase 2 specialist training for chosen branch (weapons engineering, marine engineering, warfare). Submarine-specific training at HMS Sultan or the Submarine School at HMNB Clyde (Faslane). Nuclear propulsion training for engineering branches. Total pipeline varies by specialization: 6 months to 2 years.
Qualification Process
The "Part Three" submarine qualification process requires learning the boat's systems, emergency procedures, and completing an oral board. The process is nicknamed "being a delinquent" (Dockyard Guided Missile — DGM) until qualified. Successful completion earns the right to wear the submarine dolphins and be called a "qualified submariner." The Royal Navy's submarine service is based at HMNB Clyde (Faslane) in Scotland.
Pay & Benefits
Base pay + submarine pay supplement (approximately 5,000 GBP/year) + nuclear pay for engineering staff. Royal Navy submariners receive the Submarine Service Supplement (SSS) and the Longer Separation Allowance (LSA) for time at sea. Retention bonuses are offered for critical specializations.
Deutsche Marine (Germany)
Qualification: U-Boot-Abzeichen (Submarine Badge)Requirements
- • German citizen or EU citizen eligible for Bundeswehr service
- • Age 17-29 (can vary by entry path)
- • Pass the submarine aptitude assessment (psychological, physical, claustrophobia)
- • Meet Bundeswehr fitness standards (Basis-Fitness-Test)
- • Security clearance (Sicherheitsüberprüfung)
- • Germany operates diesel-electric submarines (Type 212A)
Training Pipeline
Basic military training (Grundausbildung, 3 months). Technical training for chosen specialization at Marineschule Mürwik or technical schools. U-Boot-Lehrgruppe (Submarine Training Group) at Eckernförde provides submarine-specific training including the escape tower (Unterseeboot-Rettungsturm). Officers attend additional courses at the Marineschule. Total pipeline: approximately 12-18 months.
Qualification Process
New submariners must complete the Borddienst-Ausbildung (onboard service training), learning all submarine systems and emergency procedures. The qualification process typically takes 6-12 months aboard. Germany's Type 212A submarines are among the most advanced conventional submarines in the world, featuring hydrogen fuel cell AIP (Air-Independent Propulsion). The small crew size (27) means every crew member must be cross-trained in multiple roles.
Pay & Benefits
Base pay (Besoldung) + U-Boot-Zulage (submarine supplement) + Seezulage (sea pay). German submarine pay supplements are among the most generous in the Bundeswehr. Additional bonuses for extended deployments with NATO Task Groups.
Earning Your Dolphins
In every submarine navy, the qualification process — "earning your dolphins" — is a rite of passage that separates submariners from the rest of the fleet. The dolphins insignia (named for the dolphin-flanked submarine emblem) represents mastery of the submarine's systems and the trust of your shipmates.
The process requires learning every system on the submarine: propulsion, weapons, navigation, damage control, life support, communications, and emergency procedures. You must be able to draw the submarine's piping systems from memory, locate every valve, and explain how every piece of equipment works. In an emergency, any crew member may need to operate any system — there are no specialists when the submarine is flooding.
The final qualification board is an oral examination lasting several hours, conducted by the submarine's officers and senior enlisted personnel. They will quiz you on anything — from reactor plant theory to the location of a specific valve three compartments away. If you cannot answer, you are sent back to study and must re-board later. Repeated failures result in transfer off submarines.
Those who pass receive their dolphins in a ceremony that is one of the proudest moments in any submariner's career. From that day forward, you are a qualified submariner — a member of an elite community that spans nations, generations, and peacetime and war.
Women in Submarines
The integration of women into submarine service has been one of the most significant changes in modern naval history. The issue was never one of capability but of practicality — the cramped, privacy-free environment of a submarine posed unique challenges.
Norway led the way in 1985, becoming the first nation to assign women to submarine crews. Australia followed in 1998. The US Navy began integrating women onto submarines in 2010, starting with officers on Ohio-class SSBNs and SSGNs, and has since expanded to all submarine classes including Virginia-class attack boats. The Royal Navy opened submarine service to women in 2011.
Germany has allowed women to serve in all military roles since 2001, including on its Type 212A submarines. The small crew size (27) initially posed challenges for accommodation modifications, but these have been successfully addressed. Women now serve in all submarine positions across the Deutsche Marine.
Today, women serve as submarine officers, nuclear engineers, weapons specialists, and in every other role aboard submarines in navies worldwide. The US Navy has had female submarine commanding officers, and the integration is considered a success across all participating navies.
