Weapons Department consists of three divisions: 1st, 2nd and 3rd. these divisions in general are responsible for exterior maintenance of the ship and for maintaining and/or manning the ship's surveillance systems and weapons systems.

First Division, or deck division, provides the traditional skills of the sea when it comes to small boating, anchoring, mooring or towing. Their profession is as ancient as the earliest ship but as modern as the "New Navy". They are the Boatswains Mates.

Second Division is made up of Fire Control Technician's and Gunner's Mates. These people maintain the ship's gun, the missile battery and the associated fire control systems and radars. In general they are the "Gunners" of the ship.

Third Division are the people who submariners fear. The division is made up of Sonar Technician's, ASROC Gunners' Mates and Torpedomen. Working as a team these sailors maintain and use the ship's sonar, anti-submarine rocket and torpedoes to give SCHOFIELD a potent anti-submarine capability.