Data systems technician

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Data systems technician (DS) was a U.S. Navy enlisted rating. After finishing the DS “A” school training, sailors were designated as DS by the Bureau of Naval Personnel. The main training location was Combat System Technical Schools Command (CSTSC) at Mare Island, Vallejo, California. The DS rating began in 1961 and was merged into the electronics technician and fire controlman ratings on October 1, 1998.

DSs were electronics technicians who specialized in naval tactical data system computer systems, including digital computers, video processors, tape units, buffers, key sets, digital-display equipment, data-link terminals, and related gear. They also maintained shipboard ADP systems and peripheral equipment such as card readers/punches/interpreters, magnetic tape and disk drives, and printers. They cleaned, maintained, lubricated, calibrated, and adjusted equipment, ran operational tests, diagnosed problems, performed routine repairs, and evaluated newly installed parts and system units.