Daily Life Aboard a Submarine
Watch Schedule
Most submarines operate on a watch rotation — either "3-section" (6 hours on, 12 hours off) or "2-section" (6 on, 6 off during emergencies). The US Navy has adopted an 8-hour circadian watch schedule on some boats to better align with human sleep cycles. Watch standing requires absolute vigilance — falling asleep on watch is one of the most serious offenses aboard a submarine.
Living Quarters
Space is at a premium. Enlisted crew share bunks in "hot-racking" arrangements on some submarines — three sailors share two bunks on a rotating schedule. Officers have slightly more privacy but still share small staterooms. Personal belongings are limited to what fits in a small locker. There are no windows. The only natural light comes through the periscope when at periscope depth.
Food & Meals
Submarine food is widely regarded as the best in the military. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy last about two weeks before the crew transitions to frozen and canned provisions. Four meals are served daily, including "midrats" (midnight rations). The US Navy allocates the highest food budget per person for submariners. Morale depends heavily on food quality, and submarine cooks are highly valued.
Recreation & Morale
Off-watch time is filled with movies (submarines carry extensive film libraries), reading, card games, exercise (limited gym equipment), and study for qualifications. Email access is limited and delayed — messages are typically sent in batches during communication windows. Phone calls home are rare. Some modern submarines have small fitness areas and crew lounges.
Health & Hygiene
Showering is limited due to water conservation — "submarine showers" (water on, wet down, water off, soap up, water on, rinse, water off) are standard. Laundry facilities are basic. Medical care is provided by an Independent Duty Corpsman (US Navy) or equivalent — there is no doctor aboard most submarines. The corpsman handles everything from dental emergencies to appendectomies if needed.
Famous Submariners
Admiral Hyman G. Rickover
Drove the development of the nuclear-powered submarine against enormous bureaucratic resistance. His relentless engineering standards and personal oversight created the US nuclear submarine fleet. Served 63 years in the US Navy — the longest-serving naval officer in American history.
Kapitanleutnant Gunther Prien
Commander of U-47, he penetrated the British fleet anchorage at Scapa Flow and sank the battleship HMS Royal Oak in October 1939. One of the most daring submarine raids in history. Killed in action aboard U-47 in March 1941.
Commander Eugene Fluckey
Commanding officer of USS Barb, he executed some of the most aggressive submarine patrols of WWII in the Pacific. His crew went ashore in Japan and blew up a train — the only submarine crew to conduct a land attack. Received the Medal of Honor and four Navy Crosses.
Captain Marko Ramius
Tom Clancy's iconic fictional submarine commander who defected with the revolutionary ballistic missile submarine Red October. While fictional, Captain Ramius introduced millions of readers to submarine warfare and remains one of the most recognized submarine characters in popular culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old do you have to be to serve on a submarine?
In most navies, you must be at least 17-18 years old to enlist. In the US Navy, submarine volunteers must typically be between 17 and 34 at the time of enlistment for enlisted, or up to 29 for officers. The Royal Navy accepts submarine recruits from age 16, and the German Navy from 17.
Can women serve on submarines?
Yes. Norway led the way in 1985. The US Navy began integrating women in 2010 (officers) and 2015 (enlisted). The Royal Navy opened submarine service to women in 2011. Germany has allowed women on submarines since 2001. Women now serve in all submarine positions in these navies.
How long is submarine training?
Total training varies: Basic training (8-10 weeks), submarine school (8 weeks), specialty training (4-24 months), and nuclear power training adds 24+ months for nuclear-rated personnel. After reporting aboard, qualifying for dolphins takes 12-18 months. The full pipeline can be 1-2+ years.
How much do submariners get paid?
US Navy submariners receive base pay plus submarine duty incentive pay ($75-425/month), sea pay, and nuclear bonuses (up to $100,000+ retention bonuses). A senior nuclear-trained enlisted submariner can earn $100,000-120,000+ annually. Royal Navy and German Navy submariners receive comparable supplements.
Is submarine duty voluntary?
In the US Navy, Royal Navy, and German Navy, submarine duty is entirely voluntary. Volunteers must pass additional medical and psychological screening. No one is involuntarily assigned to submarines in these navies.
What disqualifies you from submarine service?
Common disqualifiers include claustrophobia, certain psychological conditions, chronic medical conditions (severe asthma, insulin-dependent diabetes), significant hearing loss, inability to obtain a security clearance, drug use history, and certain criminal records.
Learn More About Submarine Life
Interested in submarine service or just want to know more about what life is like beneath the waves? Explore our detailed guides on submarine life, safety, and technology.