Become a Navy Staff Corps Officer (2025)

Last Updated on October 14, 2024

This guide gives helpful info on what it takes to become a Staff Corps Officer in the Navy for Fiscal Year 2025.

As you’ll learn, the Navy Staff Corps offers a variety of officer programs to choose from.

But first, let’s break down the basics.

What Is A Staff Officer In The Navy?

Commissioned officers in the United States Navy are classified as either Staff Corps Officers or Line Officers (Unrestricted and Restricted).

Staff Corps Officers are experts in their respective specialties, such as attorneys, physicians, nurses, civil engineers, supply/logistics specialists, and even chaplains.

In other words, Navy Staff Officers are already considered specialized professionals in the civilian workforce even without their commission in the Navy.

Staff Corps Audiology Blog Image 704X396 — *Image credit: U.S. Navy*

Navy Staff Corps Officers

The Navy Staff Corps are organized into several groups. There are a total of eight Navy Corps groups in the United States Navy.

These Navy Corps groups of Navy Officer communities primarily serve in a support role to the line community.

The Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) oversees the medicine-related corps, namely:

Medical Corps
Medical Service Corps

Dental Corps
Nurse Corps

The Navy Civil Engineer Corps falls under the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC).

The Navy Supply Corps is overseen by the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP).

The Navy Secretariat is directly in-charge of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps and the Chaplain Corps.

Navy Staff Corps Insignia

In place of the star worn by line officers, Staff Corps officers wear their specialty insignia on the sleeve of their dress blue uniforms and on their shoulder boards.

The specialty insignia is a collar device worn on the left collar of winter blue and khaki working uniforms, whereas the rank device is worn on the right collar.

Also Read: United States Navy and Marine Corps Officer Rank Structure

Navy Staff Officer Jobs

The Navy Staff Corps has several specialized communities. Each of these Navy Corps communities have their own commissioning programs, which are as follows:

Also Read: Navy Medical Jobs for Officer Applicants

Officer Development School

Prospective Staff Corps Officers attend Officer Development School.

The Officer Development School (ODS) is a five-week course that gives a thorough and intensive introduction to the duties of Navy Staff Corps Officers.

They will study about the United States Navy’s rich history of traditions and customs, military organization, military etiquette, and leadership development.

This is distinct from the initial training of Navy Line Officers who attend Officer Candidate School (OCS). The main difference is that students of ODS are already commissioned officers prior to reporting for training.

Also Read: Navy OCS Guide for Officer Applicants

More Information

If you want more information about becoming a Navy Staff Corps Officer, the next logical step is to contact a Naval Officer Recruiter.

Let us start figuring out how you can benefit from becoming a Navy Officer – or if it is even a right fit for you.

You may also find more detailed information in this Quick Guide: How To Become a Naval Officer, where you will find the actual step-by-step instructions toward this journey.