The United States Navy charges its Interior Communications Electricians (IC) the responsibility of installation, maintenance, and repair of all equipment required for interior communications aboard ships and at shore facilities.
Interior communications are extremely vital to the inner workings of shipboard activity.
If those communications systems go down, all sorts of problems can arise.
ICs work everywhere onboard ship, from the bottom of the ship, all the way up the mast, all the way forward, and all the way aft.
The Navy established the IC rate in 1948, a derivative of the Electrician’s Mate rating.
ICs are often referred to as “IC-men” by their shipmates.
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Training And Career Path
What’s Life Like For An Interior Communications Electrician?
Sea/Shore Rotation
Pay and Benefits
Job Reviews
Civilian Career Opportunities
Requirements and Qualifications
To serve as Interior Communications Electrician (IC) in the United States Navy, you must meet certain requirements:
- Must be a US citizen.
- Must be between the ages of 18 and 39.
- Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Must be eligible for a security clearance.
- Must have normal color perception.
- Must have an Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) score of AR (Arithmetic Reasoning) + MK (Mathematics Knowledge) + EI (Electronics Information) +GS (General Science) = 213.
Training and Career Path
ICs, like all other Navy enlisted personnel, must successfully complete eight weeks of Navy Recruit Training, at the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes (RTC Great Lakes).
After RTC, ICs head across the base to attend Advanced Technical Training (ATT).
For nine weeks, the sailors learn basic mechanical theory, basic technical documentation, and knowledge and skills of electricity and electronics through group instruction, besides classroom and shop training.
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Upon successful completion of ATT, it’s twelve more weeks of training at Naval Training Center (NTC) Great Lakes at Interior Communications Electronics (IC) Class A School.
At A school, the ICs study subjects such as electrical math, basic schematics, AC/DC circuits, solid-state characteristics and logic systems required for the IC rating.
They are also taught CPR. The training methods at IC “A” school is both group instruction and practical applications.
What’s Life Like for an Interior Communications Electrician (IC)?
It is the Interior Communications Electrician who coordinates and directs the maintenance, installation and repair of interior communications systems at shore facilities and aboard ship.
These systems include indicating and navigation systems visual landing aids for aircraft, communication systems, warning, alarm, and safety systems.
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The day-to-day duties and activities of an IC include:
- Maintenance and repair of shipboard navigation equipment.
- Installation of telephone and other communications circuits, boxes, switchboards and bell buzzer systems.
- Wet cell batteries recharging.
- Installation and inspection of dry cell and storage batteries.
- Interior communications and gyrocompass equipment testing.
- Maintenance of warhead/weapons storage alarm systems.
- Maintenance of the ship’s DMS/FODMS/GEDMS data distribution system.
ICs work in a variety of environments both at sea and ashore.
ICs normally work indoors, sometimes in a clean environment, and sometimes in dirty environments of a shop-type nature.
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Navy Interior Communications Electrician (IC) Sea/Shore Rotation
The Interior Communications Electrician (IC) rating is one of the most sea-intensive ratings in the Navy.
An IC will spend about 65 percent of his time at sea and 35 percent ashore over the course of a 20-year career.
| Tour | Sea Tour | Shore Tour |
|---|---|---|
| First Tour | 60 Months (5 Years) | 36 Months (3 Years) |
| Second Tour | 60 Months (5 Years) | 36 Months (3 Years) |
| Third Tour | 48 Months (4 Years) | 36 Months (3 Years) |
| Fourth Tour | 48 Months (4 Years) | 36 Months (3 Years) |
| Fifth Tour | 36 Months (3 Years) | 36 Months (3 Years) |
| Sixth Tour | 36 Months (3 Years) | 36 Months (3 Years) |
| Seventh Tour | 36 Months (3 Years) | 36 Months (3 Years) |
How Much Are Interior Communications Electrician (IC) Paid?
Like all the other Armed Services, the Navy bases a sailor’s pay on their rank and length of service.
| Insignia | Pay Grade | Rank | Abbreviation | 2021 Minimum Monthly Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | E-1 | Seaman Recruit | SR | $1,785.00 |
 | E-2 | Seaman Apprentice | SA | $2,000.70 |
 | E-3 | Seaman | SN | $2,103.90 |
 | E-4 | Petty Officer Third Class | PO3 | $2,330.40 |
 | E-5 | Petty Officer Second Class | PO2 | $2,541.60 |
 | E-6 | Petty Officer First Class | PO1 | $2,774.40 |
 | E-7 | Chief Petty Officer | CPO | $3,207.60 |
 | E-8 | Senior Chief Petty Officer | SCPO | $4,614.60 |
 | E-9 | Master Chief Petty Officer | MCPO | $5,637.00 |
 | E-9 | Command Master Chief Petty Officer | CMDCM | $5,637.00 |
 | E-9 | Master Chief Petty Officer Of The Navy | MCPON | $5,637.00 |
As are all sailors, ICs may be entitled to other forms of compensation including base allowance for housing (BAH), base allowance for subsistence (BAS), sea pay, etc.
Manned at 99 percent, the Navy (COOL) website claims that highly qualified applicants stand a good chance for placement in the IC rating.
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Job Reviews
Reviews on the career website indeed.com by former and current ICs are overwhelmingly positive.
One former IC described his experience in the Navy on Indeed:
“I loved the Navy. It taught me how far the human mind can stretch and be used in situations that may be dangerous…It was fun working with all of my shipmates and learning things that civilians would never understand.”
The reviews on the career website glassdoor.com are equally positive.
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IC3 (SW) Loreno Visinho, stationed aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2), described her duties, “I am responsible for the repair and upkeep for the phones and alarm systems throughout the ship. I am also responsible for maintenance of the announcement systems throughout the ship as well to make sure the internal communications are working properly.”
IC3 (SW) Visinho is especially proud of earning her Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) pin, “Not a lot of people my rank have done this, I made good use of my free time on deployment to achieve these and I am very proud of this accomplishment,”
The petty officer is equally proud serving in the Navy, “Serving in the Navy means that I am helping my country and contributing to the freedom of our citizens so they can feel safe when they go to bed at night.”
The Department of the Navy’s Credentialing Opportunities Online (COOL) website estimates there are only about 2,200 sailors serving as Interior Communications Electricians in the Navy today.
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Civilian Career Opportunities
Interior Communications Electricians retiring or departing the Navy suffer from no shortage of civilian career opportunities after their service largely because of the extensive training and experience they gain while serving in the Navy.
The Navy COOL Summary For Interior Communications Electrician (IC) lists over fifteen potential civilian job opportunities post-Navy. A few of these include:
- Electronic Home Entertainment Equipment Installer and Repairer
- Electrical Engineer
- Electrician
- Audio and Video Equipment Technician
- Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer
- Telephone Operator
- General Manager
- Operation Manager
- Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installer and Repairer
- Government Property Inspector and Investigator
Like all sailors, ICs should take full advantage of the on-the-job (OJT), training opportunities, and educational opportunities offered and afforded them during their naval service.
The United States Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) also allows ICs to complete several of their civilian apprenticeship requirements while on active duty to obtain their US Department of Labor (DOL) nationally recognized “Certificate of Completion” in preparation of life outside the Navy.
Over twenty-five national certifications and multiple state licenses are obtainable by ICs.
If you are a young man or woman and meet the requirements, are resourceful, and have manual dexterity with tools, equipment, and machines, the Interior Communications (IC) rating could just be a fit for you. You will learn highly sought after technical skills while having the opportunity of serving in the US Navy and seeing the world.
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References
Navy Personnel Command Interior Communications Specialist (IC) Overview
Navy COOL Summary For Interior Communications Specialist (IC)
Navy COOL Interior Communications Specialist (IC) Rating Card
YourValley.net News Article on IC3 Loreno Visinho
Navy Interior Communications Specialist (IC) Reviews -glassdoor.com
After the Navy, Travis worked in the Information Technology sector for twenty-five years.
Connect with Travis @MichaelTRose.
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