Military Careers, Air Force Commissioning Programs - Air Force Times

Commissioning programs: Navy

Sailors can earn commissions in the Navy via five routes, three of which are also open to civilians.

U.S. Naval Academy

The Naval Academy, located in Annapolis, Md., trains civilians off the street and sailors from the fleet in a four year curriculum that leads to a commission as an ensign. It is a four year college and all tuition and fees are paid for by the government. Civilians are required to get congressional appointments to attend, while the secretary of the Navy is also allowed to appoint sailors and Marines from the fleet.

Sailors not initially academically qualified to enter the school can attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I.

Useful links:

Naval Academy Admissions

Naval Academy

Naval Academy Preparatory School

Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps

The Navy operates Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps Units at 67 colleges and universities around the country. Other colleges in the same geographic location often offer the program through a “cross town agreement” with the NROTC school. There are two different types of Naval ROTC students, those on scholarship and those who train voluntarily. Those on scholarship are required to serve on active duty upon completion of their degree while those who voluntarily complete the program incur no obligation, but can compete to go on active duty after graduation.

Useful links:

Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps - https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/

List of NROTC Units -- https://www.nrotc.navy.mil/nrotc_addr_phlst.cfm

Officer Candidate School

Those who already have a four-year degree can apply to be commissioned through Officer Candidate School. The school, currently located in Pensacola, Fla. is scheduled to move to Newport, R.I. in 2007The tough, 13-week course is run by Navy and Marine Corps senior enlisted leaders. That said, nearly, 90 percent of those who begin the training graduate, officials say. This is the only officer program operated by the Navy Recruiting Command.

Useful links:

Official Navy OCS

Unofficial Navy OCS (great detail and tips)

Navy Recruiting

Navy Recruiting Command

Seaman to Admiral Program

Sailors wanting commissions as officers can apply through the Seaman to Admiral Program. Like the Academy and ROTC, these programs allow sailors to attend select colleges to complete their college degrees and obtain their commissions upon graduation. Sailors selected for this program retain full military pay and allowances as well as medical and military exchange privileges. Selection is through an annual selection board.

Unlike the Academy or ROTC, sailors apply for a specific program at the front end of the program, guaranteeing them the officer community of their choice when they get commissioned. Those options may impact their degree program as well. Those options are:

• Pilot Option

• Naval Flight Officer Option

• Surface Warfare Officer Option

• Nuclear (Submarine and Surface) Option

• Special Warfare Option

• Special Operations Option

• Special Duty Officer (Intelligence) Option

• Special Duty Officer Information Warfare (IW) (Formerly Cryptologic) Option

• Civil Engineer Corps Option

• Supply Corps Option

• Nurse Corps Option

Seaman to Admiral Web Site -- https://www.sta-21.navy.mil/

Limited Duty Officer

Enlisted sailors E-6 and above have another option to a commission – a direct one. These sailors apply to be commissioned in a specialty akin to their enlisted specialty. Enlisted sailors E-7 and above can also apply to become warrant officers as well through the same process and selection board.

Navy Personnel Command Limited Duty/Chief Warrant Officer Web page:

https://www.npc.navy.mil/Officer/LDOCWOCommunity/