This guide provides helpful information for those looking to join the Navy as a Culinary Specialist – Submarines (CSS) during the Fiscal Year 2025.
On a submarine, the galley is everything. It’s where Sailors eat, talk, unwind. Long days, tight spaces, no windows—food keeps morale up. That’s on you.
As a Culinary Specialist (Submarines), you’re cooking in one of the toughest kitchens in the world. Cramped, moving, always on the clock. But you keep the crew going.
Could be spaghetti night 600 feet below or cooking for the White House. Either way, your job matters.
Job Description
Culinary Specialist – Submarines (CSS) are Navy enlisted Sailors who perform various tasks related to managing Navy messes and living quarters for Naval personnel aboard naval submarines.
Submarines are tight, isolated, and always on the move. The galley is the one place where the crew can recharge. That’s where Culinary Specialists (Submarines) step in.
What They Do
- Plan Menus & Order Supplies – No resupply runs underwater. You stock it, plan it, and make it last.
- Cook & Bake – Meals need to be nutritious, high-quality, and ready on time.
- Manage Food Inventory & Budgets – Track every ingredient, control costs, prevent waste.
- Ensure Food Safety & Sanitation – No room for mistakes—crew health depends on it.
- Run Living Quarters – Manage berthing and common areas on the sub.
- High-Level Assignments – Some CS (SS) cook for admirals, senior officials, and even the President.
Different Roles
Submarine Culinary Specialist
The backbone of the galley. These Sailors plan, prepare, and serve meals while keeping everything clean, stocked, and running smoothly.
- Prepare menus & meals – Plan ahead, cook efficiently, keep the crew fed.
- Maintain food service spaces & equipment – Sanitation is non-negotiable.
- Keep financial records – Track food costs, inventory, and budgets.
- Train food service personnel – Ensure everyone knows their role.
- Manage quarters – Oversee living spaces on and off the sub.
Submarine Leading Culinary Specialist
The top chef and logistics manager in the galley. Runs the whole operation, on shore and at sea.
- Oversee galley operations – Every meal, every supply order, every detail.
- Maintain financial accountability – Budgets, spending, and supply tracking.
- Enforce cleanliness & food safety – No shortcuts, no risks.
- Train & evaluate personnel – Keep the team sharp and efficient.
- Ensure compliance with marine environmental programs – Waste management and sustainability.
- Prioritize customer service – Food affects morale. Happy crew, better mission readiness.
Rank Structure
Pay Grade | Rank | Abbreviation |
---|---|---|
E-1 | Seaman Recruit | SR |
E-2 | Seaman Apprentice | SA |
E-3 | Seaman | SN |
E-4 | Culinary Specialist Submarine Third Class | CSS3 |
E-5 | Culinary Specialist Submarine Second Class | CSS2 |
E-6 | Culinary Specialist Submarine First Class | CSS1 |
E-7 | Chief Culinary Specialist Submarine | CSSC |
E-8 | Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Submarine | CSSCS |
E-9 | Master Chief Culinary Specialist Submarine | CSSCM |
Salary and Benefits
Salary for the First 6 Years
Monthly pay for Navy enlisted Sailors (E-1 to E-6) in the first six years is laid out in the January 2025 Active Duty Pay chart:
Pay Grade | Less than 2 Years | Over 2 Years | Over 3 Years | Over 4 Years | Over 6 Years |
E-1 | $2,108.10 | $2,108.10 | $2,108.10 | $2,108.10 | $2,108.10 |
E-2 | $2,362.80 | $2,362.80 | $2,362.80 | $2,362.80 | $2,362.80 |
E-3 | $2,484.60 | $2,640.60 | $2,800.80 | $2,800.80 | $2,800.80 |
E-4 | $2,752.20 | $2,892.90 | $3,049.80 | $3,204.30 | $3,341.40 |
E-5 | $3,001.50 | $3,203.70 | $3,358.80 | $3,517.20 | $3,763.80 |
E-6 | $3,276.60 | $3,606.00 | $3,765.00 | $3,919.80 | $4,080.60 |
Extra Pays and Allowances
- Housing Allowance (BAH): For members living off-base. Covers rent, based on rank, location, and if they have dependents.
- Subsistence Allowance (BAS): Enlisted get $465.77 monthly for food.
