With the release of ALCOAST 037/14, the United States Coast Guard announced creation of its Diver (DV) rating and the rating’s associated Chief Warrant Officer Diving (DIV) specialty. The rating’s establishment was the end result of a nearly year-and-a-half analysis by the Diver Career Management Working Group, which reviewed subjects including USCG mission requirements, safety issues, and workforce management issues.
But the impetus to create a DV rating actually can be traced to a tragic accident that ook placed about U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy in 2006 in which two Guardsmen were lost because safety protocols were not strictly followed. At that time, Guardsmen could qualify as Divers, but Diving was not a primary duty and thus lacked a program that include centralized control, operations, and training procedures.
To be eligible to pursue the DV rating, Guardsmen must be at the E-5 rate (or E-4 promotable, i.e., ready to advance to E-5), under 35 years of age, achieve qualifying minimum ASVAB scores, have no marks lower than 4 in the last six months, and qualify for secret clearance. Naturally, there are also physical fitness requirements that must be met. Achieving the rating also means completing the 2nd Class dive school held at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida.