United States Navy Officer Programs (2024)

Last Updated on March 4, 2024

This guide provides you with useful information about all the available Navy Officer Programs in Fiscal Year 2024.

There are many requirements for each of the officer programs, as you will see.

Nonetheless, you will learn most of what you need to know.

Choose Your New Office

Are you here because you want a career that is not limited by the mundane boundaries of ordinary (civilian) work?

You have many choices as a Naval Officer. The only question is…

Will you want your new office to be on land, sea, or air?

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Life is not what happens by chance. It is what you make happen.

Make your life exceed your dreams.

You can become a United States Navy Officer.

Naval Officer: Basic Benefits

You will have a hard time finding an employer that would offer you benefits like these.

From the start of your journey, your benefits will include:

  • Starting salary that competes with mid-sized firms
  • Tax-free allowances for housing and meals
  • Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, with family care available at low/no cost
  • 30 days of vacation earned each year
  • Continuation pays, bonuses, regular promotions
  • Low-cost life insurance
  • Thrift Savings Plan (like 401K) with low fees
  • Economical (tax-free) shopping at military grocery stores (commissaries) and department stores (exchanges)
  • Retirement benefits when qualified

Are You Really A Leader?

If you answered yes, then here is your chance to prove it.

You have spent four years of college behind a desk. You want to spend the rest of your life behind one?

Not only that, but you are also hungry for a career that maximizes your talent, challenges you to take on a leadership role, gives you an adrenaline rush, all the while provides you with financial stability.

Well, you have just found it!

While the Navy takes you across the sea, through the air, below the surface and over the land, it also puts you in command of innovative technology.

Advanced systems… Billions of dollars in aviation, submarine, and surface ship equipment. Even state-of-the-art medical technology.

If you go this route, your journey will start with initial military training either in Navy Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Officer Development School (ODS)—both of which are in Newport, RI.

Also Read: Navy OCS Guide for Officer Applicants

Now picture yourself as a Navy Officer.

Can you see it?

Can you see yourself take on monumental responsibilities while your counterparts in the civilian world are still working to get their careers off the ground as an intern?

Do more in a few short years than most people do in a lifetime.

Consider a military career, specifically a Naval Officer career.

Are You Ready?

If you are not yet at a place in your life to even consider this path, then you can skip the next part.

If you feel you can benefit from Navy Officer Programs but cannot decide, then you can skip, too.

We want decision-makers.

But:

If you are ready to explore these opportunities, you have two choices:

  1. You can keep reading to find out the requirements for each program of your interest.
  2. You can save yourself some time and just ask your questions to your local recruiter.

Either way, enjoy your research. This is such an exciting time for you.

Let us go get your Navy Officer commission!

Navy Officer Program Requirements

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These are the official United States Navy documents that delineate the minimum requirements for each available Navy Officer commissioning program.

All the information included is current as of the last guidance from the Navy Personnel Command. Each position will be updated as new information is issued.

These will include basic eligibility requirements, such as age limits, professional degree requirement, physical fitness requirements, or any special skills required.

All documents are downloadable PDF files.

GENERAL OFFICER COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS (ACTIVE DUTY)
Surface Warfare Officer (SWO)
Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate (NUPOC)
Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program (BDCP)
Nuclear Power Instructor (NR ENG)
Special Warfare (SPECWAR – SEAL)
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
Engineering Duty Officer (EDO)
Surface Warfare Engineering Duty Officer (SWO-EDO) Option
Submarine Engineering Duty Officer (SUB-EDO) Option
Supply Corps (SC) Officer
Public Affairs Officer (PAO)
Civil Engineer Corps (CEC)
Aviation Officer Candidate (AOC) Pilot or NFO Training
Aerial Vehicle Operator (Navy Drone Pilot)
Aerospace Maintenance Duty Officer (AMDO)
Intelligence (INTEL)
Oceanography (OCEANO)
Cryptologic Warfare (CW)
Information Professional (IP)
Chaplain Corps (CHC)
Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps
Cyber Warfare Engineer (CWE)
Source: Navy Personnel Command
MEDICAL/DENTAL COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS
Medical Corps (MC)
Dental Corps (DC)
Medical Service Corps (MSC)
Nurse Corps (NC)
Registered Nurse Anesthetist (RNA)
Nurse Candidate Program (NCP)
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (AFHPSP)
Financial Assistance Program (Medical Corps)
Financial Assistance Program (Dental Corps)
Health Services Collegiate Program (HSCP)
Source: Navy Personnel Command
NAVY RESERVE COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS
Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) Reserve
Supply Corps (SC) Officer Reserve
Public Affairs Officer (PAO) Reserve
Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) Reserve
Pilot or Naval Flight Officer (NFO) Reserve Other Service Veteran (OSVET)
Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer (AMDO) Reserve
Intelligence (INTEL) Reserve
Oceanography (OCEANO) Reserve
Cryptologic Warfare (CW) Reserve
Information Professional (IP) Reserve
Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps Reserve Student Program
Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps Reserve
Chaplain Candidate Program Officers (CCPO)
Strategic Sealift Officer (SSO)
Human Resources (HR) Officer Reserve
Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer (AEDO) Reserve
Source: Navy Personnel Command

Also Read: Navy Seaman to Admiral Commissioning Program (STA-21)

Your Next Move

Ask yourself these questions:

This time next year, where will you be?

Behind a desk in an anonymous office setting? Or sailing into Barcelona just in time to catch the sunset and a late dinner?

Hear that little voice in your head?

The world is calling you.

What have you done in your life today? What will your future self say to you now?

Give it a rush. You will not be qualified for these opportunities forever.

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