- Hazard Duty Pay: For dangerous jobs. Pays $150-$250 per month, depending on the job.
- Sea Pay: For those assigned to ships or deployed units. Depends on rank and time at sea, from $50 to $750 a month.
- Submarine Duty Incentive Pay (SUBPAY): Up to $1,000/month based on qualifications and assignment.
- Special and Incentive Pays: Bonuses for certain roles, like air traffic control or unique skills. These can be a few hundred to thousands per year.
Source: Figures are from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.
Benefits
- Healthcare: Active-duty personnel are eligible for free complete medical and dental treatment. Tricare programs are inexpensive for families to use.
- Housing Accomodation: Depending on location, rank, and family size, free on-base accommodation or a tax-free housing allowance (BAH) for off-base living are available.
- Food: Monthly Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) for food costs is known as the “food allowance.”
- Blended Retirement System (BRS): Conventional pensions are no longer available to active-duty personnel. Rather:
- Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Up to 5% in government matching and automatic contributions.
- Retirement Pay: After 20 years of service, you’re eligible for monthly payments according on the BRS formula, which combines TSP savings with a calculated pension.
- Education:
- Availability of tuition assistance programs that pay for all or part of college tuition.
- Support for higher education under the post-9/11 GI Bill.
- Navy College Program to support education while on service.
- Life Insurance: Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) provides coverage up to $500,000.
- Vacation: ten or more federal holidays plus thirty days of paid vacation each year.
- Extra Benefits:
- Exchanges and commissaries provide tax-free purchasing.
- Discounted travel via military resorts, access to fitness centers, and leisure amenities.
Training and Promotion Opportunities
Boot Camp & Basic Training
- Start at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes (Boot Camp).
- Class “A” Technical School – Fort Lee, VA | 5–7 weeks
- Learn food preparation, nutrition, and dining service.
- Hands-on training in Navy galley operations.
Submarine-Specific Training
- Basic Enlisted Submarine School – Groton, CT | 9–10 weeks
- Indoctrination into submarine systems and operations.
- Only for Culinary Specialists (Submarines).
First Assignments
- CSS (Submarines): Assigned to submarines or shore stations.
- Submarine Duty Bonus Pay – $75–$600 per month, depending on rank and experience.
Advanced Training & Career Progression
- Opportunities for leadership roles and advanced culinary training.
- College degree paths available for those pursuing Officer roles.
Post-Service Opportunities
- Professional certifications like Certified Food Employee (CFE).
- Careers in restaurant, hotel, and hospitality industries.
- Experience translates directly into high-demand foodservice management jobs.
Submarine Culinary Specialists are part of an elite, highly trained community. They don’t just cook—they keep the crew fueled for the mission.
Qualifications to Join
Basic Requirements for Navy Culinary Specialist—Submarines (CSS)
- High school diploma or GED.
- U.S. citizen, eligible for a security clearance.
- Must volunteer for submarine duty.
ASVAB Score Requirement
- AR + MK + EI + GS = 200 or
- VE + AR + MK + MC = 200
Skills & Qualifications
- Strong arithmetic skills – Needed for adjusting recipes and managing supplies.
- Creative ability – Meals on a sub need to be nutritious, varied, and well-prepared.
- Record-keeping skills – Track food inventory, budgets, and menu planning.
- Attention to detail – One bad calculation, one missed step, and the meal suffers.
- Ability to follow instructions – Cooking at sea means working with precision.
- Good communication & teamwork – The crew depends on you.
Personal Traits That Help
- Enjoy working with people – You’re feeding the same crew every day—relationships matter.
- Ability to handle pressure – Tight quarters, small kitchens, high expectations.
- Discipline & organization – Food supplies are limited, and waste is not an option.
The enlistment qualification requirements above are current as of Fiscal Year 2025, per the Navy Personnel Command. This information is not readily available to the public.
So, contact your local Navy Enlisted Recruiter for the most current requirements to join the Navy as an enlisted Sailor.
More Information
If you wish to learn more about becoming a Culinary Specialist – Submarines (CSS), contact your local Navy Enlisted Recruiter. They will provide you with more detailed information you’re unlikely to find online.
You may also be interested in the following related Navy Enlisted Submarine jobs: