Gunner's Mate

The weapons school provides Gunner's Mate training ranging from fundamental rate-specific training needed by entry level petty officers to advanced courses in weapons systems, hydraulics, electricity, electronics, and small arms instruction. Weapons School courses emphasize hands-on training in well-equipped labs and firing ranges. Courses include Gunner's Mate "A" School and several Gunner's Mate "C" Schools.

Gunner's Mate "A" School

This intensive 10-week course located in Taylor Hall teaches selected non-rated personnel to perform as junior petty officers at an entry level job in the Gunner's Mate rating. Students learn the administrative, operation, and maintenance skills needed to operate and maintain Coast Guard small arms and machine guns. Course topics include:

  • Coast Guard Ordnance
  • Pyrotechnics and Ammunition
  • Magazines
  • Small Arms
  • Machine Guns and Small Arms Administration
  • Ordnance Administration
  • Electricity
  • Hydraulics
  • Magazine Sprinkler Systems

Small Arms Instructor School & Tactical Weapons School

For Coast Guard members, the Small Arms Instructor School & Tactical Weapons School can be found on TCYorktown's Intranet site under Training accessible via a Standard Coast Guard Workstation. The TCYorktown Intranet site can easily be found via the CG Portal or searching the CGWEB.

Coast Guard Employee Access

It is recommended each Coast Guard employee visit TCYorktown's Portal site for additional Gunner's Mate training information. Coast Guard Employee Access.


The U.S. Department of Defense is committed to making its electronic and information technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities in accordance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended in 1998. DoD websites use the WCAG 2.0 AA accessibility standard.

For persons with disabilities experiencing difficulties accessing content on a particular website, please use the form DoD Section 508 Form.  In this form, please indicate the nature of your accessibility issue/problem and your contact information so we can address your issue or question. If your issue involves log in access, password recovery, or other technical issues, contact the administrator for the website in question, or your local helpdesk.