A Navy officer must assume a variety of duties at sea, in the air and ashore.
Officers must be physically fit, at least 19 years old and U.S. citizens with at least a bachelor's degree. However, you can apply for commissioning programs before earning your degree and as young as 17. The major fields of study required vary depending on the officer specialty.
Programs leading to a commission as a Navy officer include the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, the U.S. Naval Academy, direct commissioning programs and enlisted-to-officer commissioning programs.
Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps
The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program offers tuition and other financial benefits at more than 60 U.S. colleges and universities. The NROTC offers subsidized scholarships along with monthly cash allowances.
It also offers non-subsidized programs referred to as "college programs" that provide free uniforms and military science textbooks. Some officer hopefuls who are granted advanced standing receive monthly cash allowances during their junior and senior years.
U.S. Naval Academy
The U.S. Naval Academy provides a four-year undergraduate education and leads to a bachelor's degree and a commission as a Navy or Marine Corps officer. Students, who receive a monthly salary while attending the academy, must be single with no children and must serve on active duty for at least five years after graduation, depending on follow-on training and designation.
Admission to the Naval Academy is made through nominations by U.S. senators, representatives, the president or vice president of the United States, or the secretary of the Navy.
Seaman to Admiral-21
The Seaman to Admiral-21 (STA-21) program provides up to $10,000 a year toward tuition and other educational costs for selected sailors to earn bachelor's degrees while continuing to receive active-duty pay and benefits. They have three years to complete a degree. Options include pilot, naval flight officer, surface warfare officer, special duty officer, nuclear, special warfare, explosive ordnance disposal, civil engineer corps and nurse corps.
Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program
The Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program is for college juniors and seniors pursuing a bachelor's degree in physics, chemistry, mathematics or an engineering discipline. College graduates with a bachelor's degree or higher, who are up to age 31, may also qualify for the program. The only Navy requirement is that the student maintain excellent grades in required subjects and earn a degree.
While in the program, students can enjoy many of the same benefits received by regular Navy officers, including a salary. Upon graduation from college, graduates begin their naval officer training at Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Pensacola, Florida.
Technical Specialty Officer Programs
All four of the above categories fall under the umbrella of initial officer commissioning programs. In addition, there are also what’s known as Technical Specialty Officer Programs for current enlisted members. They lead to officer status within a technical specialty, rather than a broad operational command track.
These options include becoming a Chief Warrant Officer or a Limited Duty Officer. They have no degree requirement
Chief Warrant Officers
The Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Program is open to all enlisted Navy with the rank of chief petty officer or above and who have completed at least 14 years of naval service. Warrant officers are senior to all enlisted chief petty officers and junior to all ensigns.
Limited Duty Officers
The Limited Duty Officer (LDO) Program is open to members in a technical field. They earn a Navy officer commission because of their high-quality experience in a specialty and serve in leadership and management positions at the ensign through captain levels.
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